Book of Joshua - Chapter 21 - Verse 20

Within the context of the Bible, the verse 'And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim,' signifies the allocation of land to the descendants of Kohath, one of the three clans of Levites. This verse is part of the Book of Joshua which describes the division of the Promised Land amongst the twelve tribes of Israel. The Levites, who were responsible for the religious duties in ancient Israel, did not receive a portion of land like the other tribes but were given cities to dwell in. In this specific instance, the descendants of Kohath were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim. This distribution ensured that the Levites were strategically placed throughout the land to carry out their sacred duties and also served as a reminder to the Israelites of the importance of prioritizing their spiritual needs alongside their physical ones.

In this verse, the families of the children of Kohath, who were Levites, were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim. This allocation of land to the Levites was a fulfillment of God's command to Moses in Numbers 35:2-8, where He instructed that the Levites were to be given cities to dwell in. The Levites were set apart for service to God and did not receive a portion of land like the other tribes of Israel. By being given cities within the territory of other tribes, the Levites were scattered throughout the land, serving as priests and caretakers of the tabernacle. The arrangement not only fulfilled the practical need for cities for the Levites but also symbolized their unique role as intercessors and mediators between God and the people. This verse highlights the faithfulness of God in providing for His chosen people and demonstrating His sovereignty through the allocation of land to the Levites.