🎺 Joshua 21

Joshua 21 is a real chapter from the Old Testament. It starts, “Then the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel.” That is not a motto invented for a poster. It is the first sentence a family hears when this page is opened at night.

Keep going a little further. The chapter also says, “Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs,” Joshua 21 opens with these words: “Then the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of…” The line to keep is Joshua 21:3: “The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their suburbs.” Carry the word “children” from that verse into the rest of the day.

The line worth learning out loud is Joshua 21:3: “The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their suburbs.” If the rest of the chapter feels crowded, hold that one sentence until the room is quiet.

What happens first in Joshua 21? Then try this: Read “The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh,…” once more. What does it show you about God? You do not have to finish every verse. You can close the book after the memory verse and still have read the Bible together.