Joshua was over eighty years old by the time Israel was at peace and settled into the Promised Land. He led Israel in the war with the Canaanites, oversaw the division of the territories in Canaan, and distributed land allotments to each of the tribes under God’s direction.

The Israelites invited Joshua to choose the site for his own home and since he was an Ephraimite, he chose land in the heart of that tribe. He selected the town of Timnath Serah, in a hilly area just west of Shiloh. Joshua built up the town and settled there.

But he couldn’t retire yet; Joshua still had work to do. He needed to assign towns for the Levites to live in.

Towns for the Levites

The Levites’ jobs included taking care of the tabernacle, assisting with offerings at the altar, and leading Israel in the yearly festivals. The Kohathites were responsible for everything inside the tabernacle and at the altar of sacrifice. The Gershonites and Merarites assisted the Kohathites, and they all shared in the food, drink, and silver shekel offerings brought by the Israelites.

Like all of the Israelites, the Levites married and had families so they needed places to live. God gave them towns in each of the other tribes. They didn’t farm, but they did raise clean animals for food and offerings, like the rest of Israel, so their towns were surrounded by wide margins of pastureland for their flocks and herds.

When the Levites weren’t on duty at the tabernacle, they studied and taught the Law. Here is how Moses described them when he blessed them in Deuteronomy 33:8-11:

“About Levi he said: “Your Thummim and Urim belong to the man you favored.

You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.

He said of his father and mother, ‘I have no regard for them.’

He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant.

He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel.

He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

Bless all his skills, O Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands.”

Even today, Jewish Rabbis (or teachers of the Law) are expected to devote themselves to the study of God’s Word above other pursuits. They serve as teachers, counselors, and religious leaders in their communities just as the Levites did.

Levites on the Move

Unlike the other people of Israel, Levites lived where God sent them to live, without regard for tribal land or family ties.

“[The Levite] said of his father and mother, ‘I have no regard for them.’ He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant.” Deuteronomy 33:9

“If a Levite moves from one of your towns anywhere in Israel where he is living, and comes in all earnestness to the place the Lord will choose,  he may minister in the name of the Lord his God like all his fellow Levites who serve there in the presence of the Lord. He is to share equally in their benefits, even though he has received money from the sale of family possessions.” Deuteronomy 18:6-8

Most Israelites lived with their extended families all of their lives, but the Levites belonged to God above all other relationships and lived where he put them.

Feeling at Home

There were plenty of towns for the Levites to live in and because their work at the tabernacle took them away from home from time to time, it was good for their families to live together in towns. They were all related to each other in one way or another so they served as extended family to one another.

Cities of Refuge

Six of the Levite towns were cities of refuge for people who unintentionally or accidentally killed another person. The killer could run to the nearest city of refuge and state their case before the city elders, then the elders brought the fugitive into the city and provided for them while their trial took place. If they were convicted of manslaughter, the sentence was to remain in the city as long as the current high priest remained alive.

People convicted of first-degree murder could not shelter in a city of refuge. They were expelled and had to face the avenger of blood associated with their case.

The safest place for a person awaiting trial was among Levites. They were restrained from doing anything rash or unjust to a fugitive because they knew the Law. And we may assume that the priests also conferred together to make sure the law was appropriately applied.

Monasteries and Manses

Throughout history religious leaders and teachers have lived in special places set aside for them. The communities that benefitted from their services supported them and met their needs.

In the middle-ages monasteries sprung up in Europe and villages clustered around them. The monks and nuns were teachers, healers, and religious leaders so people were naturally drawn to them. The villagers and farmers brought offerings to help provide for their religious leaders, but the people in the monastery also worked their land and cared for their own animals. Labor was a form of prayer for them.

Even today some churches provide manses for pastors and their families. They may give their pastors a housing allowance with their salary to make sure they have a place to live while they study, teach, preach, and care for members of the congregation.

Some pastors are bi-vocational, doing side jobs to supplement what the congregation can provide. But God wanted to make sure the people ordained by him for ministry would always be provided for.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:9-14,

“For it is written in the Law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.’ Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?”

The Lord still loves his servants the priests, pastors, teachers, and spiritual caregivers. May we always give them the honor due to them as they serve the Lord. After all, God appointed them for his glory and our benefit.