Joshua 21:3

Children of Israel gave. The Levites’ petition was apparently cheerfully granted. Each tribe gave cities according to the extent and value of its inheritance, for God had directed (Num. 35:8) that the tribe that had many cities should give many and the tribe that had few should give few. The method tested the generosity of the people. By the cities that were given it would seem that at least a large number of them were among the best in the land.

In the distribution the people bore in mind God’s plan that the Levites were to be scattered in Israel in every part of the land. In this way the Levites were to be in the midst of the people to instruct them in the ways of the Lord both by word and by example, and thus be a restraint to Israel against idolatry.