Definition: And the children of Gershon [had] by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Joshua 21:6. It's a really significant piece of history that speaks about how God chose the people to settle in a new land after the Israelites left Egypt. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, God decided which families would be allowed to build cities and settlements in the region of Bashan (which is now part of modern-day Israel and Palestine). He used a lottery system to select these families. Let's unpack that a little more: “Joshua 21” : This refers to Joshua, the leader of the Israelites during the time when God gave them the land. “And the children of Gershon…” : This names the families who were selected. “Gershon” is a name in Hebrew that means "the one who has a strong heart." It’s a very important name in the Old Testament, and it's connected to the idea of God choosing people for a special purpose. “…had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar…” : This means these families were chosen randomly from the families of two tribes: Issachar and Asher. These tribes are important because they were among the first to settle in the land after the Exodus. “…and out of the tribe of Asher…” : They also chose from the tribe of Asher. “…and out of the tribe of Naphtali…” : They selected from the tribe of Naphtali. “…and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan…” : Finally, they picked from the half tribe of Manasseh located in the region of Bashan (which is now part of Israel). This tribe was a bit more difficult to settle because it’s located in a mountainous area. What's the big takeaway? This verse tells us that God chose specific families to establish cities and settlements in a particular area. It shows that God is actively involved in choosing who gets to live and build in His land. It also highlights the importance of these tribes – they were chosen because they had certain qualities or characteristics that would be beneficial for establishing a new community. Historical Context: This event happened after the Israelites had been conquered by the Midianites. God, through Joshua, chose these families to help rebuild and settle the land, laying the foundation for Israel’s future expansion. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific biblical story or theme?