21:4a

The first lot came out: The clause The first lot came out is the same Hebrew expression as in 16:1 where it Berean Standard Bible translates it as “The allotment for.” It means that Eleazar the priest threw the lot to show which clan would receive their towns first.

for the Kohathite clans: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as clans refers to groups of families or sub-clans. This word was used in 15:1b.

Kohathite: The term Kohathite refers to the descendants of Kohath. Kohath was one of Levi’s three sons. (See Genesis 46:11.)

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

The first lot was for the descendants of Kohath.
-or-
The families of the descendants of Kohath received their towns first by lot.

21:4b

There is a Hebrew conjunction here, which the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated, that indicates the next event in the narrative. Translate this conjunction in a way that is natural in your language.

The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest is more literally “the sons of Aaron the priest from the Levites.” This refers to the male descendants of Aaron.

Aaron the priest: Aaron was a grandson of Kohath, one of the three sons of Levi. Aaron was the first chief priest of Israel. The male descendants of Aaron had the responsibility to serve Yahweh as priests (Exodus 29).

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

The Levi people who were descended from Aaron the ⌊first chief⌋ priest
-or-
The male descendants of Aaron the priest, who was of the clan of Levi

21:4c

received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

received thirteen towns when the lot was thrown. These towns belonged to the clans of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
-or-
were given thirteen towns by lot. The towns they received came from the clan of Judah, the clan of Simeon, and the clan of Benjamin.

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