Joshua 21:41
All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs. All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
The Levites received forty-eight cities with their surrounding suburbs scattered throughout Israel's territory as their inheritance, having no single tribal territory of their own. They were not counted in the tribal land allotment because they were devoted to sanctuary service. Their scattered settlement fulfilled the declaration that Levi would be divided and scattered in Israel. Yet their faithfulness to Jehovah secured for them service at the sanctuary, so that what had been spoken as a curse was turned into a blessing.