So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty eight cities ,.... Of these forty eight cities, their names, and what tribes they were in, and which of them were particularly cities of refuge, an account is given in Joshua 21:10 , them shall ye give, with their suburbs ; according to the dimensions before prescribed. read more
And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel ,.... What shall fall by lot for their inheritance, and they shall be possessed of; and though they are, shall not refuse, nor grudge to give them, according to the direction of God, whose the land is, they holding it under him: from them that have many ye shall give many, but from them that have few ye shall give few ; which rule was observed; for out of Judah, whose lot was large, and out of... read more
Nine cities were eventually given to the Levites from the large joint inheritance of Judah and Simeon; three were taken from the territory of Naphtali, and the other tribes gave each four apiece. read more
Numbers 35:6-7. Cities for refuge Or, of escape for manslayers. And these cities are assigned among the Levites, partly because they might be presumed to be the most proper and impartial judges between manslayers and wilful murderers; partly because their presence and authority would more effectually bridle the passions of the avenger of blood who might pursue him thither; and perhaps to signify that it is only in Christ (whom the Levitical priests represented) that sinners find refuge and... read more
Cities for the Levites (35:1-34)Levi had no tribal area of its own, but received cities, with surrounding pasture lands, in each of the other tribes. There were forty-eight Levitical cities, the number in each tribe being in proportion to the size of the tribe. This ensured that those responsible for teaching God’s law to the people were evenly scattered throughout Israel (35:1-8).Among these forty-eight cities were six cities of refuge, three west of Jordan and three east. These were cities... read more
forty and eight cities. Compare Joshua 21:11 . So was Genesis 49:5 , Genesis 49:7 fulfilled, that Levi should be "divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel". At first a curse, but changed to a blessing on account of Exodus 32:26 , Exodus 32:29 . read more
according to his inheritance. Nine from Judah and Simeon; four from Benjamin; four from Ephraim; four from Dan; two from the half of Manasseh; two from the other half; four from Issachar; four from Asher; three from Naphtali; four from Zebulon; four from Reuben; four from Gad. Compare Joshua 21:9 , Joshua 21:16 , &c. read more
Numbers 35:6-15. And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, there shall be six cities for refuge, &c.— The cities of the Levites were appointed for this purpose, rather than any other, because they were a kind of sacred places inhabited by sacred persons; and here men might spend their time better than in other places, being among the ministers of religion. These cities of refuge were only for those who killed any person unawares, Num 35:11 i.e. unwittingly, or ignorantly,... read more
8. the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel—The burden of furnishing those places for the residence and support of the Levitical order was to fall in equitable proportions upon the different tribes (see Numbers 33:54; Joshua 20:7). Joshua 20:7- :. THE BLOOD AVENGER. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 35:1-8
The laws about the tithes and offerings had provided very plentifully for the maintenance of the Levites, but it was not to be thought, nor indeed was it for the public good, that when they came to Canaan they should all live about the tabernacle, as they had done in the wilderness, and therefore care must be taken to provide habitations for them, in which they might live comfortably and usefully. It is this which is here taken care of. I. Cities were allotted them, with their suburbs, Num.... read more