Numbers 35:1-8

Levitical cities 35:1-8

The previous chapter dealt with the general borders of the land and its tribal boundaries. This one gives regulations concerning special towns in the land. [Note: See Menahem Haran, "Studies in the Account of the Levitical Cities," Journal of Biblical Literature 80:1 (March 1961):45-54, and 80:2 (June 1961):156-65.] According to the plan of revelation established previously in Numbers, directions regarding the Levites follow directions regarding the other tribes (cf. Numbers 1:1-54; ch. 2 and Numbers 3:1-49; Numbers 26:1-62).

The Levites received four towns for each of the 12 tribal areas. However there were more Levitical towns in the larger tribes and fewer in the smaller tribes. The writer of the Book of Joshua identified these towns in Joshua 21. [Note: See my notes on Joshua 21 for a map showing these cities.] Very few Israelites lived more than 10 miles from a Levitical town. God provided these so that the Levites, whose responsibilities included the teaching and counseling of the other Israelites in the Law, would not live far from anyone in Israel. [Note: See Jacob Milgrom, "The Levitical Town: An Exercise in Realistic Planning," Journal of Jewish Studies 33:12 (Spring-Autumn 1982):185-88.]

The pasture lands provided the Levites with a small agricultural income, but they received most of their support from the tithes and offerings of God’s people.