Numbers 35:1

_AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES IN THE PLAINS OF MOAB BY JORDAN NEAR JERICHO, SAYING,_ No JFB commentary on this verse....

1._And the Lord spake unto Moses. _Although there was no inheritance assigned to the tribe of Levi, yet it was necessary that they should be supplied with dwelling-places. No lands were given then where they might sow and reap; but by way of compensation the tithes were a sufficient means of subsistence, even after deducting the tithes which were paid to the poor. God now, however, makes provision for their residences; and here we must carefully remark, that they were so distributed over the whole land, as to be, as it were, guards regularly posted for the preservation of the worship of God, lest any superstition should creep in, or the people should fall into gross contempt of God. For we know that they were chosen by Him, not only to attend to the ceremonies, but to be the interpreters of the law, and to cherish sincere piety among the people. Now if all had been placed in one station,...

1-8 The cities of the priests and Levites were not only to accommodate them, but to place them, as religious teachers, in several parts of the land. For though the typical service of the tabernacle or temple was only in one place, the preaching of the word of God, and prayer and praise, were not thus confined. These cities were to be given out of each tribe. Each thus made a grateful acknowledgement to God. Each tribe had the benefit of the Levites dwelling amongst them, to teach them the knowledge of the Lord; thus no parts of the country were left to sit in darkness. The gospel provides that he who is taught in the word, should communicate to him that teaches, in all good things, Galatians 6:6. We are to free God's ministers from distracting cares, and to leave them at leisure for the duties of their station; so that they may be wholly employed therein, and avail themselves of every o...

CHAPTER XXXV _The Israelites are commanded to give the Levites, out of their_ _inheritances, cities and their suburbs for themselves and for_ _their cattle, goods, c._, 1-3. _The suburbs to be 3,000 cubits round about from the wall of the_ _city_, 4, 5. _The cities to be forty-two, to which six cities of refuge should_ _be added, in all forty-eight cities_, 6, 7. _Each tribe shall give of these cities in proportion to its_ _possessions_, 8. _These cities to be appointed for the person who might slay his_...

AND THE LORD SPAKE TO MOSES,.... After he had described the borders of the land, and given instructions about the division of it among the several tribes, and named the persons that should be concerned in parting and putting it into the possession of the Israelites, he makes a provision for the Levites; for though they had no inheritance in the land as a tribe, yet it was proper they should have cities and houses to dwell in; for it would not be suitable that they should be always about the tabernacle, as they were in the wilderness; and it is concerning this the Lord is said to speak to Moses, IN THE PLAINS OF MOAB BY JORDAN, NEAR JERICHO: where the Israelites now were, and had been for some time: SAYING; as follows....

11. THE CITIES OF REFUGE CHAPTER 35 _ 1. The provision of the Levites: Forty-eight cities (Numbers 35:1)_ 2. The cities of refuge (Numbers 35:9) The cities of the Levites were scattered through the land. Genesis 49:7 is therefore fulfilled. The provision of cities for refuge is full of interest. The careful study of the purpose of these cities is recommended. Note especially that they were provided to give shelter for those who had killed a person unawares. The avenger of blood (Hebrew: _goel, which means to redeem) pursued the person and the city of refuge gave shelter. The death of the high priest resulted in liberty for all who were in the cities of refuge. It was the signal that they could

APPOINTMENT OF LEVITICAL CITIES AND CITIES OF REFUGE. This law must be supplementary to, and later than, the law in Numbers 18:8, which does not contemplate the assignment to the Levites of cities in addition to the tithes, and indeed, definitely denies to them any territorial possessions (Numbers 18:20; _cf._ Deuteronomy 18:1). The cities here bestowed on the Levites are forty-eight in number, and are enumerated in Joshua 21; but the facts (_a)_ that some did not come fully under Israelitish ownership until after Joshua's death (_e.g._ Gezer, see p. 28, Judges 1:29 *,...

THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. SPAKE. See note on Numbers 1:1....

_The Levitical cities_ The Levites are to receive 48 cities with their surrounding land (E.VV. -suburbs"), six of which are to be -cities of refuge." The cities are to be contributed by each tribe in numbers proportionate to its size. Each plot of land is to be a square of 2,000 cubits (_c._1,000 yards). The carrying out of this law is related in fuller detail in Joshua 21, where the allotment is as follows: the _Kohathite Levites_were given 10 towns in Ephraim, Dan and western Manasseh, the _Gershonites_13 in Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and eastern Manasseh, the _Merarites_12 in Reuben, Gad and Zebulun, while the _priests_had 10 in Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. Two considerations, however, shew that this is a purely ideal arrangement, which could never have been actually brought about: 1st, In a hilly country like Palestine, cut with deep ravines, it would be impossib

AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES,—SAYING— As the priests and Levites, were a distinct body from the rest of the nation, and had no share in the division of the country, God here assigns them several towns for their residence, with such a portion of ground about them as would serve for their decent subsistence. Under the name _Levites_ are comprehended both priests and Levites, who were all of the tribe of Levi. See Joshua 21:4. Notwithstanding this provision, it was lawful for them to hire or purchase houses in any other city, particularly Jerusalem; for we find in Scripture many proofs of their dwelling in other cities besides these which are assigned to them; and in like manner, no doubt, other people, with their permission, might dwell with them in their cities. It is plain, that the suburbs of the cities were for pasturage, and for the use of their cattle. _Their goods_ mean stables f