Numbers 35:8

_AND THE CITIES WHICH YE SHALL GIVE SHALL BE OF THE POSSESSION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: FROM THEM THAT HAVE MANY YE SHALL GIVE MANY; BUT FROM THEM THAT HAVE FEW YE SHALL GIVE FEW: EVERY ONE SHALL GIVE OF HIS CITIES UNTO THE LEVITES ACCORDING TO HIS INHERITANCE WHICH HE INHERITETH._ The cities ... shall be of the possession ... 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). The larger and wealthier tribes were to support a greater number than the smaller and poorer ones; but the distribution of the whole Levitical body was accommodated to the number of the tribes....

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...

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....

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 Simeon, whose inheritance was within that of Judah, because it was so large, nine cities were given, whereas out of the other tribes only four cities out of each were given, and out of one of them but three, see Joshua 21:1, EVERYONE SHALL GIVE OF HIS CITIES UNTO THE LEVITES, ACCORDING TO HIS INHERITANCE WHICH HE INHERITETH; and the Levites, being thus dispersed among the severa

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 *,...

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....

_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 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,_ Numbers 35:11 i.e. _unwittingly,_ or _ignorantly,_ as it is in Deuteronomy 19:4 and Joshua 20:3. See also Numbers 35:22 following. _The avenger,_...

D. CITIES RESERVED FOR THE LEVITES (NUMBERS 35:1-8) TEXT Numbers 35:1. And the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 2. Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites, of the inheritance of their possession, cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them. 3. And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts. 4. And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about. 5. And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side, two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the wes