Numbers 35:1-8

Numbers 35:1-8

[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  [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 west  side  two thousand  cubits,  and on the north  side  two thousand  cubits;  and the city  shall be in the midst:  this shall be to them the suburbs  of the cities.  [6] And among the cities  which ye shall give  unto the Levites  there shall be six  cities  for refuge,  which ye shall appoint  for the manslayer,  that he may flee  thither: and to them ye shall add  forty  and two  cities.  [7] So all the cities  which ye shall give  to the Levites  shall be forty  and eight  cities:  them shall ye give with their suburbs.  [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. 

What does Numbers 35:1-8 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

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. [1] 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; ch2and Numbers 3:1-49; Numbers 26:1-62).
The Levites received four towns for each of the12tribal 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. [2] Very few Israelites lived more than10 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. [3]
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.