Numbers 35:8

8 And these towns are to be given out of the heritage of the children of Israel, taking the greater number from those who have much, and a smaller number from those who have little: everyone, in the measure of his heritage, is to give of his property to the Levites.

Numbers 35:8 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:8

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 21:1-45 ) ,

everyone shall give of his cities unto the Levites, according to his
inheritance which he inheriteth;
and the Levites, being thus dispersed among the several tribes, were of great advantage to them, to instruct them in the knowledge of divine things; so that though hereby Jacob's curse on this tribe had its fulfilment, that it should be divided in Jacob, and scattered in Israel, yet that became a blessing to the rest of the tribes; see ( Genesis 49:7 ) .

Numbers 35:8 In-Context

6 And the towns which you give the Levites are to be the six safe places to which the taker of life may go in flight; and in addition you are to give them forty-two towns.

7 Forty-eight towns are to be given to the Levites, all with land round them.

8 And these towns are to be given out of the heritage of the children of Israel, taking the greater number from those who have much, and a smaller number from those who have little: everyone, in the measure of his heritage, is to give of his property to the Levites.

9 And the Lord said to Moses,

10 Say to the children of Israel, when you have gone over Jordan into the land of Canaan;