Numbers 35:1

Cities for the Levites

1 The LORD spoke to Moses in ¹the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

Numbers 35:1 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:1

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.

Numbers 35:1 In-Context

1 The LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

2 "Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites some of the inheritance of their possession as cities for them to dwell in. And you shall give to the Levites pasturelands around the cities.

3 The cities shall be theirs to dwell in, and their pasturelands shall be for their cattle and for their livestock and for all their beasts.

4 The pasturelands of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all around.

5 And you shall measure, outside 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, the city being in the middle. This shall belong to them as pastureland for their cities.

Cross References

• 1. See Numbers 22:1