Numbers 35:8

8 "The towns you give the Levites must come from the land the people of Israel have as their own. So the number you give from each tribe will depend on the size of that tribe's share. Take many towns from a tribe that has many. But take only a few towns from a tribe that has only a few."

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 "Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities to go to for safety. A person who has killed someone can run to one of them. Also give the Levites 42 other towns.

7 You must give the Levites a total of 48 towns. Also give them the grasslands that are around the towns.

8 "The towns you give the Levites must come from the land the people of Israel have as their own. So the number you give from each tribe will depend on the size of that tribe's share. Take many towns from a tribe that has many. But take only a few towns from a tribe that has only a few."

9 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said,

10 "Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'You will soon go across the Jordan River. You will enter Canaan.