Numbers 35:8

8 And the cities which you will give shall be from the possession of the children of Israel; from the larger tribe you shall give many, from the smaller you shall give few. Each shall give some of its cities to the Levites, in proportion to the inheritance that each receives."

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 Now among the cities which you will give to the Levites you shall appoint six cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. And to these you shall add forty-two cities.

7 So all the cities you will give to the Levites shall be forty-eight; these you shall give with their common-land.

8 And the cities which you will give shall be from the possession of the children of Israel; from the larger tribe you shall give many, from the smaller you shall give few. Each shall give some of its cities to the Levites, in proportion to the inheritance that each receives."

9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

10 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,