Numbers 35:8

8 Of the cities that you give from the Israelites' territory, you should take more from a larger [tribe] and less from a smaller one. Each [tribe] is to give some of its cities to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance it 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 "The cities you give the Levites will include six cities of refuge, which you must provide so that the one who kills someone may flee there; in addition to these, give 42 [other] cities.

7 The total number of cities you give the Levites will be 48, along with their pasturelands.

8 Of the cities that you give from the Israelites' territory, you should take more from a larger [tribe] and less from a smaller one. Each [tribe] is to give some of its cities to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance it receives."

9 The Lord said to Moses,

10 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,