Numbers 35:1

Cities for the Levites

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses on the desert plains of Moab beyond the Jordan [across] 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 Yahweh spoke to Moses on the desert plains of Moab beyond the Jordan [across] Jericho, saying,

2 "Command the {Israelites} that they give to the Levites from the inheritance of their property cities to live in; and you will give to the Levites pastureland all around the cities.

3 The cities will be theirs to live in, and their pasturelands will be for their domestic animals, for their possessions, and their animals.

4 "The pasturelands of the cities that you will give to the Levites [will extend] from the wall of the city to [a distance of] a thousand cubits all around.

5 You will measure outside the city the eastern edge two thousand cubits, for the southern edge two thousand cubits, for the western edge two thousand cubits, and for the northern edge two thousand cubits, with the city in the middle; this will be for them the pasturelands of the cities.