Numbers 35:3-5

3 Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals.

4 “The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits^[a] from the town wall.

5 Outside the town, measure two thousand cubits^[b] on the east side, two thousand on the south side, two thousand on the west and two thousand on the north, with the town in the center. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns.

Numbers 35:3-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 35

Though the tribe of Levi had no part in the division of the land, yet cities out of the several tribes are here ordered to be given them to dwell in, to the number of forty eight, Nu 35:1-8, six of which were to be cities of refuge, Nu 35:9-15, but not for wilful murderers, in whatsoever way they might kill a man, Nu 35:16-21, but for such who had killed a man unawares, Nu 35:22-24, and several rules are given relating to such persons, Nu 35:25-29, but no satisfaction was to be taken in case of murder, nor to excuse a person's return to his own house before the death of the high priest, who had fled to a city of refuge, that so the land might not be defiled, Nu 35:30-34.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 18:6; Joshua 14:4; Joshua 21:2
• 2. Joshua 3:4
• 3. Leviticus 25:34; 2 Chronicles 11:14; 2 Chronicles 13:9; 2 Chronicles 23:2; 2 Chronicles 31:19

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, about 1,500 feet or about 450 meters
• [b]. That is, about 3,000 feet or about 900 meters