Numbers 35:2
“Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites some of the inheritance of their possession as cities for them to dwell in. And you shall give to the Levites pasturelands around the cities.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to see this as just assigning housing, but God's command emphasizes that the Levites, who had no land inheritance, were to receive cities from the tribes' own inheritance, and those cities needed surrounding "pasture lands." This wasn't charity; it was a divine redistribution, ensuring the people who served God had both homes and the means to sustain their households with their livestock.
After the Israelites have conquered the land of Canaan, God issues instructions for settling the people. This passage specifically addresses the Levites, who were set apart for religious service and did not receive a land inheritance like the other tribes. Therefore, God commands the tribes to give cities and surrounding pasturelands from their allotted territories to the Levites.
Why did the Levites, unlike the other tribes, not receive a land inheritance? This verse reveals God’s intentional plan for them.
When God divided the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, the Levites were intentionally left out. This wasn't an oversight, but a divine arrangement.
A Tribe Apart
The Levites were set apart for special service to God, assisting the priests and carrying out religious duties throughout the nation. Because their focus was on worship and teaching, they didn't need a territorial inheritance like the other tribes. Instead, God ensured they would be cared for and have places to live.
God's Provision
This command in Numbers 35:2 shows God’s direct provision for His dedicated servants. He instructed the other tribes to give from their own inheritances to provide cities and surrounding pasturelands for the Levites. This wasn't a request, but a strict command, highlighting that supporting those who serve Him is a matter of obedience.
The 'cities' for the Levites weren't just places to sleep. The 'pasturelands' were crucial for their way of life.
The provision for the Levites went beyond mere shelter. The text specifies not only cities for them to dwell in but also 'pasturelands' (sometimes translated as 'suburbs' or 'meadows') around these cities.
Essential Support
These pasturelands were vital. They provided grazing for the Levites' livestock – their sheep, cattle, and other animals. In that agrarian society, owning animals was a significant part of a family's wealth and livelihood. This provision ensured that the Levites, while dedicated to ministry, also had the means for economic stability and the ability to support their families.
God's Holistic Care
This detail reveals God's concern for the practical well-being of those who served Him. He didn't just command that they be given dwelling places; He also ensured they had the necessary resources to sustain themselves and their families through their animal husbandry. It points to a holistic care – addressing spiritual, physical, and economic needs.
Understand the original words
Levi · Hebrew Proper Noun/Adjective
The tribal descendants of Levi, set apart by God for priestly service and the maintenance of the Tabernacle and its worship. They were distinct among the tribes in that they received no territorial inheritance in the land, as the Lord was their inheritance.
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
The land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants as a perpetual possession. It represented God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and provided a physical space for Israel to live under His law.
achuzzah · Hebrew Noun
A term used to describe the land or property allotted to the tribes of Israel. It emphasizes that Israel's ownership of the land was ultimately subordinate to God, who was the true owner of the earth.
This passage addresses the practical needs of the Levites, a tribe set apart for service to God. Their unique role meant they didn't receive land like other tribes, so God ordained that they be given cities and pasturelands throughout Israel, ensuring they had places to live and sustain their families while serving the entire nation.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave Egypt, beginning their 40-year journey in the wilderness. This event sets the stage for the future division of the Promised Land.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin to conquer the land of Canaan, the territory promised to them by God.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Division of Canaan
The Promised Land is divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. The Levites, however, do not receive a specific territorial inheritance.
c. 1400 BC
Establishment of Levitical Cities
As compensation for their lack of land inheritance, the Levites are assigned 48 cities scattered throughout the territories of the other tribes, along with surrounding pasturelands.
Jacob's prophecy foretold the scattering of Levi's descendants, making this provision of cities a fulfillment of that ancient word and a demonstration of God's faithfulness even within a judgment.
Deuteronomy 12:19This passage emphasizes the Lord's command not to forsake the Levites, highlighting the consistent care God has for His ministers and the importance of providing for them.
Joshua 21:1-8This section details the actual allocation of cities and pasturelands to the Levites from the inheritance of the other tribes, showing the practical outworking of the command given in Numbers 35.
1 Chronicles 6:54-81This passage recounts the same event of assigning cities to the Levites, reinforcing the importance of this provision and its execution throughout Israel.
Nehemiah 13:10This later historical account reveals instances where the Levites were not properly provided for, underscoring the ongoing need for adherence to this command and the spiritual danger when God's provision is neglected.
bensonNumbers 35:2: "Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them."
Numbers 35:2 . That they give unto the Levites — cities — The reason of this appointment was, that the Levites, being a body of people distinct from the rest of the nation, had no share in the division of the country. It is to be observed that the priests, the sons of Aaron, bei…
gillNumbers 35:2: "Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them."
Command the children of Israel,.... All the tribes of them; it is not a bare instruction that is given them, much less a mere request that is made to them, or something proposed, and left to their option whether they would agree to it or not; but it is strictly enjoined them by…
It's easy to see this as just assigning housing, but God's command emphasizes that the Levites, who had no land inheritance, were to receive cities from the tribes' own inheritance, and those cities needed surrounding "pasture lands." This wasn't charity; it was a divine redistribution, ensuring the people who served God had both homes and the means to sustain their households with their livestock.
After the Israelites have conquered the land of Canaan, God issues instructions for settling the people. This passage specifically addresses the Levites, who were set apart for religious service and did not receive a land inheritance like the other tribes. Therefore, God commands the tribes to give cities and surrounding pasturelands from their allotted territories to the Levites.
After the Israelites have conquered the land of Canaan, God issues instructions for settling the people. This passage specifically addresses the Levites, who were set apart for religious service and did not receive a land inheritance like the other tribes. Therefore, God commands the tribes to give cities and surrounding pasturelands from their allotted territories to the Levites.
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migrash · Hebrew Noun
Open land surrounding a town or village reserved for grazing livestock. In a biblical context, these lands provided the necessary resources for the community's sustenance and were legally protected as belonging to the city dwellers.
c. 1400 BC
Designation of Cities of Refuge
Within the Levitical cities, six are designated as cities of refuge to provide sanctuary for those who committed accidental manslaughter.
"“Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites some of the inheritance of their possession as cities for them to dwell in. And you shall give to the Levites pasturelands around the cities." — It's easy to see this as just assigning housing, but God's command emphasizes that the Levites, who had no land inheritance, were to receive cities from the tribes' own inheritance, and those citie…
