“And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.”
This verse is part of a larger passage in the Book of Numbers that discusses the allocation of cities to the Levites, who were a tribe within the Israelite community responsible for the service of the tabernacle and later the temple.
Context: The Book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Bible and continues the narrative of the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. In Numbers 35, God gives specific instructions to Moses regarding the Levitical cities and the cities of refuge.
Allocation of Cities: In this verse, God commands the children of Israel to give cities to the Levites from their possessions. The number of cities given would vary depending on the size of each tribe’s inheritance. Those tribes with more land were to give a greater number of cities, while those with less were to give fewer cities.
Inheritance: The Levites did not receive a separate territorial inheritance like the other tribes of Israel. Instead, their inheritance consisted of the cities given to them for dwelling and for the performance of their priestly duties. The Levites were scattered throughout the land of Israel, residing in various cities, rather than having a specific territory of their own.
Significance: This allocation of cities to the Levites served several purposes. Firstly, it provided for the needs of the Levites, as they did not engage in farming or other means of livelihood like the other tribes. The Levites’ primary responsibility was to serve in the tabernacle or temple and minister to the spiritual needs of the people.
Additionally, the dispersion of Levitical cities throughout the land helped ensure that the Levites were accessible to the people. This allowed for the administration of justice, teaching of God’s law, and other religious functions to be carried out effectively across the entire nation.
Overall, Numbers 35:8 highlights the principle of equitable distribution and stewardship of resources among the tribes of Israel. It emphasizes the responsibility of each tribe to contribute cities for the dwelling of the Levites, reflecting the communal nature of the Israelite society and the importance of supporting those dedicated to spiritual service.
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