“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”
This verse serves as an introduction to a specific commandment that God gave to Moses. To fully understand its significance, we need to examine the context of the verse and the subsequent verses in Numbers 35.
Numbers 35 is part of the broader narrative of the book of Numbers, which primarily focuses on the Israelites’ journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land. In this particular chapter, God provides instructions concerning the allocation of cities and territories to the Levites, who were the designated tribe responsible for the service of the Tabernacle and related activities.
Numbers 35:9: God spoke to Moses to initiate a specific commandment related to the Levites. The subsequent verses in Numbers 35:10-34 outline the details of this commandment. Essentially, God instructed the Israelites to set aside cities for the Levites to dwell in, and these cities were to be distributed throughout the inheritance of the other tribes.
The purpose behind this commandment was to provide the Levites with suitable dwellings and ensure their integration into the community. By spreading the Levites among the other tribes, it emphasized their role as spiritual leaders, teachers, and mediators of God’s law among the Israelites. The Levites did not receive a specific territory like the other tribes but were given forty-eight cities, with the surrounding pasturelands, from the territories of the other tribes.
Additionally, this commandment had a practical aspect to it as well. The Levites were not primarily farmers but were responsible for the religious duties of the Tabernacle, including maintaining and serving it. Therefore, by residing in cities distributed throughout the land, they had easier access to the people they served, and the people had easier access to them.
Numbers 35:9 serves as a starting point for this commandment, highlighting God’s direct communication to Moses, who then conveyed these instructions to the people. It underscores the authority and divine origin of the commandment, emphasizing that it came directly from God.
Overall, Numbers 35:9 and the subsequent verses highlight the importance of the Levites in the spiritual and communal life of the Israelites. It demonstrates God’s provision for their well-being and their integration into the community, fulfilling their role as spiritual leaders and mediators of God’s law.
