Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 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.
2. suburbs ] ‘pasture lands’ (marg.) rightly represents the true force of the word, which denotes lit. a place for driving cattle (cf. Num 35:3). But it came to be used more generally of common land surrounding a town, which all the inhabitants had the right to use. It occurs very frequently in P passages of Josh. and 1 Ch.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Suburbs – Rather, pasture-grounds, required for their large cattle, for their sheep and goats, and for all their beasts whatever they might be Num 35:3.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
2. give unto the Levites of theinheritance of their possession cities to dwell inAs theLevites were to have no territorial domain allocated to them like theother tribes on the conquest of Canaan, they were to be distributedthroughout the land in certain cities appropriated to their use; andthese cities were to be surrounded by extensive suburbs. There is anapparent discrepancy between Num 35:4;Num 35:5, with regard to theextent of these suburbs; but the statements in the two verses referto totally different thingsthe one to the extent of the suburbsfrom the walls of the city, the other to the space of two thousandcubits from their extremity. In point of fact, there was an extent ofground, amounting to three thousand cubits, measured from the wall ofthe city. One thousand were most probably occupied with outhouses forthe accommodation of shepherds and other servants, with gardens,vineyards, or oliveyards. And these which were portioned out todifferent families (1Ch 6:60)might be sold by one Levite to another, but not to any individual ofanother tribe (Jer 32:7). Theother two thousand cubits remained a common for the pasturing ofcattle (Le 25:34) and,considering their number, that space would be fully required.
Nu35:6-8. CITIES OFREFUGE.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 the Lord, who had given them freely all they should possess, and who had a right to all they had, and to whom they were in duty and gratitude bound to do his will and pleasure: the order is,
that they give unto the Levites, of the inheritance of their possession, cities to dwell in; which was but reasonable and requisite, that the ministers of God, and the assistants of the priests, and who did the service of the congregation, that they should have, habitations for them and their families, as well as food and raiment was provided for them in another way:
and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them; which were partly for ornament to their cities, and partly for their health, that they might have air, and not be too closely confined within the walls of their cities; and also for convenience, that they have room for their cattle, and places to lay up the increase of their fields, as after suggested. Jarchi says, that a suburb was a space and place parted without the city, round about, for the beauty of it; but they were not allowed to build there an house (i.e. to dwell in), nor to plant a vineyard, nor to sow seed; other ground is after provided for such uses.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
XXXV.
(2) Cities to dwell in.The object of the dispersion of the Levites throughout the other tribes seems to have been primarily with a view to the instruction of their brethren in the law of the Lord (Deu. 33:10). It is probable that the Levites also discharged all those other functions which are now discharged by the learned professions.
And ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs . . . The word migrash, suburb, denotes, probably, pasture ground into which flocks are driven.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Observe the care of GOD over his ministry. Here, as in the gospel state, the LORD hath provided that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 1Co 9:14 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 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.
Ver. 2. Suburbs. ] These were for pasture, pleasure, and other country commodities, not for tillage; for the Levites were to have no such employment. Num 18:20 ; Num 18:24
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
children = sons.
that they give. Jehovah gives to the Nation; the Nation gives to the Levites.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Lev 25:32, Lev 25:33, Jos 14:3, Jos 14:4, Jos 21:2-42, Eze 45:1-8, Eze 48:8, Eze 48:22, 1Co 9:10-14
Reciprocal: Num 26:57 – these are Num 26:62 – those that Deu 18:6 – come Deu 33:11 – his substance 1Ch 6:64 – with their 1Ch 13:2 – their cities and suburbs 2Ch 11:14 – suburbs 2Ch 31:19 – the fields Neh 13:10 – to his field Jer 32:7 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 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, being also of the tribe of Levi, are here comprehended under the common name of Levites, as well as those inferior ministers of religion generally signified by that term.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
35:2 Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the {a} Levites of the inheritance of their possession {b} cities to dwell in; and ye shall give [also] unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.
(a) Because they had no inheritance assigned them in the land of Canaan.
(b) God would have them scattered through all the land, because the people might be preserved by them in the obedience of God and his Law.