Numbers 35 3

Numbers 35:3 kjv

And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.

Numbers 35:3 nkjv

They shall have the cities to dwell in; and their common-land shall be for their cattle, for their herds, and for all their animals.

Numbers 35:3 niv

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

Numbers 35:3 esv

The cities shall be theirs to dwell in, and their pasturelands shall be for their cattle and for their livestock and for all their beasts.

Numbers 35:3 nlt

These towns will be for the Levites to live in, and the surrounding lands will provide pasture for their cattle, flocks, and other livestock.

Numbers 35 verses

Numbers 35 3 Meaning

Numbers 35:3 outlines the designated purpose of the two distinct areas allotted to the Levites: the inner city space and the surrounding pasture lands. Their cities were primarily for habitation, providing places for the Levites and their families to live. The adjacent suburban lands were specifically set aside for their essential livelihood, including their domestic animals, general possessions, and all their livestock and resources that relied on grazing. This verse details the functional allocation of the land provided to the Levitical tribe, emphasizing both their residential needs and their economic sustenance within the communal structure of Israel.

Numbers 35 3 Context

Numbers chapter 35, along with the preceding chapters, details the final preparations for Israel's entry into the Promised Land under Moses' leadership. This specific chapter outlines the provision for the Levites, who, unlike the other tribes, did not receive an inherited territory. Instead, they were allotted 48 cities spread throughout the land, each with accompanying pasture lands. This unique allocation reflects their distinct role in Israel: they were set apart for the service of the Lord, maintaining the tabernacle/temple, teaching the Law, and judging disputes. Verse 3 directly follows the general instruction for these cities and their suburbs (v. 2) and precedes the specification of the dimensions of these pasture lands (v. 4) and the crucial establishment of the six Cities of Refuge within these Levitical cities (v. 6ff). The placement of the Levites throughout the land ensured accessibility for all tribes to their religious instruction and judicial functions, while the specific design of their property guaranteed their physical sustenance and a stable home life, necessary for fulfilling their spiritual duties.

Numbers 35 3 Word analysis

• and their cities (וְהֶעָרִים ve-he-ʿarim):

  • Original: עָרִים (arim) is the plural of עִיר ('ir), meaning "city" or "town."
  • Significance: These were not isolated homes but actual established towns. Their distribution across all tribal territories (as later detailed in Joshua 21) was crucial for the Levites' mission, enabling them to minister to all Israel. They served as administrative and religious hubs for their respective areas.

• shall they have to dwell in; (תִּהְיֶה לָּהֶם לָשָׁבֶת tihye lahem lashavet):

  • Original: לָשֶׁבֶת (lashevet), infinitive construct of ישב (yashav), "to sit," "to dwell," "to inhabit," "to reside."
  • Significance: This emphasizes the primary purpose of the city portion: providing stable, permanent residences for the Levites and their families. This security of habitation was vital as they did not inherit large agricultural territories like the other tribes.

• and their suburbs (וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶם u-migreshehem):

  • Original: מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶם (migrashehem), plural construct of מִגְרָשׁ (migrash), meaning "pasture land," "common land," "open space," or "suburb" (referring to the land surrounding the city, not densely built-up areas).
  • Significance: This land was explicitly for common use, primarily for pasturing animals and other open-air activities related to sustaining life. It distinguishes the uninhabited common land from the inhabited city, and crucially, it was not to be sold (Lev 25:34), ensuring the Levites' perpetual livelihood and distinct status.

• shall be for their cattle, (תִּהְיֶה לִבְהֶמְתָּם tihye livhemtam):

  • Original: בְּהֶמְתָּם (behemtam), "their livestock," "their domestic animals" (cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys).
  • Significance: Indicates that the Levites, though set apart for spiritual duties, still relied on agricultural sustenance. The pasture lands were essential for supporting their livestock, which in turn provided milk, wool, meat, and perhaps transport or labor.

• and for their goods, (וְלִקְנֵהֶם ve-liknehem):

  • Original: לִקְנֵהֶם (liqnehem), "their property," "their possessions," "their acquired things." Related to קִנְיָן (qinyan).
  • Significance: This refers to a broader category of their movable wealth or acquired possessions, which might be stored, maintained, or derived from the migrash itself. It suggests the broader economic utility of the open land, not just for animals.

• and for all their beasts. (וּלְכָל-חַיָּתָם u-lekol-chayyatam):

  • Original: חַיָּתָם (chayyatam), "their living things," often refers to wild animals but here, in parallel with בְּהֶמָה, is understood to encompass all their animate possessions or perhaps smaller, non-grazing livestock, or generally, any creature belonging to them, completing the concept of their entire animal holdings and the natural resources associated with the land.
  • Significance: This comprehensive term emphasizes that the migrash was for all their living creatures and the natural resources supporting them, ensuring their complete self-sufficiency within this designated land. It solidifies the function of the suburbs as the Levites' economic foundation.

Word Group/Phrase Analysis:

• "their cities shall they have to dwell in; and their suburbs shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts."
  • This phrase clearly delineates the dual function of the Levite property. The "cities" (habitation) versus "suburbs" (livelihood) shows a deliberate planning by God for the well-being of those dedicated to His service. This separation of function was practical for sanitary and communal reasons. The distinction reflects a principle of dedicated spaces for dedicated purposes within God's ordered society. It ensures that the spiritual servants of Israel had a secure home life (cities) and a reliable economic base (suburbs), preventing them from becoming a burden on other tribes while still enabling their pervasive presence for ministry.

Numbers 35 3 Bonus section

The Levite cities, with their distinctive suburbs, present a profound theological message: that those dedicated to sacred service are fully supported by God's plan, yet also required to manage their resources diligently. The migrash was perpetually set apart and could not be sold (Lev 25:34), emphasizing the enduring nature of their divine inheritance and calling. This structural provision underscores a principle: God expects service from His chosen ones, but He also provides for their sustenance and stability. It established a model of economic viability and settled existence for those whose primary 'work' was spiritual and educational. This design avoided the concentration of priestly power in one land region and instead diffused spiritual influence throughout the nation. It reflects God's wisdom in creating an orderly, sustainable system for the religious and legal backbone of His covenant people.

Numbers 35 3 Commentary

Numbers 35:3 encapsulates God's specific and practical provision for the Levitical tribe, underlining their unique status and function within ancient Israel. Since the Levites were chosen to serve the Lord exclusively, acting as mediators, teachers of the Law, and administrators of justice, they received no tribal land inheritance. Instead, God ordained these 48 cities and their associated pasture lands (the migrashim) throughout Israel's territory. This verse highlights the two essential components: the inner city for residential needs (to dwell in) and the outer pasture lands for their economic sustenance (for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts).

This arrangement was not arbitrary; it served profound theological and practical purposes. The scattered location of the Levitical cities ensured that the Levites, who were the custodians of God's law and sanctuary practices, were accessible to all tribes across the land. They were strategically placed to teach the covenant, mediate disputes, and maintain spiritual integrity within the nation, acting as a constant spiritual compass for Israel. The provision of cities for dwelling provided a stable home base, crucial for families engaged in sacred service. The adjacent migrashim secured their livelihood, affirming that those dedicated to God's service should be adequately provided for, living by their modest possessions and animal husbandry, not dependent on handouts, yet perpetually linked to God's own direct provision, as He was their inheritance. This ensured their purity and distinction, enabling them to fulfill their duties without undue worldly entanglement, while still engaging in productive activity that supported their families. This divine foresight reveals God's meticulous care for those consecrated to Him, demonstrating that His servants' basic needs are accounted for in His grand design.