Numbers 35 4

Numbers 35:4 kjv

And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.

Numbers 35:4 nkjv

The common-land of the cities which you will give the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all around.

Numbers 35:4 niv

"The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits from the town wall.

Numbers 35:4 esv

The pasturelands of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all around.

Numbers 35:4 nlt

The pastureland assigned to the Levites around these towns will extend 1,500 feet from the town walls in every direction.

Numbers 35 verses

Numbers 35 4 Meaning

The verse defines the specific boundaries for the "suburbs" or common lands surrounding the cities given to the Levites. These areas, extending 1000 cubits outward from the city wall in every direction, were designated as pasture for their livestock, crucial for their livelihood and the performance of their sacred duties. This provision ensured the Levites had economic support, fulfilling God's commitment to those consecrated to His service.

Numbers 35 4 Context

Numbers chapter 35 details the allocation of cities and their surrounding lands to the Levites, alongside the establishment of cities of refuge. Following the broader narrative of the Israelites preparing to enter and conquer Canaan, this chapter outlines how the land will be distributed to sustain the priestly tribe. The Levites, being exclusively dedicated to tabernacle service, were not to inherit tribal land like the other Israelite tribes. Therefore, a unique provision was made for their sustenance through these cities and the associated pasture lands. Verse 4 specifically describes the boundaries of the pasture ground (the migrash) surrounding these Levitical cities, ensuring practical provisions for their cattle, which were essential for their families' livelihood and for sacrificial animals. This instruction is part of God's meticulous ordering of the nation of Israel as it transitioned from nomadic life to a settled agricultural society.

Numbers 35 4 Word analysis

• And the suburbs (מִגְרָשׁ - migrash):
  • Migrash refers specifically to open pasture ground or common land outside a city wall, distinct from agricultural fields (sadeh) or vineyards (kerem).
  • Significance: It highlights the primary use of this land—for grazing animals, vital for the Levites' sustenance and the support of sacrificial cultus. It establishes a communal space around the cities.
• of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites:
  • "Cities": Not specific to Levitical cities here, but general designation.
  • "Ye shall give": Emphasizes this was a communal responsibility and divine command to the other tribes of Israel to provide for the Levites.
  • "Unto the Levites": Clearly designates the recipients and purpose. The Levites were separated for service and relied on this provision for their livelihood, underscoring the interdependency within the Israelite community, with God as the ultimate provider.
• shall reach from the wall of the city outward:
  • "From the wall": The city wall serves as the precise starting point and demarcation line for the measurement. This provides a clear, universally understood boundary in ancient urban planning.
  • "Outward": Specifies the direction of the extension, away from the inhabited area, for pasture use.
• a thousand (אֶלֶף - eleph) cubits (אַמָּה - ammah):
  • "A thousand": A precise numerical specification.
  • "Cubits": A unit of ancient measurement, typically from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (approx. 18-21 inches or 45-52 cm). 1000 cubits would be approximately 1500 feet or 450-520 meters.
  • Significance: The exact measurement ensures uniform and sufficient land for all Levitical cities, preventing disputes and guaranteeing adequate resources for the Levites' needs, demonstrating God's meticulous care and detailed planning for His people and those consecrated to His service.
• round about (סָבִיב - saviv):
  • Meaning: Encircling, on all sides, surrounding.
  • Significance: Indicates that this pasture land extended in every direction from the city wall, providing comprehensive and equally accessible grazing areas around the settlement. It implies completeness and equity in the provision.

Words-group analysis

• "the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites": This phrase encapsulates God's specific command for the material support of the Levites, who, unlike the other tribes, received no territorial inheritance. It establishes their economic basis in Israel, rooted in communal responsibility and divine directive.
• "from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits round about": This provides a meticulous and precise legal description of the Levitical land boundaries. The specificity demonstrates divine order and foresight in preventing disputes over land use and ensuring the adequacy of the pasture for the Levites' livestock. It contrasts with more general land descriptions for other tribes, highlighting the unique nature of the Levites' possession, which was entirely consecrated and designed to enable their sacred duties.

Numbers 35 4 Bonus section

The exact dimensions mentioned in Numbers 35:4, describing a 1000-cubit "suburb" (migrash) around the Levitical cities, are sometimes viewed in conjunction with Numbers 35:5. While verse 4 explicitly defines the pasture land as extending 1000 cubits outward from the wall, verse 5 mentions a measure of 2000 cubits on each side. Scholars have interpreted this in various ways to harmonize the two measurements:

1. Concentric Rings: The 1000 cubits of verse 4 describe the immediate inner ring of pasture (the migrash itself). The 2000 cubits of verse 5 describe a larger total area of "open land" that extended further out, encompassing the pasture and additional fields/vineyards.
2. Square Measure: Some understand the "1000 cubits round about" (v.4) as the depth of the pasture band immediately outside the wall, and the "2000 cubits" (v.5) as the total side length of a perfect square parcel of land surrounding the city. In this interpretation, the city might be envisioned in the center of a 2000x2000 cubit square, leaving a perimeter of common land for the Levites.However, the most direct reading of verse 4 focuses specifically on the migrash (pasture land) itself, indicating it extends 1000 cubits from the city wall outward for its direct function. This detailed allocation showcases God's precision in governing His covenant people, even down to property boundaries for vocational and spiritual purposes.

Numbers 35 4 Commentary

Numbers 35:4 details the practical provision for the Levites, defining the precise dimensions of their migrash, the pasture lands surrounding their designated cities. This commandment ensured the Levites' self-sufficiency by providing adequate grazing areas for their livestock, essential for their livelihood and the supply of animals for sacrifice. As the tribe consecrated wholly to Yahweh's service, they were not to inherit agricultural lands; instead, God provided for them through the contributions of other tribes and through these designated common lands. The specificity of "a thousand cubits round about" speaks to God's divine order and meticulous planning, ensuring that His consecrated servants were well-supported, allowing them to focus entirely on their priestly and liturgical duties without being burdened by material lack. This principle echoes throughout scripture, highlighting God's care for His ministers and the community's responsibility to uphold them.