Numbers 35:5 kjv
And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.
Numbers 35:5 nkjv
And you shall measure outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, on the south side two thousand cubits, on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits. The city shall be in the middle. This shall belong to them as common-land for the cities.
Numbers 35:5 niv
Outside the town, measure two thousand cubits on the east side, two thousand on the south side, two thousand on the west and two thousand on the north, with the town in the center. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns.
Numbers 35:5 esv
And you shall measure, outside the city, on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits, the city being in the middle. This shall belong to them as pastureland for their cities.
Numbers 35:5 nlt
Measure off 3,000 feet outside the town walls in every direction ? east, south, west, north ? with the town at the center. This area will serve as the larger pastureland for the towns.
Numbers 35 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 35:2 | "Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites ...cities to dwell in and pasture lands..." | Mandate for Levitical cities and their open land. |
| Num 35:7 | "All the cities that you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities with their pasture lands." | Total number of cities and pasture lands. |
| Josh 21:1-42 | Entire chapter details the allocation of Levitical cities with their pasture lands. | Fulfillment of the command. |
| Lev 25:34 | "The pasture lands of the cities of the Levites may not be sold, for that is their perpetual possession." | Permanence and inalienability of the land. |
| Num 18:20-24 | The Lord declares that the Levites will have no inheritance among Israel but serve the Lord and receive tithes. | Levites' divine provision. |
| Deut 10:9 | "Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers..." | Reiterates Levites' unique status. |
| Deut 12:18-19 | Instruction to remember the Levites and share with them. | Generosity towards Levites. |
| Ezek 45:2 | Describes a sanctuary area in the future, mentioning a surrounding common land (migrash). | Similar concept of designated communal space. |
| Ezek 48:17 | Provides dimensions for the common land (migrash) for the holy city in the future vision. | Echoes the idea of surrounding measured land. |
| 1 Chron 6:54-81 | Details specific cities given to the Levites, fulfilling the instruction. | Historical record of fulfillment. |
| 2 Chron 31:4 | Hezekiah's command to give the portion due to the priests and Levites. | Supporting God's ministers. |
| Neh 11:3 | List of cities where chief men of Israel lived, implicitly with their associated lands. | Continuation of land arrangements. |
| Acts 4:32 | "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was common property." | Early church communal care (spiritual parallel). |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | "In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." | Principle of supporting full-time ministry. |
| Luke 10:7 | "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages." | Support for those engaged in ministry. |
| Matt 10:10 | "for the laborer deserves his food." | Principle of providing for ministry workers. |
| Rom 15:26-27 | Gentile believers sharing their material blessings with Jerusalem saints. | Mutual support within God's people. |
| Gal 6:6 | "Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches." | Reciprocity in spiritual/material sharing. |
| Exod 25:8 | "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." | God's desire to dwell among His people, the Levites facilitating. |
| Num 3:7-8 | Instructions for the Levites' service regarding the Tabernacle. | Levites' specific role necessitating specific provision. |
| John 14:2 | "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" | Future inheritance and provision in God's eternal plan. |
| Heb 7:11-12 | "If perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood... what further need would there have been for another priest to arise... for when there is a change in the priesthood, there must be a change in the law as well." | Changes from physical inheritance to spiritual priesthood. |
Numbers 35 verses
Numbers 35 5 Meaning
Numbers 35:5 describes the precise dimensions of the pasture land (known as the migrash) to be allotted to the Levites alongside their cities. For each Levitical city, a square plot extending two thousand cubits (approximately half a mile) was to be measured outward from each of its four sides: east, south, west, and north. This ensured the city remained centrally located within this communal land. This surrounding area was designated for the Levites' use, primarily for their livestock and communal needs, providing for them as they had no tribal land inheritance.
Numbers 35 5 Context
Numbers chapter 35 details specific regulations concerning the allocation of cities for the Levites and the establishment of cities of refuge. This chapter directly follows instructions for the division of the land among the other tribes. The Levites, being consecrated to the Lord for service in the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple), did not receive an tribal land inheritance (Num 18:20-24, Deut 10:9). Instead, God ordained that they would receive 48 cities, drawn from the inheritance of the other tribes, which were to be their dwelling places. Verse 5 is a specific instruction within this broader context, precisely defining the extent of the "pasture lands" or "suburbs" (migrash) that were to surround each of these Levitical cities. These surrounding lands were essential for the Levites' sustenance, providing space for their animals, storage, and other communal functions, thereby securing their livelihoods as servants of the Lord within a territorial system. Historically, this system ensured that the Levites were geographically dispersed among all tribes, serving as spiritual teachers and judges, while still having their practical needs met through communal land and tithes.
Numbers 35 5 Word analysis
- And you shall measure: This command, issued by God through Moses, emphasizes the precise and divinely ordained nature of the allocation. It signifies meticulous planning for order within the promised land.
- outside the city: (
מִחוּץ לָעִיר, michutz la-`ir) - This indicates the measurement starts from the external edge or boundary of the city proper, not from its center or an arbitrary point within. It sets a clear perimeter for the extended land. - on the east side two thousand cubits: (
מִזְרָחָה אַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה, mizrachah alpayim ammah) -- east side: Specifies a cardinal direction, establishing a precise geometric layout. The command repeats for all four cardinal directions, signifying a perfectly square or symmetrically extending area.
- two thousand: (
אַלְפַּיִם, alpayim) - This is the dual form, meaning "two thousands," emphasizing the exactness of the number. - cubits: (
אַמָּה, ammah) - The standard unit of linear measurement in ancient Israel, typically taken from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, estimated at 18-21 inches (approx. 45-52.5 cm). Two thousand cubits is therefore a significant distance, around half a mile (approx. 0.8 km), ensuring substantial land.
- and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits: The repetitive structure underscores the uniformity and strict application of this law to all sides of every Levitical city, ensuring a consistent and ample land provision. This highlights a deliberate, God-given order.
- the city shall be in the middle of it: (
וְהָעִיר בַּתָּוֶךְ, v'ha`ir battawekh) - This phrase confirms that the two thousand cubits extend outward symmetrically from the city walls in all directions, placing the city perfectly centered within its migrash. This precise positioning is important for administration, defense, and practical usage. - This shall belong to them for the open land of the cities: (
לָהֶם תִּהְיֶה לְמִגְרַשׁ הֶעָרִים, lahem tihyeh l'migrash he`arim) -- This shall belong to them: Confirms divine endowment and ownership for the Levites, an ongoing possession as established in Lev 25:34.
- open land of the cities: (
מִגְרָשׁ הֶעָרִים, migrash he`arim) - The termmigrash(migrash) refers to common pasture ground or open country surrounding the walled cities. It was integral for pasturing livestock, essential for the Levites who did not farm tribal plots, and could also be used for threshing floors, olive presses, burial grounds, and other communal needs that did not fit inside the compact walled cities. It represents God's practical provision for the vocational support of His dedicated servants.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "And you shall measure outside the city, on the east side two thousand cubits... and on the north side two thousand cubits; the city shall be in the middle of it.": This entire clause precisely defines the method and result of establishing the Levites' property. It demonstrates a God who cares about practical detail, order, and equity in the allocation of resources for His people, particularly for those consecrated to His service. The exactness of the measurement indicates an orderly, rather than haphazard, provision.
- "This shall belong to them for the open land of the cities.": This concluding statement reaffirms the purpose and ownership of the meticulously defined area. It underscores that these lands are an intrinsic and permanent part of the Levites' designated support, not merely temporary allotments. This land provided a practical base for their livelihood alongside the tithes, ensuring their sustained ability to minister.
Numbers 35 5 Bonus section
The interpretation of the "two thousand cubits" has seen some rabbinic discussion, particularly regarding Mishnah Erubin 5:1, which suggests a division: the first thousand cubits outward from the city were designated purely for migrash, and the next thousand cubits beyond that were for fields and vineyards that belonged to the citizens but were still technically within the extended municipal area for certain Sabbath-related boundaries. However, the plain sense of Num 35:5 simply states "two thousand cubits" without this distinction, implying a direct and contiguous measurement for the migrash. The primary usage of this migrash was for livestock (cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats) and essential outdoor activities like winnowing and threshing grain, indicating that the Levites were expected to participate in some level of productive activity despite not owning vast agricultural lands like the other tribes. This communal land system underscored that every aspect of the Israelite community, even land distribution and city planning, was under divine direction and had a theological purpose—to facilitate God's ordered dwelling among His people through the service of the Levites.
Numbers 35 5 Commentary
Numbers 35:5 details a fundamental aspect of God's provision for the Levites: the physical infrastructure that underpinned their existence as His consecrated tribe. Without an inheritance of agricultural land, their livelihood depended on offerings and specific divine provisions. The two thousand cubits of open land (migrash) surrounding each of their 48 cities was vital, providing pasture for their livestock, a critical component of their subsistence economy. The meticulous precision of the measurement—two thousand cubits symmetrically in each cardinal direction, with the city perfectly centered—reveals God's orderliness and His thorough care for the practical needs of those set apart for His service. It ensured equitable and adequate resources, preventing disputes and guaranteeing the Levites' ability to sustain themselves as they fulfilled their spiritual duties among the tribes of Israel. This instruction highlights that divine command is not solely about abstract theological principles but encompasses concrete, practical, and fair arrangements for communal living and supporting those dedicated to spiritual leadership.