Charles Ellicott Commentary Numbers 35

Cities to dwell in.— The object of the dispersion of the Levites throughout the other tribes seems to have been primarily for the purpose of the instruction of their brothers in the law of the Lord (Deuteronomy 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.

For their cattle ... — The word which is rendered “cattle” generally denotes oxen and beasts of burden. The word which is rendered “goods” probably refers here to the sheep and goats. (Compare to 2 Chronicles 21:14; 2 Chronicles 35:7.) The passage may be rendered, for their cattle and for their substance, even for all their beasts.

And you shall measure from outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits... — The explanation of this passage commonly given by Jewish writers is that the area enclosed by four lines drawn at a distance of 1,000 cubits from the city walls was to be allotted to the Levites for their cattle, and a larger area enclosed by four lines drawn at a distance of 2,000 cubits from the inner suburbs was to be allotted to them for vineyards, etc.

The explanation by J. D. Michaelis is that only an area enclosed by four lines drawn 1,000 cubits from the city walls was to be assigned to the Levites, and that the length of the city walls, assuming the city was square, was to be added to the 2,000 cubits of the four boundary lines.

The Greek text has 2,000 in Numbers 35:4, as it does in Numbers 35:5. According to the first of these explanations (the one commonly given by Jewish writers), it is supposed that the space enclosed within the first thousand cubits from the city walls was for cattle, and the space within the 2,000 cubits beyond these walls was for vineyards, etc., or vice versa.

According to the explanation suggested by J. D. Michaelis, it is supposed that the length of the city wall was added to the 2,000 cubits in every case. Thus, e.g., for a city with walls 1,000 cubits in length and breadth, the suburbs would be 3,000 cubits in length and breadth; and for a city with walls 500 cubits in length and breadth, the suburbs would measure 2,500 cubits in length and breadth.

It is obvious that if this supposition is correct, the size of the suburbs would vary in each case with the size of the city. Consequently, the suburbs of a larger city, which would in all probability have a greater number of resident Levites, would be larger than those of a smaller city, where the number of Levites would probably be less.

At the same time, this explanation does not align as closely as the previous one (the Jewish writers' explanation) with the directive that in every case the measurement was to be 2,000 cubits.

(6, 7, 8) And among the cities which you shall give ... — The construction of this verse is involved; or, rather, there is a suspension of the subject in Numbers 35:6, and a resumption of it in Numbers 35:7-8.

The verses may be rendered as follows: And as to the cities which you shall give to the Levites, namely, the six cities of refuge which you shall give that the manslayer may flee there (and in addition to these you shall give forty-two cities) ; as to all the cities which you shall give to the Levites, namely, forty-eight cities, them and their suburbs; now as to the cities which you shall give from the possession of the children of Israel; from the many you shall take many, and from the few you shall take few ...

It had already been announced in general terms that a place should be appointed where anyone who had unintentionally smitten a man so that he died, and had not lain in wait with a view to commit murder, should flee (Exodus 21:12–13).

In the verses which follow, the law is delivered at length, and is repeated and further expanded in Deuteronomy 19:1-13. There were many reasons why all the cities of refuge were Levitical cities. Of these reasons the chief probably were:

1. that these cities were specially consecrated to the Lord (see Joshua 20:7, And they appointed, etc.—Hebrew, consecrated);
2. and that it was to the priests and Levites that the people looked as administrators of justice.

When you have come over Jordan ... — Or, You are going over the Jordan into the land of Canaan; and you shall appoint ...