John Calvin Commentary Numbers 35:4

"And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall be from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about." — Numbers 35:4 (ASV)

And the suburbs of the cities. A discrepancy appears here, from which a question arises. Moses first limits the suburbs to a thousand cubits from the city in every direction, and then seems to extend them to two thousand.

Some explain the difficulty this way: namely, that the parts nearest to the city were designated for cottages and gardens, and then another space of a thousand cubits was left free for their flocks and herds. However, this explanation seems merely invented to evade, by this subterfuge, the alleged contradiction.

My own opinion, rather, is that after Moses had given them a boundary of a thousand cubits on every side, he proceeds to show the way in which they were to be measured, so that he might prevent any quarrels that might arise with their neighbors.

It is plain that when he repeats the same thing twice, the latter statement is only an explanation of the former. Thus, it would be absurd that, after having fixed a thousand cubits, he should immediately double that number.

However, it will all be very consistent if this measurement is taken in a circuit. For if you draw a circle, and then a line from the center to the circumference, that line will be about a tenth of the whole circumference. If you then compare the fourth part of the circle with the straight line going to the center, it will be greater by one and a half parts.

But if you leave a thousand cubits for the city, the two thousand cubits¹⁹⁹ in the four parts of the circumference will correspond with one thousand cubits from the city towards each of the boundaries.

It is afterwards prescribed, in accordance with equity, that a greater or lesser number of cities should be taken according to the size of the possessions belonging to each tribe. For, just as in paying tax or tribute, regard is given to each person’s means, so it was just that every tribe should contribute equitably in proportion to its abundance.

Regarding the cities of refuge, I will now omit explaining their condition, because this matter relates to the Sixth Commandment. Let us only observe that the unfortunate exiles were entrusted to the care of the Levites so that they might be more safely guarded.

Furthermore, it was probable that those who presided over holy things would be upright and honest judges, so as not to admit individuals indiscriminately out of hope of personal gain or from carelessness, but only to protect the innocent after duly examining their case.

¹⁹⁹ “Les huit mille coudees prinses aux quatre quatriers conviendront avec les mille coudees d’espace entre la ville, et les bornes des fanbourgs.” — .” — Fr. The more common solution of this difficulty appears to be that suggested by Maimonides, viz., that besides the 1000 cubits allotted to the suburbs, 2000 more were added for fields and vineyards. Rosenmuller, however, demurs to this interpretation, which he does not consider the text will bear. I have translated . The more common solution of this difficulty appears to be that suggested by Maimonides, viz., that besides the 1000 cubits allotted to the suburbs, 2000 more were added for fields and vineyards. Rosenmuller, however, demurs to this interpretation, which he does not consider the text will bear. I have translated C. word for word, but I believe his figures are wrong. It is probable that his theory is the same as that of Corn. a Lapide, which he thus more clearly propounds, “God seems here to comprise the city and its suburbs in a circle, so that the center should be the city, and the circumference should end at the distance of 1000 cubits on every side of the city walls. This circle He divides into four triangles, each of which is . word for word, but I believe his figures are wrong. It is probable that his theory is the same as that of Corn. a Lapide, which he thus more clearly propounds, “God seems here to comprise the city and its suburbs in a circle, so that the center should be the city, and the circumference should end at the distance of 1000 cubits on every side of the city walls. This circle He divides into four triangles, each of which is isosceles, i e., it, has its two sides equal, which are drawn from the center to the circumference. God, therefore, here commands, that the suburbs on every side should be extended a thousand cubits, and that the east side should be contained in two lines (each, of course, of 1000 cubits) drawn from the city to the circumference of the suburbs, which two lines comprehend that east side in the shape of a triangle;” and so also with the other sides, “so that the two lines drawn to the circumference of each side, which are the two equal sides of the triangle, should together contain 2000 cubits."it, has its two sides equal, which are drawn from the center to the circumference. God, therefore, here commands, that the suburbs on every side should be extended a thousand cubits, and that the east side should be contained in two lines (each, of course, of 1000 cubits) drawn from the city to the circumference of the suburbs, which two lines comprehend that east side in the shape of a triangle;” and so also with the other sides, “so that the two lines drawn to the circumference of each side, which are the two equal sides of the triangle, should together contain 2000 cubits."