Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites
On the plains of Moab, the LORD tells Moses that the Levites are to receive cities to live in, along with surrounding land for their livestock. Their provision is built into Israel's coming inheritance.
A1gain the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho: 2“Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities. 3The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock.
Verse 1The LORD speaks again to Moses on the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho.
It introduces the final instruction in this setting.
Verse 2Israel is commanded to give the Levites cities to live in, along with pasturelands around them, from the inheritance each tribe will receive.
It states the basic requirement for Levitical provision.
Verse 3These cities are for the Levites' dwelling, and the pasturelands are for their herds, flocks, and other livestock.
It explains the practical use of the gift.
The pasturelands around each Levitical city are then measured in fixed dimensions, with the city at the center. The text gives the physical bounds of the land attached to each city.
4The pasturelands around the cities you are to give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits from the wall on every side. 5You are also to measure two thousand cubits outside the city on the east, two thousand on the south, two thousand on the west, and two thousand on the north, with the city in the center. These areas will serve as larger pasturelands for the cities.
Verse 4The pasturelands around the cities are to extend one thousand cubits from the city wall on every side.
It begins specifying the boundaries of the pasturelands.
Verse 5A larger measurement is then given on all four sides, with the city in the center, to mark the full pasturelands belonging to each city.
It completes the spatial definition of the Levitical lands.
Among the Levites' forty-eight cities, six are set apart as cities of refuge, while the rest remain ordinary Levitical towns. Each tribe contributes cities in proportion to the size of its inheritance.
6Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities. 7The total number of cities you give the Levites will be forty-eight, with their corresponding pasturelands. 8The cities that you apportion from the territory of the Israelites should be given to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one.”
Verse 6Six of the Levites' cities are to be cities of refuge for a manslayer, and forty-two others are to be added besides them.
It connects the Levitical cities to the refuge system.
Verse 7The total comes to forty-eight cities, each with its pasturelands.
It summarizes the full allotment.
Verse 8The tribes are to give these cities in proportion to their inheritance, with larger tribes giving more and smaller tribes giving less.
It distributes the burden of provision across Israel.
A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.
- vv. 1-3
On the plains of Moab, the LORD tells Moses that the Levites are to receive cities to live in, along with surrounding land for their livestock. Their provision is built into Israel's coming inheritance.
This paragraph introduces the command and states its practical purpose for Levitical life. - vv. 4-5
The pasturelands around each Levitical city are then measured in fixed dimensions, with the city at the center. The text gives the physical bounds of the land attached to each city.
This paragraph defines the extent of the Levites' allotted pasturelands. - vv. 6-8
Among the Levites' forty-eight cities, six are set apart as cities of refuge, while the rest remain ordinary Levitical towns. Each tribe contributes cities in proportion to the size of its inheritance.
This paragraph completes the allocation and links it to the refuge system that follows.