351 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, in the plains of Moab, by Jordan, 'near' Jericho, saying, 2 'Command the sons of Israel, and they have given to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to inhabit; also a suburb for the cities round about them ye do give to the Levites. 3 And the cities have been to them to inhabit, and their suburbs are for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts. 4 'And the suburbs of the cities which ye give to the Levites 'are', from the wall of the city and without, a thousand cubits round about. 5 And ye have measured from the outside of the city, the east quarter, two thousand by the cubit, and the south quarter, two thousand by the cubit, and the west quarter, two thousand by the cubit, and the north quarter, two thousand by the cubit; and the city 'is' in the midst; this is to them the suburbs of the cities. 6 'And the cities which ye give to the Levites 'are' the six cities of refuge, which ye give for the fleeing thither of the man-slayer, and besides them ye give forty and two cities; 7 all the cities which ye give to the Levites 'are' forty and eight cities, them and their suburbs. 8 And the cities which ye give 'are' of the possession of the sons of Israel, from the many ye multiply, and from the few ye diminish; each, according to his inheritance which they inherit, doth give of his cities to the Levites.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 35:1-8
Commentary on Numbers 35:1-8
(Read Numbers 35:1-8)
The cities of the priests and Levites were not only to accommodate them, but to place them, as religious teachers, in several parts of the land. For though the typical service of the tabernacle or temple was only in one place, the preaching of the word of God, and prayer and praise, were not thus confined. These cities were to be given out of each tribe. Each thus made a grateful acknowledgement to God. Each tribe had the benefit of the Levites dwelling amongst them, to teach them the knowledge of the Lord; thus no parts of the country were left to sit in darkness. The gospel provides that he who is taught in the word, should communicate to him that teaches, in all good things, Galatians 6:6. We are to free God's ministers from distracting cares, and to leave them at leisure for the duties of their station; so that they may be wholly employed therein, and avail themselves of every opportunity, by acts of kindness, to gain the good-will of the people, and to draw their attention.