God’s Word Translation
Numbers 35:2
2“Tell the Israelites to give the Levites some cities from their own property. They must also give the Levites the pastureland around those cities.
Numbers 35:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.
- New International Version (NIV)“Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites some of the inheritance of their possession as cities for them to dwell in. And you shall give to the Levites pasturelands around the cities.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Command the children of Israel that they give the Levites cities to dwell in from the inheritance of their possession, and you shall also give the Levites common-land around the cities.
Context of Numbers 35:2
1The Lord spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho. He said, “Tell the Israelites to give the Levites some cities from their own property. They must also give the Levites the pastureland around those cities. 3Then the Levites will have cities to live in and pastureland for their cattle, the flocks they own, and any other animals they have. 4“The land around the cities that you give the Levites will extend 1,500 feet from the city wall.
Read all of Numbers 35Numbers 35:2 word by word
צַו֮ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְנָתְנ֣וּ לַלְוִיִּ֗ם מִֽנַּחֲלַ֛ת אֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם עָרִ֣ים לָשָׁ֑בֶת וּמִגְרָ֗שׁ לֶֽעָרִים֙ סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם תִּתְּנ֖וּ לַלְוִיִּֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Commandצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- that they giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- unto the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
- of the inheritanceנַחֲלָהnachălâh · inheritanceH5159
- of their possessionאֲחֻזָּה'ăchûzzâh · possessionH272
- citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- to dwell inיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- suburbsמִגְרָשׁmigrâsh migrâshâh · pastureH4054
- round aboutסָבִיבsâbîyb sebîybâh · aroundH5439
Cross-references for Numbers 35:2
- Leviticus 25:32“The Levites always have the right to buy back their property in the cities they own.
- Joshua 14:3Moses had given the two-and-a-half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan River. He did not give any land as an inheritance to Levi’s tribe,
- Joshua 21:2at Shiloh in Canaan. They said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that we should receive cities to live in and pasturelands for our livestock.”
- Ezekiel 45:1“ ‘Divide the land by drawing lots for the property you will inherit. Set aside an area 43,750 feet long and 35,000 feet wide for the Lord. The entire area will be holy.
- Ezekiel 48:8The land that you set aside as a special gift for the Lord will border Judah on the south. It will be 43,750 feet wide, and it will be as long as one of the sections of the tribes. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border, and the holy place will be in the middle of it.
- 1 Corinthians 9:10Isn’t he speaking entirely for our benefit? This was written for our benefit so that the person who plows or threshes should expect to receive a share of the crop.
Commentaries on Numbers 35:2
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Suburbs - Rather, “pasture-grounds,” required for their large cattle, for their sheep and goats, and for all their beasts whatever they might be Numbers 35:3.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-8The tribe of Levi did not receive its own land. So chapter 35 explains how they received 48 towns spread out among the lands of the other tribes (see Joshua 21; see also Leviticus 25:32–34; 1 Chronicles 13:2; 2 Chronicles 11:14). During the wilderness journey, the Levites lived in the center of the Israelite camp (compare Numbers 2:17). In the promised land, they were to live among the other tribes. Their presence was meant to influence the people for…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-52. give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in--As the Levites were to have no territorial domain allocated to them like the other tribes on the conquest of Canaan, they were to be distributed throughout the land in certain cities appropriated to their use; and these cities were to be surrounded by extensive suburbs. There is an apparent discrepancy between Nu 35:4 and Nu 35:5, with regard to the extent of these…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 35:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 35
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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