Numbers 35:8 - Concerning the cities which you shall give of the possession of the children of Israel, from the many you shall take many; and from the few you shall take few. Everyone according to his inheritance which he inherits shall give some of his cities to the Levites.”

Generated Verse: Numbers 35:8

What does "Numbers 35:8" mean?


Numbers 35:8 is part of a larger section (Numbers 35:1-8) that outlines how the Levites are to be provided with cities to live in. Since the Levites did not receive a territorial inheritance like the other tribes, this was the way they were supported and able to fulfill their religious duties.

Here's a breakdown of the verse:

"Concerning the cities which you shall give of the possession of the children of Israel...": This sets the context: the Levites will receive cities, not from empty land, but from the established territories of the other Israelite tribes.
"...from the many you shall take many; and from the few you shall take few.": This principle establishes proportionality. Tribes with larger territories (and presumably more resources) will contribute more cities to the Levites than tribes with smaller territories. It's a fair and just way to distribute the responsibility.
"Everyone according to his inheritance which he inherits shall give some of his cities to the Levites.”: This emphasizes that each tribe must contribute a portion of its own allotted inheritance to support the Levites. It reinforces the idea of shared responsibility and obligation.

In essence, the verse means:

The Levites are to be given cities to live in by the other tribes of Israel. The number of cities each tribe gives will depend on the size of its inheritance; larger tribes will give more cities, and smaller tribes will give fewer.

Key takeaways and implications:

Support for the Levites: The verse highlights the importance of supporting the Levites, who were dedicated to religious service and didn't have their own land to cultivate.
Fairness and Proportionality: The principle of "from the many, many; from the few, few" ensures a just distribution of the burden among the tribes.
Shared Responsibility: Every tribe is responsible for contributing to the well-being of the Levites, demonstrating the interconnectedness of the Israelite community.
Justice: This is a system to ensure that one section of the population who have specific and divinely mandated duties are also provided for. It is fair.

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