Scripture: The LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, “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. The cities shall be theirs to dwell in, and their pasturelands shall be for their cattle and for their livestock and for all their beasts. The pasturelands of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all around. And you shall measure, outside the city, on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits, the city being in the middle. This shall belong to them as pastureland for their cities.
“The cities that you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit the manslayer to flee, and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities. All the cities that you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight, with their pasturelands. And as for the cities that you shall give from the possession of the people of Israel, from the larger tribes you shall take many, and from the smaller tribes you shall take few; each, in proportion to the inheritance that it inherits, shall give of its cities to the Levites.”
Numbers 35:1-8 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Friday’s Daily Focus, Moses first recounts Israel’s journey from Egypt to the doorstep of the Promised Land (33:1-49) and then, on behalf of Yahweh, lays out the charge (33:50-56): drive out all the inhabitants and destroy all their pagan religious images and places of worship and take possession of this covenanted Promised Land. Briefly reviewing the steps to partition the land, Moses concludes with a stern reminder that if Israel fails to drive out the inhabitants, those they permit to remain will become a barb to the eye and a thorn to the side, causing the nation much anguish. Moreover, if Israel disobeys Yahweh’s command, he will inflict the suffering on them that he intended for their enemies.
Skipping chapter 34 (which details the boundaries of the Promised Land and a list of tribal chiefs), today’s reading outlines the provision of cities with pasturelands for the Levites since they receive no allotment of land for their tribe. Thus, the other tribes will contribute land to provide forty-eight towns spread across the Promised Land and its Transjordan addition. The more populated tribes possessing larger territories will provide a proportionately higher number of Levite cities. Of the forty-eight, six will be designated cities of refuge (addressed in tomorrow’s devotion). Regarding their pasturelands, they will extend 1,000 cubits (1,500 feet) from all four sides of the city’s exterior walls. The exterior walls will extend 2,000 cubits (3,000 feet), forming a square.
Takeaway: At Sinai, Moses first introduced the concept of Levite cities to the first generation of the Exodus when presenting God’s laws regarding redeeming land during the Jubilee year. A Levite may redeem his house (that he sold before the Jubilee) without statutes of limitation. If redeemed, he retakes possession during the Jubilee. However, pasturelands are unsellable, for they are the Levites’ possession forever (Leviticus 25:32-34).
Scholars estimate that the combined land area of the forty-eight cities would have totaled just over fifteen square miles compared to all of Palestine at nearly 6,000 square miles. As such, a mere quarter of one percent of the Promised Land belonged to the Levites. Nevertheless, these divinely appointed allotments will serve the Levites sufficiently in providing land to farm crops and pasture cattle, sheep, and goats (to sustain their families and offer sacrifices).
Our takeaway? As the Levites served Yahweh and the priests, so do we. For Christ calls all his followers, regardless of whether ordained, to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18). And, just like the Levites, our Father will provide all our needs, as Jesus emphasized during his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-33). Still, like the Levites, we do our part and cultivate the land and maintain the walls of our inheritance (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12; 1 Timothy 5:8).
Our part? The first step is to trust that our good God will meet our needs, as Jesus implied from this same teaching from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-33). Still, like the Levites, our Lord expects us to do our part to cultivate the land and maintain the walls. Cultivating is two-fold: growing God’s kingdom and doing our part to provide for ourselves and our families. Maintaining the walls is also two-fold: we intentionally nurture our faith to protect us from enemy attacks and disciple family and others in the faith to equip them to resist enemy attacks. Thankfully, this is not a DIY assignment, for the Holy Spirit, our Helper, will empower and guide us if we submit to his lead. And like the Levites, no matter what setbacks or losses we face, our heavenly pasture lands are our possession forever.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for your Son, who provided for and protected his disciples by praying for them and nourishing them in the Scriptures, as well as modeling for them a life surrendered to your will. And thank you for your Holy Spirit, our Helper, who humbles and strengthens us to carry on the mission, first in ourselves and then in our families and communities. So, please help us submit to your Holy Spirit so that we might become faithful workers who cultivate the fields and maintain the walls. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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