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Next, the boundary lines of Palestine were indicated, and the persons named who were
to superintend the partition of the country (Numbers 34). This duty was intrusted to
Eleazar the high-priest, and to Joshua, along with ten representative "priests", one from
each of the ten tribes, Reuben and Gad having already received their portion on the
other side Jordan. The second series of ordinances now enacted (Numbers 35, 36) was,
if not of greater importance, yet of even deeper symbolical meaning. According to the
curse that had been pronounced upon Levi, that tribe was destined to be "divided in
Jacob" (Genesis 49:7). But, in the goodness of God, this was now converted into a
blessing alike to Levi and to all Israel. The Levites, the special property and election of
the Lord, were to be scattered among all the other tribes, to recall by their presence
everywhere the great truths which they symbolized, and to keep alive among the people
the knowledge and service of the Lord. On the other hand, they were not to be quite
isolated, but gathered together into cities, so that by fellowship and intercourse they
might support and strengthen one another. For this purpose forty-eight cities were now
assigned to the Levites - of course not exclusive of any other inhabitants, but "to dwell
in," that is, they were to have as many houses in them as were required for their
accommodation. Along with these houses certain "suburbs," also, or "commons" for
their herds and flocks, were to be assigned them - covering in extent on each side a
distance of 1000 cubits (1500 feet) round about their cities (Numbers 35:4). Besides,
around this inner, another outer circle of 2000 cubits was to be drawn in every direction.
These were to be the fields and vineyards of the Levites^53 (ver. 5).
The number of these cities in each tribe varied according to the size of its territory. Thus
Judah and Simeon had to furnish nine cities, Naphtali only three, and each of the other
tribes four (Joshua 21). Lastly, the thirteen Levitical cities in the territories of Judah,
Simeon, and Benjamin were specially assigned to the priests, the descendants of the
house of Aaron, while six of the Levitical cities - three east and three west of the Jordan
- were set apart as "cities of refuge," for the unintentional manslayer. It is interesting to
notice, that even the number of the Levitical cities was significant. They amounted in all
to forty-eight, which is a multiple of four, the symbolical number of the kingdom of
God in the world, and of twelve, the number of the tribes of Israel.
In regard to the "cities of refuge," for the protection of the unintending manslayer, it
must not be imagined that the simple plea of unintentional homicide afforded safety.
The law, indeed, provided that the country both east and west of the Jordan should be
divided in three parts - each with its "city of refuge," the roads to which were always to
be kept in good repair. But, according to the sacred text (Numbers 35:25, comp. Joshua
20:4), a homicide would, on arriving at the gates of a city of refuge, first have to plead
his cause before the elders of that city, when, if it approved itself to their minds, they
would afford, him provisional protection. If, however, afterwards, the "avenger of
blood" claimed his extradition, the accused person would be sent back under proper
protection to his own city, where the whole case would be thoroughly investigated. If
(^)