What Does Numbers 35:2 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Levites, the joined ones, receive homes from Israel’s holdings, so belonging becomes shared ground.
THE MEANING
A community’s inheritance becomes someone else’s actual home: the Levites receive cities to dwell in, with open ground around them. The provision includes both settled shelter and space around it, so belonging takes material form.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that belonging can remain symbolic while a community keeps all material space to itself: here, the Levites’ place among Israel includes actual cities and surrounding land.
THE ROOT
לְוִיִּם
leviyyim
GROWS FROM
לוה
join, attach, accompany
The name Levi echoes לָוָה (lavah), “to join,” as Genesis 29:34 makes explicit. Here, that joining takes a physical form: the Levites’ dwellings come from Israel’s holdings, making their place among the people tangible.
ALSO GROWS
lavah: to join, attach, accompany
לָוָה
This is the verb echoed in Levi’s naming; the Levites’ homes place them among the wider community.
leviyyah: escort, accompaniment
לְוִיָּה
This related form carries the idea of an accompanying presence, fitting the Levites’ place within Israel’s shared life.
נָתַן
natan
GROWS FROM
נתן
give, set, place
The root נתן (natan) is used twice: Israel is to give the cities, then give the surrounding land. Since this root also carries the sense of setting or placing, the command places both a dwelling and room around it into the Levites’ lives.
ALSO GROWS
mattanah: gift, present
מַתָּנָה
A gift from this root can be something placed into another’s hands; here the gift is a place to dwell.
netinah: giving, donation
נְתִינָה
This form names the act of giving itself, which the verse repeats for both the cities and their surrounding land.
THE PATTERN
A community’s shared inheritance takes shape as actual dwelling and provision for those who do not hold a territorial share.
Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.THE THREAD
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.The name Levi is tied here to lavah, “to be joined.” Numbers gives that joining a physical form: the Levites’ homes come from the holdings of the wider people, making their place among Israel shared ground.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us