Numbers 35:8

Israel

⁶ Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities.

⁷ The total number of cities you give the Levites will be forty-eight, with their corresponding pasturelands.

The cities that you apportion from the territory of the Israelites should be given to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one.”

⁹ Then the LORD said to Moses,

¹⁰ “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: The cities that you apportion from the territory of the Israelites should be given to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one.”
KJV: And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.
WEB: 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.”
ASV: And concerning the cities which ye shall give of the possession of the children of Israel, from the many ye shall take many; and from the few ye shall take few: every one according to his inheritance which he inheriteth shall give of his cities unto the Levites.
DARBY: And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have much ye shall take much, and from them that have little ye shall take little; each one according to his inheritance which he will inherit shall give of his cities to the Levites.
BLB: And the cities that you⁺ give from the possession of the sons of Israel—from the larger you⁺ shall give many and from the smaller you⁺ shall give few—each in proportion to the inheritance that each receives should be given of its cities to the Levites.”

ÅB: Og av de byer som dere skal gi av Israels barns eiendom, skal dere ta flere av de store stammer og færre av de mindre; enhver av dem skal gi levittene byer etter som de har fått land til.
OTB: Byene dere gir til levittene fra israelittenes land skal være i forhold til arven til hver stamme: ta flere byer fra en stamme med større arv, og færre fra en med mindre arv."
B1930: Og av de byer som I skal gi av Israels barns eiendom, skal I ta flere av de store stammer og færre av de mindre; enhver av dem skal gi levittene byer efter som de har fått land til.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Numbers 26:54
Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered.
Read in context
Numbers 33:54
And you are to divide the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one by lot will be his. You will receive an inheritance according to the tribes of your fathers.
Read in context
Joshua 21:1–42
Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribes of Israel
Read in context
Exodus 16:18
When they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall. Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 8:13–14
It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.
Read in context
Genesis 49:7
Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
Read in context
Exodus 32:28–29
The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 33:8–11
Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.
Read in context