John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits , etc.] Before only 1000 cubits were ordered to be measured, and now 2000, even 2000 more, which were to be added to the other, and to begin where they ended. The first 1000 were for their cattle and goods, these 2000 for their gardens, orchards, fields, and vineyards; and so the Jewish writers understand it. Jarchi observes, that 1000 cubits are ordered, and after that 2000; and asks, how is this? or how is it to be reconciled? to which he answers, 2000 are put to them round about, and of them the 1000 innermost are for suburbs, and the outermost (i.e. the 2000) are for fields and vineyards; and with this agrees the Misnah f502 , from whence he seems to have taken it; and the same was to be on every other side of the city, south, west, and north, as follows: and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits ; which, added to the other 1000 all around, must make a large circumference of land: and the city shall be in the midst ; in the midst of the circuit of three thousand cubits all around, so that it must stand very pleasant and convenient: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities ; such a quantity of ground, consisting of so many cubits, shall be assigned to every city; the suburbs or glebe land to a Levite’s city, on the four sides were four squares, and each square consisted of seventy six acres, one rood, twenty perches, and eighty square feet; all the four squares amounting to three hundred and five acres, two roods, one perch, besides fifty seven feet square, according to Bishop Cumberland.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - The cities of the priests and Levites were not only to accommodat them, but to place them, as religious teachers, in several parts of the land. For though the typical service of the tabernacle or temple wa only in one place, the preaching of the word of God, and prayer an praise, were not thus confined. These cities were to be given out of each tribe. Each thus made a grateful acknowledgement to God. Eac tribe had the benefit of the Levites dwelling amongst them, to teac them the knowledge of the Lord; thus no parts of the country were lef to sit in darkness. The gospel provides that he who is taught in the word, should communicate to him that teaches, in all good things, God 6:6. We are to free God's ministers from distracting cares, and to leave them at leisure for the duties of their station; so that they ma be wholly employed therein, and avail themselves of every opportunity by acts of kindness, to gain the good-will of the people, and to dra their attention.
Original Hebrew ומדתם4058 מחוץ2351 לעיר5892 את853 פאת6285 קדמה6924 אלפים505 באמה520 ואת853 פאת6285 נגב5045 אלפים505 באמה520 ואת853 פאת6285 ים3220 אלפים505 באמה520 ואת853 פאת6285 צפון6828 אלפים505 באמה520 והעיר5892 בתוך8432 זה2088 יהיה1961 להם מגרשׁי4054 הערים׃5892
