Today the Lord tells Moses about the land which the remaining nine and a half tribes will inherit once they come into Canaan. The Levites will be given forty-eight cities with surrounding common land scattered throughout the inheritance of the tribes of Israel. Moses says that the children of Israel “shall give some of its cities to the Levites, in proportion to the inheritance that each receives.” Of the forty-eight cities, six are cities of refuge. If a person accidentally kills someone, they can flee to a city of refuge for protection until the trial so that a family member cannot avenge the death of the victim. If the person is deemed innocent at the trial, he is to remain in the city of refuge until the high priest dies. After the death of the high priest, he can return home.
A few days ago we learned that the Lord granted Zelophehad’s daughters’ request for their father’s land inheritance. Today the Lord commands that these daughters must marry within their tribe of Manasseh. “So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not change hands from tribe to tribe, for every one of the children of Israel shall keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.” The daughters obey the Lord because God is keeping His promise that He made to Abraham – “And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:8). The Lord is ensuring that the land remains within the possession of Abraham’s descendants.
God is always working on a much larger scale than just our short lifespan. He is working all things together from the Creation Era to End Times / New Beginnings Era to accomplish His plans to redeem His people through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ… all the way to Jesus’ second coming.
Today we completed the book of Numbers. Tomorrow we begin the last book in the Exodus Era, Deuteronomy, which contains the final instructions from Moses before he dies and the Israelites enter Canaan. Keep reading. (Numbers 34:1-36:13)
Chronological Bible in Layman's Terms 