Numbers 35:1
“Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,”
What does Numbers 35:1 mean?
The Israelites are camped on the edge of the Promised Land after forty years of wilderness wandering, and God is giving Moses final instructions for how the people should settle and organize themselves in the land ahead. This verse sets the scene for practical commands about how the Levites (the priestly tribe) will be distributed among the other tribes and how cities of refuge will be established. Even at this pivotal moment, before entering their new home, God's concern is for order, justice, and the welfare of all the people, including those with the least power and security.