And the lot came out. The command was: “From the numerous you shall take more, and from the few you shall take less” (Numbers 35:8). Accordingly, Judah and Simeon provided nine cities, most of them from Judah, for only the city of Ain is found within Simeon’s inheritance, since the portion of the children of Judah was larger than theirs; whereas Naphtali provided only three cities. Just as in the apportionment of the tribal inheritances the lot first determined the general territory of each tribe, after which Joshua apportioned the land according to the tribe’s greater or smaller population, based upon his assessment, as explained above (chapter 14), so too here the lot first determined the territory from which each Levitical family would receive its cities. It assigned the sons of Aaron their territory among three tribes—Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin—for the names of these three tribes shone forth from the Urim and Thummim when the lot of the sons of Aaron was drawn. Those conducting the lottery divided the children of Levi into four groups: the sons of Aaron, the remaining sons of Kohath, the sons of Gershon, and the sons of Merari. They then cast lots for each group to determine from which tribes its cities would be taken. The lots came out appropriately, in accordance with each group’s degree of sacred distinction. Just as among the organs of the body, every organ situated closer to the heart is more distinguished and possesses a purer constitution, so the sons of Aaron, who were closest to the Tabernacle and the Temple, received their lot within Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, whose territories surrounded the Temple. For this reason, they also remained continually attached to the kingdom of the House of David. Next in rank were the remaining sons of Kohath, who likewise dwelt close to the heart and were charged with the sacred service: they carried upon their shoulders the Ark, the Table, and the sacred vessels. Their portion therefore fell within Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Joseph’s inheritance adjoined Benjamin’s inheritance, while Dan’s inheritance lay behind Benjamin’s; thus, they sheltered the Temple beneath their wings and remained close to its territory. After them came the sons of Gershon, who carried the Tent of Meeting, its curtains, and its covering. These correspond to the flesh that covers the inner organs surrounding the heart. They received cities from Issachar and Asher, both of which lay beyond Joseph—Issachar to its east and Asher to its west—and from Naphtali, which likewise adjoined them and bordered the territories of Benjamin and Joseph on the east along the length of the Jordan, together with Manasseh’s inheritance in Bashan. Although that territory lay across the Jordan, it shared a certain connection with Manasseh’s other half in the Land of Israel and was related to it by virtue of their constituting one tribe. The sons of Merari, who occupied the outermost position and carried the Tabernacle’s boards, bars, pillars, and sockets—corresponding to the body’s skin and bones—received cities from Reuben and Gad outside the Land of Israel and from Zebulun, which lay at the far northwestern extremity of the Land of Israel. Concerning all the other families, Scripture says that they received cities “by lot”; only regarding the sons of Merari does it omit this phrase (verse 7). It also says “to the sons of Merari” without the conjunction “and,” because once the sons of Merari remained last, no separate lottery was necessary: they necessarily received cities from the three tribes upon which no lot had yet fallen. Therefore, Scripture introduces them without the conjunction “and,” since they did not receive their cities through a lot cast specifically for them. After the lottery had determined the general territory of each family, Joshua apportioned and designated the particular cities according to the greater or smaller population of each tribe. Therefore, Scripture first says, “The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites,” etc., and relates how the lottery assigned each family its proper territory. Afterward, it says:

And the children of Israel gave, etc. Afterward, they assigned the specific cities according to the greater or smaller population of each tribe, giving larger or smaller cities accordingly. Thus, the words “and they gave,” etc., “the cities,” refer to the particular assignment of the individual cities.

And they gave them Kiriath-arba, etc.—and to the sons of Aaron, etc. Scripture seeks to explain why Judah and Simeon provided nine cities, whereas every other pair of tribes provided only eight—four cities from each tribe, except for Naphtali. Since Caleb had received an especially large personal portion, he too was required to give a city to the Levites, as stated: “Each man shall give of his cities to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance he possesses” (Numbers 35:8). Hebron possessed so many villages and fields that, proportionately, Caleb himself was required to contribute the equivalent of one-fourth of a tribe’s contribution—namely, one city. He therefore gave Hebron, while the city’s fields and villages remained his. This introduction explains that, from Judah’s inheritance, the Levites received one city separately from Caleb’s personal portion. Judah and Simeon then provided eight additional cities, making nine together with Hebron. Thus, Scripture says, “And to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave,” meaning together with Caleb’s contribution. Although most of these cities were taken from Judah rather than Simeon, this was because Simeon inherited within Judah’s territory, as explained above, so the two tribes formed a single inheritance.

Those who remained. This may be understood according to what was explained above (verse 4): the sons of Merari are called “those who remained,” meaning that they were secondary in relation to the tribe of Levi as a whole, like the skin and bones that form an outer covering around the fruit and the heart. Similarly, the other Kohathite families are called “those who remained” in comparison with the sons of Aaron, the priests, as stated in verse 20. The sons of Merari are also called “those who remained” because they were left after the lots had first been drawn for the sons of Kohath and Gershon, so no separate lot needed to be drawn for them, as explained above (verse 4). Therefore, Scripture repeats the designation “those who remained” concerning them in verse 38, for they were “those who remained” from both of these perspectives.

And He gave. After recounting the conquest and division of the land, Scripture states that seven things were fulfilled for Israel. First, “He gave”: He gave them the land as a gift, as He had promised the patriarchs. Second, “and they possessed it”: this refers to the dispossession and conquest of their enemies during the seven years of conquest, for yerushah denotes the transfer of an inheritance from the possession of the one who formerly held it into the possession of the heir. Third, “and they dwelt in it”: during the seven years in which the land was divided, each person took possession of his own portion. (42) Fourth, “And Hashem gave them rest on every side”: the wars against their enemies ceased. Fifth, “not a man stood”: even when their enemies fought against them, they could not remain standing, but fell before them. We have already explained the distinction between “no man positioned himself before them” and “no man stood before them.” The first means that no one challenged them to battle at all; this was not the case here, for kings did come and wage war against them. The second means that one who positioned himself to fight could not maintain his position, for “they bowed and fell.” Sixth, their enemies’ defeat was not natural; rather, “Hashem delivered all their enemies into their hand” through miracle and Providence. (43) Seventh, “Not one thing failed.” All the other benefits and successes that Hashem had promised them in the Torah through Moses likewise came to pass.