THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril. God did not grant the Levitical lineage an inheritance as He did with others; instead, He selected Himself as their true inheritance. He wisely ensured that they did not seem entirely separated from the rest of the community, providing them with some necessary provisions to maintain a sense of balance.
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As it is written: “And the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan against Jericho, saying, Command the children of Israel, that out of the inheritance of their possessions they shall give the Levites cities to dwell in, and the fields by the cities on every side shall be given to the Levites: The cities shall be for their habitation, and the fields shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their necessities of life: and the fields of the cities, which ye shall give to the Levites, shall extend two thousand cubits from the wall of the city, in every direction: and ye shall measure out beyond the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits, and in the midst of the city: such shall be their fields of the cities. Of the cities which ye shall give to the Levites, there shall be six cities for refuge, into which ye shall let the murderer flee” (Num. 35:1-6). The faithful are permitted to possess what is essential for their sustenance and basic human needs, as it is written, “Having sustenance and clothing, let us be satisfied with those things” (1 Tim. 6:8). However, the pursuit of excess can lead to harm (1 Tim. 1:8). Thus, the cities and their surrounding lands were designated for the holy servants and measured accordingly. God intended not to subject them to indulgence by bestowing upon them more than necessary, nor to impose great hardship by undue deprivation. He sought to alleviate extreme scarcity while easing burdens, ensuring that their satisfaction aligned with their needs. Additionally, He instructed that cities of refuge be designated for the Levites, assigning them the care of those most distressed and in dire need of assistance. This serves as a symbolic directive for the churches to care for the imprisoned, as expressed in the scripture, “Remember the prisoners, as though ye were in bonds with them, and them that are afflicted, as though ye yourselves were in the body” (Hebrews 13:3).