提要
利未支派沒有地業，因為上帝就是他們的產業（13：33；14：3；18：7；申18：12）。不過，按照摩西所應許的（民35：1~3），在約書亞的籌辦下，利未人還是在以色列的各支派中共得了四十八座城和屬城的郊野。雅各對利未的預言與西緬相似，兩個支派都會分散在以色列中，這聽起來像是咒詛，但對利未支派而言卻是個祝福（創49：5~7）。上帝已揀選利未支派在以色列人中作祂的代表，因為他們在金牛犢事件中（出32：26）表現出對上帝的熱誠和委身。他們被分佈在迦南地，包括約旦河東，是為了以色列國的屬靈福祉，也聯繫整個國家的結合。
上帝負責每一個利未城和祭司城的安置，祂再次主宰抽籤的結果。雖然有些城市還在敵人手中，但它們仍被指定為利未城，因為終有一天會成為以色列的版圖（如21節，基色直到所羅門王時代才被征服。）
利未的三個兒子是哥轄、革順、和米拉利。哥轄的後裔是祭司亞倫的家族，他們因特別的地位而享有優先權，雖然他們是最小的一群，但卻得到最多城池（共得十三座；19節）。值得一提的是，祭司城中有十一座在猶大境內，其他兩座在緊鄰的便雅憫支派內。上帝如此安排，好讓祭司能圍繞著以色列國將來的都城耶路撒冷，該城就在猶大境內，也是上帝定意要立為祂名的居所。從這裡我們可以看出，上帝的計畫是要以色列人早日完成迦南地的征服工作，使耶城能作祂的聖所，以色列卻遲至大衛時代才取得耶路撒冷，人的小信和不斷的變節影響了上帝對以色列完美的旨意。
本章最後三節為上帝如何實現祂對以色列人所有的應許作了美好的總結。它表達出上帝偉大的信實，以及以色列百姓的期望得著完全的滿足，因為他們得到了一切所盼望的。上帝不會使我們失望。祂是永遠的應許、真正唯一的源頭。
雖然以色列尚未完全佔領迦南地，但已牢牢的控制該地，享有平安，沒有敵人進犯，也沒有任何勢力能動搖他們的境界。現在以色列人既已進入應許之地，經過四十年曠野的磨鍊，上帝最後終於賜給他們安息。
上帝為祂的百姓另預備了一個安息的應許，只有藉著信耶穌基督和祂的福音才能得著（來4：1~3），那是最終的安息，信靠、順服的信徒必能得到那「不能朽壞、不能玷污、不能衰殘，為你們存留在天上的基業」（彼前1：4）。「所以我們務必竭力進入那安息」（來4：11）。
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Overview
The tribe of Levi received no territorial allotment, because their inheritance was the Lord (13:33; 14:3; 18:7; Deut.18:1-2). However, as promised by Moses (Num.35:1-3) and organized by Joshua, the tribe of Levi did receive a total of 48 cities, with the surrounding pastureland, scattered throughout all the tribes of Israel. The prophecy of Jacob concerning Levi was similar to that of Simeon, in that both tribes would be divided and scattered, but what sounded like a curse for Levi was, in reality, a blessing (Gen.49:5-7). The Lord had chosen the tribe of Levi to represent Him before all Israel because they displayed holy zeal and commitment to God in the event of the golden calf (Ex.32:26). Their dispersion throughout the land, including east of the Jordan, was for the spiritual welfare of the nation and would also serve as a unifying bond for the whole country.
The Lord was responsible for the placement of each Levitical and priestly city because, once again, He overruled through the casting of lots. Some of these appointed cities were in the hands of their enemies, yet they were still assigned as Levitical cities in anticipation of the complete conquest (e.g., v.21, Gezer was not conquered until the time of Solomon).
The three sons of Levi were Kohath, Gershon, and Merari. The priestly family of Aaron was from the descendants of Kohath. They received precedence because of their position, and though they were the smallest group, they received the largest number of cities, thirteen in all (v.19). It is worthy of mention that eleven of the priestly cities were within the inheritance of Judah; the other two were in neighboring Benjamin. God, arranged it so that the priests would be surrounding the future capital of Jerusalem in Judah, where He intended to establish His Name. In this we can see that it was God’s plan for the conquest to be completed mush more rapidly so that Jerusalem would be the place of His sanctuary long before it finally came to be in the time of David. The people’s lack of faith and repeated apostasy, however, affected the perfect will of God for Israel.
The last three verses of this chapter serve as a beautiful concluding summary of how the Lord had fulfilled all His promises to Israel. It expresses God’s great faithfulness and that the people’s expectations were fully satisfied, for they received all they hoped for. The Lord will never let us down. He is the only true source of lasting fulfillment.
Although the full occupation of the land was yet to be seen, Israel still had a firm hold on the land and had rest (v.44) from the advances of any enemy. Their borders were secure and there was no power that could move them. Now that they had entered into the Promised Land, after forty years of discipline in the wilderness, God gave them rest at last.
There is still another divine promise of rest that God has in store for His people which can come only through faith in Jesus Christ and belief in His Gospel (Heb.4:1-3), and that is the ultimate rest which the faithful, obedient believers will find: “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet.1:4). “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest” (Heb.4:11).
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