Albert Barnes

The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there.

“The children of Machir - Machir, the son of Manasseh, was long since dead: even his sons had been brought up upon Joseph’s knees Gen 50:23.”

Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured their villages and called them Havvoth-jair.

“The exploits of Jair - he was the conqueror of Argob Deu 3:14 - gave new. luster to his name; and the fame of the family is attested by the history of Jair the Israelite judge, doubtless a descendant; perhaps also by the mention of…”

And Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah, after his own name.

“Kenath - Now Kenawat, an important site near the southern extremity of the tract el-Lejah, and on the western slopes of the mountains of the Hauran.”

These are the journeys of the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt by their divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.

“This list was written out by Moses at God’s command Num 33:2, doubtless as a memorial of God’s providential care for His people throughout this long and trying period. Num 33:3-6. For these places, see the marginal reference.”

On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the LORD said to Moses,

“The expulsion of the Canaanites and the destruction of their monuments of idolatry had been already enjoined (see the marginal references); and Num 33:54 is substantially a repetition from Exo. 26:53-55. But the solemn warning of Num 33:55-56 is new.”

Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea,

“The southern boundary commenced at the Dead Sea. The broad and desolate valley by which the depressed bed of that sea is protected toward the south, is called the Ghor.”

Your northern border will run from the Great Sea directly to Mount Hor,

“The northern border. On the “Mount Hor,” compare Num 20:22 note. Here the name denotes the whole western crest of Mount Lebanon, 80 miles in length, commencing east of Zidon, and terminating with the point immediately above the entrance of Hamath (compare Num 13:21).”

And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham,

“Shepham, the first point after Hazar-enan, is unknown. The name Riblah is by some read Har-bel, i. e., “the Mountain of Bel;” the Har-baal-Hermon of Jdg 3:3.”

Appoint one leader from each tribe to distribute the land.

“Of the representatives now selected through Moses beforehand, who were all princes, i. e. heads of chief families, in their respective tribes (see Num 13:2), Caleb alone, of the tribe of Judah, is otherwise known to us (see Num 13:4 ff).”

“Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities.

“Suburbs - Rather, “pasture-grounds,” required for their large cattle, for their sheep and goats, and for all their beasts whatever they might be Num 35:3.”

You are also to measure two thousand cubits outside the city on the east, two thousand on the south, two thousand on the west, and two thousand on the north…

“From without the city - Omit “from.” The demarcation here intended would run parallel to the wall of the city, outside which it was made.”

Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee.

“The Levitical cities were in an special manner the Lord’s; and therefore the places of refuge, where the manslayer might remain under the protection of a special institution devised by divine mercy, were appropriately selected from among them.”

The cities that you apportion from the territory of the Israelites should be given to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: more from a larger tribe…

“Nine cities were eventually given to the Levites from the large joint inheritance of Judah and Simeon; three were taken from the territory of Naphtali, and the other tribes gave each four apiece.”

You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death.

“No satisfaction - Rather, ransom (see Exo 21:30). The permission to demand pecuniary compensation for murders (expressly sanctioned by the Koran) undoubtedly mitigates, in practice, the system of private retaliation; but it does so by sacrificing the principle named in Num 35:12, Num 35:33.”

Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.”

“For I the Lord dwell ... - An emphatic protest against all enactment or relaxation of laws by men for their own private convenience.”