Dwellings Of The Levites

Quod vero habitacula Levitis a Jesu per omnes tribus decernuntur, significatur ut hi qui in Ecclesia Dei, scientiae operam dantes, doctinae gratiam administrant, rursum omnibus quibus dispensant divina terrena subsidia, quae non habent, recipiant, ut impleatur illud quod Apostolus praecepit, dicens: Si nos vobis spiritualia seminavimus, magnum est ut carnalia vestra metamus? Et merito isti in cunctis tribubus divisi dicuntur, quia dispensatione cunctorum vivunt. Quod autem quadraginta duas urbes accipiunt, indubitanter ipsa praedicatio sanctorum signatur; ipsi enim possident doctrinam, quae legis Decalogo constant, et quadrifido Evangelii numero, quasi quaterdenias urbes habentes. Quibus etiam duae adjiciuntur, quia nimirum cuncta quae praedicant, morali ac mystico sensu annuntiant. Sanctus Isidorus Hispalensis,Mysticorum Expositiones Sacramentorum Seu Quaestiones In Vetus Testamentum, In Josue, Caput XVI-XVII Source: Migne PL 83.378c-379a

That the dwellings of the Levites were distributed by Joshua throughout all the tribes, 1 signifies those in the church of God who, attending to the work of knowledge, and administering the grace of teaching, are settled among all those who are given the promised land, so that they who do not have might receive. Thus is fulfilled what the Apostle exhorted, saying, 'If we have sowed spiritual things among you, is it too great a thing that we reap your material things?' 2 And with good reason they are said to be divided among every tribe, so that they might live for the guidance of all. And that they receive forty two cities is undoubtedly a sign of the preaching of the holy, for they indeed possess teaching, which is contained in the ten commandments and the fourfold Gospel, which being multiplied gives forty cities. To which two are then added, for certainly everything which they preach is spoken of in a moral and mystical sense. Saint Isidore of Seville, Expositions of Sacred Mysteries or Questions on the Old Testament, On Joshua, Chapters 16-17 1 Joshua 21 2. 1 Cor 9.11