And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane [place] for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
Ver. 15. Shall be a profane place,] i.e., A common place; and so all Israel were profane in a sense - sc., as compared to the priests and Levites, those consecrated persons. Symmachus and Theodotion render it λαικον. See Deuteronomy 20:6 .
And the city shall be in the midst thereof.] Ten miles at least distant from the temple, some say many more; to show, say they, what a long way he must go that would attain to eternal life. He must get above the world, howsoever, who would serve God acceptably.