מִגְרָשׁ

The Hebrew term מִגְרָשׁ (migrash) generally denotes an open space, often used for pasture, surrounding a city or settlement. It is distinct from the cultivated fields or vineyards and serves as a common area for grazing livestock. The concept of the migrash is particularly prominent in the Mosaic Law concerning the cities given to the Levites. These cities, along with their surrounding migrash, were set aside for the priestly tribe, ensuring their sustenance and a place for their animals. The allocation of migrash with the Levitical cities highlights the importance of providing for those who served in the tabernacle and later the temple.

The semantic range of migrash is relatively focused, primarily indicating these communal lands. The term emphasizes the functional aspect of these spaces as essential for the livelihood of the inhabitants, particularly the Levites. Its usage consistently points to areas immediately adjacent to cities, distinguishing them from the urban core and the more distant agricultural fields. The regular mention of migrash in conjunction with Levitical cities underscores the practical and theological arrangements for the support of the Levitical priesthood.

Key biblical usage demonstrates that the migrash was a delimited area, often described as extending a certain distance from the city walls. This precise delineation, seen in passages like the instructions for the Levitical cities, ensured order and clear land ownership within the Israelite tribal system. The consistent rendering of migrash as "suburbs" or "pasture lands" in English translations accurately reflects its primary meaning as the open grounds surrounding a populated area.