Numbers35
English Standard Version
1The Lord to in the of the at , ,
2 the of to to the some of the of their as for them to . And you shall to the the .
3The shall be theirs to , and their shall be for their and for their and for their .
4The of the , you shall to the , shall reach from the of the a all .
5And you shall , the , on the two , and on the two , and on the two , and on the two , the being in the . This shall belong to them as for their .
6The that you to the shall be the of , you shall the to , and in to them you shall .
7 the that you to the shall be , with their .
8And as for the you shall from the of the of , from the tribes you shall take , and from the tribes you shall take ; , in to the that it , shall of its to the .
9And the Lord to , ,
10 to the of and to them, When you the into the of ,
11then you shall to be of for you, that the who any without may there.
12The shall be for you a from the , that the may he the for .
13And the that you shall be your of .
14You shall the , in the of , to be of .
15These shall be for for the of , and for the and for the them, that anyone who any without may there.
16But he with an , so that he , he is a . The be put to .
17And he him down with a that could cause , and he , he is a . The be put to .
18 he him down with a that could cause , and he , he is a . The be put to .
19The of shall himself put the to ; when he him, shall put him to .
20And he him out of or something him, , so that he ,
21 in struck him with his , so that he , then he who shall be . He is a . The of put the to when he him.
22But he him , or him without
23 a that could cause , and him it him, so that he , though he was his and not his ,
24then the shall the the of , in accordance .
25And the shall the from the of the of , and the shall him to his of to he had , and he shall in it the of the was with the .
26But the shall at any go the of his of to he ,
27and the of him the of his of , and the of the , he shall be guilty of .
28 he must in his of the of the , but the of the the may to the of his .
29And these shall be for a and for you throughout your in your .
30If a , the shall be put to on the of . But shall be put to on the of .
31Moreover, you shall for the of a , is of , but he be put to .
32And you shall for him who has to his of , that he may to in the the of the .
33You shall the in you live, the , and atonement can be for the for the that is in it, by the of the one who it.
34You shall the in you , in the of I , I the Lord in the of the of .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 35.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The cities of the Levites. (1–8). The cities of refuge, The laws about murder. (9–34).
vv1-8
The cities of the priests and Levites were not only to accommodate them, but to place them, as religious teachers, in several parts of the land. For though the typical service of the tabernacle or temple was only in one place, the preaching of the word of God, and prayer and praise, were not thus confined. These cities were to be given out of each tribe. Each thus made a grateful acknowledgement to God. Each tribe had the benefit of the Levites dwelling amongst them, to teach them the knowledge of the Lord; thus no parts of the country were left to sit in darkness. The gospel provides that he who is taught in the word, should communicate to him that teaches, in all good things, Ga 6:6. We are to free God's ministers from distracting cares, and to leave them at leisure for the duties of their station; so that they may be wholly employed therein, and avail themselves of every opportunity, by acts of kindness, to gain the good-will of the people, and to draw their attention.
vv9-34
To show plainly the abhorrence of murder, and to provide the more effectually for the punishment of the murderer, the nearest relation of the deceased, under the title of avenger of blood, (or the redeemer of blood,) in notorious cases, might pursue, and execute vengeance. A distinction is made, not between sudden anger and malice aforethought, both which are the crime of murder; but between intentionally striking a man with any weapon likely to cause death, and an unintentional blow. In the latter case alone, the city of refuge afforded protection. Murder in all its forms, and under all disguises, pollutes a land. Alas! that so many murders, under the name of duels, prize-fights, etc. should pass unpunished. There were six cities of refuge; one or other might be reached in less than a day's journey from any part of the land. To these, man-slayers might flee for refuge, and be safe, till they had a fair trial. If acquitted from the charge, they were protected from the avenger of blood; yet they must continue within the bounds of the city till the death of the high priest. Thus we are reminded that the death of the great High Priest is the only means whereby sins are pardoned, and sinners set at liberty. These cities are plainly alluded to, both in the Old and New Testament, we cannot doubt the typical character of their appointment. Turn ye to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope, saith the voice of mercy, Zec 9:12, alluding to the city of refuge. St. Paul describes the strong consolation of fleeing for refuge to the hope set before us, in a passage always applied to the gracious appointment of the cities of refuge, Heb 6:18. The rich mercies of salvation, through Christ, prefigured by these cities, demand our regard. 1. Did the ancient city rear its towers of safety on high? See Christ raised up on the cross; and is he not exalted at the right hand of his Father, to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins? 2. Does not the highway of salvation, resemble the smooth and plain path to the city of refuge? Survey the path that leads to the Redeemer. Is there any stumbling-block to be found therein, except that which an evil heart of unbelief supplies for its own fall? 3. Waymarks were set up pointing to the city. And is it not the office of the ministers of the gospel to direct sinners to Him? 4. The gate of the city stood open night and day. Has not Christ declared, Him that cometh unto me I will in nowise cast out? 5. The city of refuge afforded support to every one who entered its walls. Those who have reached the refuge, may live by faith on Him whose flesh is meat indeed, and whose blood is drink indeed. 6. The city was a refuge for all. In the gospel there is no respect of persons. That soul lives not which deserves not Divine wrath; that soul lives not which may not in simple faith hope for salvation and life eternal, through the Son of God.
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
עֲרָבָה: a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the Jordan and its continuation to the Red Sea
מוֹאָב: Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יַרְדֵּן: Jarden, the principal river of Palestine
יְרִיחוֹ: Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
צָוָה: (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
Cross References
Numbers 35New Testament picture of fleeing for refuge to Christ, prefigured by the cities of refuge.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical implementation and naming of the six designated cities of refuge under Joshua.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Moses setting apart the three cities of refuge on the east side of Jordan.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jacob's prophecy scattering Levi is here graciously turned into a national teaching distribution.
Supported by John Calvin
The principle of distributing inheritance in proportion to size, applied to Levitical cities.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The original Covenant Code promise that God would appoint a place for the accidental slayer.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The concrete legal illustration of a manslayer killing his neighbor unawares with an axe.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Explains how the avenger of blood might pursue and slay the manslayer in hot passion.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The foundational Noahic mandate requiring the death penalty for intentional murder.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The statutory requirement of at least two or three witnesses to establish a charge.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Demonstrates the right of redemption within Levitical lands, showing how property remained within families.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the common lands of the suburbs, which could not be sold.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Confirms the manslayer must dwell in the city of refuge until the high priest's death.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrasts the mortal high priest whose death freed the manslayer with Christ's eternal priesthood.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The expiation ceremony for unsolved murders, illustrating that unavenged blood defiles the land.
Supported by Matthew Henry