Numbers35
New King James Version
1And the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, saying:
2“Command the children of Israel that they give the Levites cities to dwell in from the inheritance of their possession, and you shall also give the Levites common-land around the cities.
3They shall have the cities to dwell in; and their common-land shall be for their cattle, for their herds, and for all their animals.
4The common-land of the cities which you will give the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all around.
5And you shall measure outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, on the south side two thousand cubits, on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits. The city shall be in the middle. This shall belong to them as common-land for the cities.
6“Now among the cities which you will give to the Levites you shall appoint six cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. And to these you shall add forty-two cities.
7So all the cities you will give to the Levites shall be forty-eight; these you shall give with their common-land.
8And the cities which you will give shall be from the possession of the children of Israel; from the larger tribe you shall give many, from the smaller you shall give few. Each shall give some of its cities to the Levites, in proportion to the inheritance that each receives.”
9Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
10“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there.
12They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment.
13And of the cities which you give, you shall have six cities of refuge.
14You shall appoint three cities on this side of the Jordan, and three cities you shall appoint in the land of Canaan, which will be cities of refuge.
15These six cities shall be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills a person accidentally may flee there.
16‘But if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
17And if he strikes him with a stone in the hand, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
18Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand weapon, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
19The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.
20If he pushes him out of hatred or, while lying in wait, hurls something at him so that he dies,
21or in enmity he strikes him with his hand so that he dies, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
22‘However, if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything at him without lying in wait,
23or uses a stone, by which a man could die, throwing it at him without seeing him, so that he dies, while he was not his enemy or seeking his harm,
24then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments.
25So the congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge where he had fled, and he shall remain there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
26But if the manslayer at any time goes outside the limits of the city of refuge where he fled,
27and the avenger of blood finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood,
28because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.
29‘And these things shall be a statute of judgment to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
30Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty.
31Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death.
32And you shall take no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest.
33So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.
34Therefore do not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.’ ”
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