Numbers 35:22-25

22 "But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him 1without lying in wait
23 or used a stone that could cause death, and without seeing him dropped it on him, so that he died, though he was not his enemy and did not seek his harm,
24 then 2the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and 3the avenger of blood, in accordance with these rules.
25 And the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it 4until the death of the high priest 5who was anointed with the holy oil.

Numbers 35:22-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 35

Though the tribe of Levi had no part in the division of the land, yet cities out of the several tribes are here ordered to be given them to dwell in, to the number of forty eight, Nu 35:1-8, six of which were to be cities of refuge, Nu 35:9-15, but not for wilful murderers, in whatsoever way they might kill a man, Nu 35:16-21, but for such who had killed a man unawares, Nu 35:22-24, and several rules are given relating to such persons, Nu 35:25-29, but no satisfaction was to be taken in case of murder, nor to excuse a person's return to his own house before the death of the high priest, who had fled to a city of refuge, that so the land might not be defiled, Nu 35:30-34.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Exodus 21:13
  • 2. ver. 12; Joshua 20:6
  • 3. [See ver. 19 above]
  • 4. Joshua 20:6
  • 5. Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 4:3; Leviticus 21:10
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.