Numbers 35:14

14 Give three cities east of the Jordan River and three cities in Canaan as cities of safety.

Numbers 35:14 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:14

Ye shall give three cites on this side Jordan
Which were Bezer in the wilderness, out of the tribe of Reuben; and Ramoth in Gilead, out of the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, out of the tribe of Manasseh, ( Joshua 20:8 ) ,

and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan:
which were Kadesh in Galilee, in Mount Naphtali; Shechem in Mount Ephraim; and Kirjatharba, or Hebron, in the mountain of Judah, ( Joshua 20:7 )

[which] shall be cities of refuge;
the three on the other side Jordan, the Jews say, were separated by Moses, and the three in the land of Canaan by Joshua, but not one of them was a refuge until they were all separated ^F13: it may seem strange that there should be as many in the two tribes and a half on the other side Jordan, as in the nine tribes and a half in the land of Canaan; let it be observed, what the Jewish writers, say ^F14, Moses separated three cities beyond Jordan, and opposite them Joshua separated three in the land of Canaan; and they were like two rows in a vineyard, Hebron in Judea was opposite Bezer in the wilderness; Shechem in Mount Ephraim was opposite Ramoth in Gilead; Kadesh in Mount Naphtali was opposite Golan in Bashan; and the three were so disposed, that there was as much space from the south (of the land of Israel) to Hebron as from Hebron to Shechem; and as much from Hebron to Shechem as from Shechem to Kadesh; and as much from Shechem to Kadesh as from Kadesh to the north beyond Jordan; and it should be known that the land of the tribes beyond Jordan extended in length as far as the land of Canaan, and was equal to it, running along it; so that those in the land of Canaan could soon and easily get over Jordan to the cities of refuge there, if there was occasion; besides, there is a direction given, that if their coast should be enlarged, they were to add three cities more in the land of Canaan, ( Deuteronomy 19:8 ) , hence the Jews have a notion, that in the days of the Messiah those three cities will be added ^F15; but the Messiah is come already, and is the antitype of them all.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F13 Misn. Maccot, c. 2. sect. 4. Maimon. Hilchot Rotzeach, c. 8. sect. 2. 3. & in Pirke, c. 4. sect. 2. & Jarchi in loc.
F14 T. Bab. Maccot, fol. 9. 2.
F15 Maimon. Rotzeach, c. 8. sect. 4.

Numbers 35:14 In-Context

12 There the person will be safe from the dead person's relative who has the duty of punishing the killer. He will not die before he receives a fair trial in court.

13 The six cities you give will be cities of safety.

14 Give three cities east of the Jordan River and three cities in Canaan as cities of safety.

15 These six cities will be places of safety for citizens of Israel, as well as for foreigners and other people living with you. Any of these people who accidentally kills someone may run to one of these cities.

16 "'Anyone who uses an iron weapon to kill someone is a murderer. He must be put to death.