Numbers 35

1 The Lord spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab across from Jericho by the Jordan River. He said,

2 "Command the Israelites to give the Levites cities to live in from the land they receive. Also give the Levites the pastureland around these cities.

3 Then the Levites will have cities where they may live and pastureland for their cattle, flocks, and other animals.

4 The pastureland you give the Levites will extend fifteen hundred feet from the city wall.

5 Also measure three thousand feet in each direction outside the city wall -- three thousand feet east of the city, three thousand feet south of the city, three thousand feet west of the city, and three thousand feet north of the city, with the city in the center. This will be pastureland for the Levites' cities.

6 "Six of the cities you give the Levites will be cities of safety. A person who accidentally kills someone may run to one of those cities for safety. You must also give forty-two other cities to the Levites;

7 give the Levites a total of forty-eight cities and their pastures.

8 The larger tribes of Israel must give more cities, and the smaller tribes must give fewer cities. Each tribe must give some of its cities to the Levites, but the number of cities they give will depend on the size of their land."

9 Then the Lord said to Moses,

10 "Tell the Israelites these things: 'When you cross the Jordan River and go into Canaan,

11 you must choose cities to be cities of safety, so that a person who accidentally kills someone may run to them for safety.

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.

17 Anyone who takes a rock and kills a person with it is a murderer. He must be put to death.

18 Anyone who picks up a piece of wood and kills someone with it is a murderer. He must be put to death.

19 A relative of the dead person must put the murderer to death; when they meet, the relative must kill the murderer.

20 A person might shove someone or throw something at someone and cause death.

21 Or a person might hit someone with his hand and cause death. If it were done from hate, the person is a murderer and must be put to death. A relative of the dead person must kill the murderer when they meet.

22 "'But a person might suddenly shove someone, and not from hatred. Or a person might accidentally throw something and hit someone.

23 Or a person might drop a rock on someone he couldn't see and kill that person. There was no plan to hurt anyone and no hatred for the one who was killed.

24 If that happens, the community must judge between the relative of the dead person and the killer, according to these rules.

25 They must protect the killer from the dead person's relative, sending the killer back to the original city of safety, to stay there until the high priest dies (the high priest had the holy oil poured on him).

26 "'Such a person must never go outside the limits of the city of safety.

27 If a relative of the dead person finds the killer outside the city, the relative may kill that person and not be guilty of murder.

28 The killer must stay in the city of safety until the high priest dies. After the high priest dies, the killer may go home.

29 "'These laws are for you from now on, wherever you live.

30 "'If anyone kills a person, the murderer may be put to death only if there are witnesses. No one may be put to death with only one witness.

31 "'Don't take money to spare the life of a murderer who should be put to death. A murderer must be put to death.

32 "'If someone has run to a city of safety, don't take money to let the person go back home before the high priest dies.

33 "'Don't let murder spoil your land. The only way to remove the sin of killing an innocent person is for the murderer to be put to death.

34 I am the Lord, and I live among the Israelites. I live in that land with you, so do not spoil it with murder.'"

Numbers 35 Commentary

Chapter 35

The cities of the Levites. (1-8) The cities of refuge, The laws about murder. (9-34)

Verses 1-8 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.

Verses 9-34 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, &c. 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, ( Zechariah 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, ( Hebrews 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.

Chapter Summary

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.