Numbers 35:1-6

1 While Israel was camped beside the Jordan on the plains of Moab across from Jericho, the LORD said to Moses,

2 “Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites from their property certain towns to live in, along with the surrounding pasturelands.

3 These towns will be for the Levites to live in, and the surrounding lands will provide pasture for their cattle, flocks, and other livestock.

4 The pastureland assigned to the Levites around these towns will extend 1,500 feet from the town walls in every direction.

5 Measure off 3,000 feet outside the town walls in every direction—east, south, west, north—with the town at the center. This area will serve as the larger pastureland for the towns.

6 “Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, where a person who has accidentally killed someone can flee for safety. In addition, give them forty-two other towns.

Numbers 35:1-6 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew 1,000 cubits [460 meters].
• [b]. Hebrew 2,000 cubits [920 meters].