Numbers 35:19-29

19 propinquus occisi homicidam interficiet statim ut adprehenderit eum percutiet

20 si per odium quis hominem inpulerit vel iecerit quippiam in eum per insidias

21 aut cum esset inimicus manu percusserit et ille mortuus fuerit percussor homicidii reus erit cognatus occisi statim ut invenerit eum iugulabit

22 quod si fortuito et absque odio

23 et inimicitiis quicquam horum fecerit

24 et hoc audiente populo fuerit conprobatum atque inter percussorem et propinquum sanguinis quaestio ventilata

25 liberabitur innocens de ultoris manu et reducetur per sententiam in urbem ad quam confugerat manebitque ibi donec sacerdos magnus qui oleo sancto unctus est moriatur

26 si interfector extra fines urbium quae exulibus deputatae sunt

27 fuerit inventus et percussus ab eo qui ultor est sanguinis absque noxa erit qui eum occiderit

28 debuerat enim profugus usque ad mortem pontificis in urbe residere postquam autem ille obierit homicida revertetur in terram suam

29 haec sempiterna erunt et legitima in cunctis habitationibus vestris

Numbers 35:19-29 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.