Numbers 35:26-32

26 If you leave the city of refuge to which you have escaped

27 and if the dead person's relative finds you and kills you, this act of revenge is not murder.

28 Any of you guilty of manslaughter must remain in the city of refuge until the death of the High Priest, but after that you may return home.

29 These rules apply to you and your descendants wherever you may live.

30 "Those accused of murder may be found guilty and put to death only on the evidence of two or more witnesses; the evidence of one witness is not sufficient to support an accusation of murder. ¹

31 Murderers must be put to death. They cannot escape this penalty by the payment of money.

32 If they have fled to a city of refuge, do not allow them to make a payment in order to return home before the death of the High Priest.

Numbers 35:26-32 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

• 1. 35.30Deuteronomy 17.6; 19.15.