Numbers 35:7-17

7 id est simul quadraginta octo cum suburbanis suis

8 ipsaeque urbes quae dabuntur de possessionibus filiorum Israhel ab his qui plus habent plures auferentur et qui minus pauciores singuli iuxta mensuram hereditatis suae dabunt oppida Levitis

9 ait Dominus ad Mosen

10 loquere filiis Israhel et dices ad eos quando transgressi fueritis Iordanem in terram Chanaan

11 decernite quae urbes esse debeant in praesidia fugitivorum qui nolentes sanguinem fuderint

12 in quibus cum fuerit profugus cognatus occisi eum non poterit occidere donec stet in conspectu multitudinis et causa illius iudicetur

13 de ipsis autem urbibus quae ad fugitivorum subsidia separantur

14 tres erunt trans Iordanem et tres in terra Chanaan

15 tam filiis Israhel quam advenis atque peregrinis ut confugiat ad eas qui nolens sanguinem fuderit

16 si quis ferro percusserit et mortuus fuerit qui percussus est reus erit homicidii et ipse morietur

17 si lapidem iecerit et ictus occubuerit similiter punietur

Numbers 35:7-17 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.