Numbers 35:9-19

9 ADONAI said to Moshe,

10 "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'When you cross the Yarden into the land of Kena'an,

11 you are to designate for yourselves cities that will be cities of refuge for you, to which anyone who kills someone by mistake can flee.

12 These cities are to be a refuge for you from the dead person's next-of-kin, who might otherwise avenge his kinsman's death by slaying the killer prior to his standing trial before the community.

13 In regard to the cities you are to give, there are to be six cities of refuge for you.

14 You are to give three cities east of the Yarden and three cities in the land of Kena'an; they will be cities of refuge.

15 These six cities will serve as refuge for the people of Isra'el, as well as for the foreigner and resident alien with them; so that anyone who kills someone by mistake may flee there.

16 "'However, if he hits him with an iron implement and thus causes his death, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.

17 Or if he hits him with a stone in his hand big enough to kill someone, and he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.

18 Or if he hits him with a wood utensil in his hand capable of killing someone, and he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.

19 The next-of-kin avenger is to put the murderer to death himself - upon meeting him, he is to put him to death.

Numbers 35:9-19 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.