Numbers 35:9-19

9 The LORD said to Moses,

10 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. “When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

11 designate cities of refuge to which people can flee if they have killed someone accidentally.

12 These cities will be places of protection from a dead person’s relatives who want to avenge the death. The slayer must not be put to death before being tried by the community.

13 Designate six cities of refuge for yourselves,

14 three on the east side of the Jordan River and three on the west in the land of Canaan.

15 These cities are for the protection of Israelites, foreigners living among you, and traveling merchants. Anyone who accidentally kills someone may flee there for safety.

16 “But if someone strikes and kills another person with a piece of iron, it is murder, and the murderer must be executed.

17 Or if someone with a stone in his hand strikes and kills another person, it is murder, and the murderer must be put to death.

18 Or if someone strikes and kills another person with a wooden object, it is murder, and the murderer must be put to death.

19 The victim’s nearest relative is responsible for putting the murderer to death. When they meet, the avenger must put the murderer 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.