Numbers 35

In this chapter, God commands Moses to establish cities of refuge for those who accidentally kill someone, providing a sanctuary from vengeance. The chapter also outlines the inheritance of the Levites and details the legal proceedings surrounding murder and manslaughter, reflecting the importance of justice, mercy, and the sacredness of human life in Israelite society.

Numbers 35:1-3 (NKJV):
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, saying,
2 "Command the children of Israel that they give the Levites cities to dwell in from the inheritance of their possession, and you shall also give the Levites common-land around the cities.
3 They shall have the cities to dwell in; and their common-land shall be for their cattle, for their herds, and for all their animals."

The Lord instructs Moses to allocate cities for the Levites from the land given to the Israelites. The Levites, being a priestly tribe, did not receive a specific territory, so they were to dwell in cities spread across the land. The surrounding common-land was to provide space for their animals and livestock. This arrangement reflects the spiritual role of the Levites among the people, as they were dispersed to serve the entire nation.

Numbers 35:4-5 (NKJV):
4 "The common-land of the cities which you will give the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all around.
5 And you shall measure outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, on the south side two thousand cubits, on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits. The city shall be in the middle. This shall belong to them as common-land for the cities."

The common-land surrounding the Levite cities was precisely measured to ensure adequate space for their livestock and other needs. By specifying the dimensions (a thousand and two thousand cubits), the Lord provided practical guidelines for the Levites' provision and ensured fairness in the distribution of space around each city.

Numbers 35:6-7 (NKJV):
6 "Now among the cities which you will give to the Levites you shall appoint six cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. And to these you shall add forty-two cities.
7 So all the cities you will give to the Levites shall be forty-eight; these you shall give with their common-land."

Out of the forty-eight cities given to the Levites, six were designated as cities of refuge. These cities were special because they provided a place of asylum for individuals who accidentally killed someone. This division of cities highlights both the Levites' spiritual role and the provision of justice and mercy within the community.

Numbers 35:8 (NKJV):
8 "And the cities which you will give shall be from the possession of the children of Israel; from the larger tribe you shall give many, from the smaller you shall give few. Each shall give some of its cities to the Levites, in proportion to the inheritance that each receives."

The cities for the Levites were distributed according to the size of each tribe's inheritance. Larger tribes gave more cities, while smaller tribes gave fewer. This equitable distribution ensured that every tribe contributed to the Levites' welfare, and it reflected a fair sharing of resources based on each tribe's capability.

Numbers 35:9-11 (NKJV):
9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
10 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11 then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there.'"

The Lord instructed Moses to set up cities of refuge in the Promised Land, which would serve as safe havens for individuals who accidentally killed someone. This provision ensured that those who caused unintentional deaths could avoid revenge killings and await a fair trial, reflecting God’s concern for justice tempered with mercy.

Numbers 35:12 (NKJV):
12 "They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment."

These cities of refuge protected the accused from being killed by a "goel" or avenger of blood before they could stand trial. The system prevented acts of vengeance and ensured that the community would judge whether the killing was accidental or intentional, underscoring the importance of due process.

Numbers 35:13-15 (NKJV):
13 "And of the cities which you give, you shall have six cities of refuge.
14 You shall appoint three cities on this side of the Jordan, and three cities you shall appoint in the land of Canaan, which will be cities of refuge.
15 These six cities shall be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills a person accidentally may flee there."

Three cities of refuge were to be on each side of the Jordan River, ensuring that they were accessible to everyone in the land, including Israelites, foreigners, and travelers. This provision highlights God’s impartial justice, as all people within Israel’s borders were given the opportunity for refuge in cases of accidental killing.

Numbers 35:16-21 (NKJV):
16 "But if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
17 And if he strikes him with a stone in the hand, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
18 Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand weapon, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
19 The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.
20 If he pushes him out of hatred or, while lying in wait, hurls something at him so that he dies,
21 or in enmity he strikes him with his hand so that he dies, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him."

These verses clarify the difference between murder and accidental killing. If the death occurred due to intentional actions or the use of lethal weapons (iron, stone, or wood), the killer was considered a murderer and was subject to the death penalty. This ensured that the distinction between intentional violence and accidental manslaughter was clear, and it gave the avenger of blood the right to enact justice on behalf of the victim.

Numbers 35:22-23 (NKJV):
22 "However, if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything at him without lying in wait,
23 or uses a stone, by which a man could die, throwing it at him without seeing him, so that he dies, while he was not his enemy or seeking his harm,"

These verses describe situations where a death happens unintentionally, without premeditation or hatred. In such cases, if the person pushes or throws something and the other person dies without malice or intent, the death is considered accidental. This distinction helps establish the legal difference between murder and manslaughter in ancient Israel’s justice system.

Numbers 35:24-25 (NKJV):
24 "Then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments.
25 So the congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge where he had fled, and he shall remain there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil."

The community was responsible for determining whether the death was accidental or intentional. If the congregation deemed the manslayer innocent of murder, he would be protected from the avenger of blood and sent back to the city of refuge. The manslayer was required to stay in the city until the high priest's death, signifying a form of temporary exile and symbolizing that justice had been served.

Numbers 35:26-28 (NKJV):
26 "But if the manslayer at any time goes outside the limits of the city of refuge where he fled,
27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood,
28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession."

If the manslayer left the city of refuge prematurely and was found by the avenger of blood, the avenger had the right to kill him without being guilty of murder. This restriction ensured that the manslayer stayed within the city as required, serving his sentence of protection and exile until the high priest's death, after which he could return home without fear.

Numbers 35:29-30 (NKJV):
29 "And these things shall be a statute of judgment to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
30 Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty."

These regulations were established as lasting laws for Israel. The death penalty for murder was only to be enacted when there were multiple witnesses, ensuring that no one could be condemned based on the testimony of a single individual. This standard helped prevent false accusations and maintained justice by requiring solid evidence for such a serious judgment.

Numbers 35:31-32 (NKJV):
31 "Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death.
32 And you shall take no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest."

There was no allowance for a ransom or bribe to spare the life of a convicted murderer; such a person had to face the death penalty. Additionally, someone who fled to a city of refuge could not pay to return to their home early. These strict measures ensured that justice was carried out fairly, preventing wealthy individuals from escaping punishment through financial means.

Numbers 35:33-34 (NKJV):
33 "So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.
34 Therefore do not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel."

These closing verses emphasize the importance of justice for the preservation of the land. Unpunished murder defiles the land, and only the blood of the murderer can atone for the crime. God’s presence among His people made it essential to maintain purity and righteousness in the land, ensuring that the shedding of innocent blood was not ignored. This principle highlighted both the sanctity of life and the need for justice to maintain God’s favor.