American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Numbers 35
1
And the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 22:1
2
Command the children of Israel, that they give to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and you shall give also to the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 48:8
3
And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.
4
And the suburbs of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.
5
And you shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the middle: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.
6
And among the cities which you shall give to the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which you shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them you shall add forty and two cities.
Reference
7
So all the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall you give with their suburbs.
8
And the cities which you shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many you shall give many; but from them that have few you shall give few: every one shall give of his cities to the Levites according to his inheritance which he inherits.
Reference
9
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
10
Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
11
Then you shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which kills any person at unawares.
Reference
12
And they shall be to you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 19:6
13
And of these cities which you shall give six cities shall you have for refuge.
14
You shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall you give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.
15
These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that kills any person unawares may flee thither.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 15:16
16
And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 24:17
17
And if he smite him with throwing a stone, with which he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
18
Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, with which he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
19
The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meets him, he shall slay him.
Reference
21
Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meets him.
22
But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast on him any thing without laying of wait,
Reference
23
Or with any stone, with which a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it on him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:
24
Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:
Reference
25
And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, where he was fled: and he shall abide in it to the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.
Reference
26
But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, where he was fled;
27
And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:
28
Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.
29
So these things shall be for a statute of judgment to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Reference
Judgment
Numbers 27:11
30
Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
Reference
31
Moreover you shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.
32
And you shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.
33
So you shall not pollute the land wherein you are: for blood it defiles the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
Reference
Blood
Psalm 106:38
Isaiah 26:21
Genesis 9:6
2 Kings 24:4
Parallel theme
Leviticus 18:25
2 Kings 23:26
Micah 4:11
Summary of Numbers 35
Numbers chapter 35 describes the cities given to the Levites and declares the cities of refuge for those who have killed someone accidentally. It forms part of the instructions for the Israelites regarding their way of life in the promised land. Although the Israelites received bigger chunks of land as their inheritance, the Levites were given cities and pastures because the Levites did not receive an inheritance.
The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River and instructed the Israelites to give cities to the Levites from their own inheritance. The Levites were to be given 48 cities including their pasture land.
The cities were to be distributed among the Israelites in such a way that they were not all placed in one region but spread out among the other tribes. This was so that the Levites could live among the other Israelites since they served in the tabernacle.
The chapter also gives measurements of the land that was to be given to the Levites. This included land for their cattle and other needs.
These 48 cities were to be taken from the other tribes’ portions. The ones belonging to big tribes were to give more than those of small tribes.
From the 48 cities belonging to the Levites, six were to be cities of refuge. Of the six cities of refuge, three were to be in the east of Jordan and three in the land of Canaan.
Cities of refuge were to serve as a safe place for a person who had killed someone unintentionally. The Israelite law recognized the right of avengers to avenge the death of their relative. However, a murderer who killed had to flee to a city of refuge and remain there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with oil.
The law goes on to distinguish between murder and killing someone accidentally. According to the law, if a person killed another person by striking them on the head with an iron object, the murderer was guilty and had to be put to death by the avenger of blood. The law makes similar provisions for those who have killed using a stone or an iron object or any other object that could cause death.
The law also distinguishes between the murderer who kills intentionally or the one who kills in anger. For example, if a person deliberately struck another person with a stone or with any other object that could kill them or pushed them and caused them to die, then that person was guilty of murder. In all these cases, a murderer was put to death. On the other hand, if a person killed another person in anger, pushed them or threw something at them without intent or with hatred, then they were not to be considered guilty but brought to the congregation for judgment. If the congregation found that the death was accidental, then the killer could be protected in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest.
A person who has killed another person and is brought to trial is to determine whether his death is accidental or not. If the person killed another person with the intent of killing them by pushing them, throwing something at them with anger or even with a weapon that could cause death, that person is guilty of murder. On the other hand, if a person has pushed another person, thrown something at them or used a weapon and has killed them but did not mean to do so, the congregation is to convict the person of manslaughter.
If a person accidentally kills another person, the city of refuge provides them with protection. However, if the person who killed another person left the city of refuge, the avenger of blood could kill them with impunity. The city of refuge was not a permanent safe haven but rather one that existed until the end of the reign of the high priest who was anointed with oil. Therefore, if someone who had accidentally killed another person returned to their land after the death of the high priest, they would be safe from the avenger of blood. After the death of the high priest, anyone who had killed another person could return to their land without fear.
The law further states that if someone is accused of murdering another person, the murderer must have at least two witnesses who will testify against them before they could be convicted. A single witness was not enough to convict a person for a crime that carried a death sentence.
The law forbids receiving money to spare the life of someone who has committed a crime such as murder. The murderer must also not be able to pay to avoid death penalty. Similarly, a person could not be forced to pay to return to their land after having accidentally killed another person and fled to the city of refuge. The law further forbids offering a ransom to the avenger of blood to stop them from killing a murderer.
The law states that murder pollutes the land and therefore the Israelites must not allow innocent blood to remain in their land. The law further states that they must preserve the land from being polluted by innocent blood.
The law of cities of refuge and murder demonstrates the Israelites’ holiness and respect for human life, as well as their desire to keep the land holy. The cities of refuge demonstrate mercy to those who have killed another person accidentally by giving them a safe haven. At the same time, the cities prevent avengers from taking justice into their hands and killing the killer without trial. In addition, they demonstrate that the Israelites valued the life of a murderer even when they had committed an intentional murder, such as killing someone in anger or with intent. The law further shows that those who intentionally killed another person were held responsible for their actions and punished accordingly. They distinguished between murder and manslaughter. It also shows that the Israelites placed a high value on human life, which is why they were so concerned about preserving the sanctity of human life and punishing those who took it.
The law further states that the Israelites must not offer payment to a murderer to help them avoid punishment or to the avenger of blood to enable them to take the life of the murderer. The law does not make any provision for paying a ransom or compensation for those who have killed another person.
The chapter ends with a warning to the Israelites not to pollute the land with innocent blood. The Israelites had a responsibility to keep their land free from innocent blood. They would not allow people to take the law into their hands but instead bring them to trial before executing punishment.
The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River and instructed the Israelites to give cities to the Levites from their own inheritance. The Levites were to be given 48 cities including their pasture land.
The cities were to be distributed among the Israelites in such a way that they were not all placed in one region but spread out among the other tribes. This was so that the Levites could live among the other Israelites since they served in the tabernacle.
The chapter also gives measurements of the land that was to be given to the Levites. This included land for their cattle and other needs.
These 48 cities were to be taken from the other tribes’ portions. The ones belonging to big tribes were to give more than those of small tribes.
From the 48 cities belonging to the Levites, six were to be cities of refuge. Of the six cities of refuge, three were to be in the east of Jordan and three in the land of Canaan.
Cities of refuge were to serve as a safe place for a person who had killed someone unintentionally. The Israelite law recognized the right of avengers to avenge the death of their relative. However, a murderer who killed had to flee to a city of refuge and remain there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with oil.
The law goes on to distinguish between murder and killing someone accidentally. According to the law, if a person killed another person by striking them on the head with an iron object, the murderer was guilty and had to be put to death by the avenger of blood. The law makes similar provisions for those who have killed using a stone or an iron object or any other object that could cause death.
The law also distinguishes between the murderer who kills intentionally or the one who kills in anger. For example, if a person deliberately struck another person with a stone or with any other object that could kill them or pushed them and caused them to die, then that person was guilty of murder. In all these cases, a murderer was put to death. On the other hand, if a person killed another person in anger, pushed them or threw something at them without intent or with hatred, then they were not to be considered guilty but brought to the congregation for judgment. If the congregation found that the death was accidental, then the killer could be protected in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest.
A person who has killed another person and is brought to trial is to determine whether his death is accidental or not. If the person killed another person with the intent of killing them by pushing them, throwing something at them with anger or even with a weapon that could cause death, that person is guilty of murder. On the other hand, if a person has pushed another person, thrown something at them or used a weapon and has killed them but did not mean to do so, the congregation is to convict the person of manslaughter.
If a person accidentally kills another person, the city of refuge provides them with protection. However, if the person who killed another person left the city of refuge, the avenger of blood could kill them with impunity. The city of refuge was not a permanent safe haven but rather one that existed until the end of the reign of the high priest who was anointed with oil. Therefore, if someone who had accidentally killed another person returned to their land after the death of the high priest, they would be safe from the avenger of blood. After the death of the high priest, anyone who had killed another person could return to their land without fear.
The law further states that if someone is accused of murdering another person, the murderer must have at least two witnesses who will testify against them before they could be convicted. A single witness was not enough to convict a person for a crime that carried a death sentence.
The law forbids receiving money to spare the life of someone who has committed a crime such as murder. The murderer must also not be able to pay to avoid death penalty. Similarly, a person could not be forced to pay to return to their land after having accidentally killed another person and fled to the city of refuge. The law further forbids offering a ransom to the avenger of blood to stop them from killing a murderer.
The law states that murder pollutes the land and therefore the Israelites must not allow innocent blood to remain in their land. The law further states that they must preserve the land from being polluted by innocent blood.
The law of cities of refuge and murder demonstrates the Israelites’ holiness and respect for human life, as well as their desire to keep the land holy. The cities of refuge demonstrate mercy to those who have killed another person accidentally by giving them a safe haven. At the same time, the cities prevent avengers from taking justice into their hands and killing the killer without trial. In addition, they demonstrate that the Israelites valued the life of a murderer even when they had committed an intentional murder, such as killing someone in anger or with intent. The law further shows that those who intentionally killed another person were held responsible for their actions and punished accordingly. They distinguished between murder and manslaughter. It also shows that the Israelites placed a high value on human life, which is why they were so concerned about preserving the sanctity of human life and punishing those who took it.
The law further states that the Israelites must not offer payment to a murderer to help them avoid punishment or to the avenger of blood to enable them to take the life of the murderer. The law does not make any provision for paying a ransom or compensation for those who have killed another person.
The chapter ends with a warning to the Israelites not to pollute the land with innocent blood. The Israelites had a responsibility to keep their land free from innocent blood. They would not allow people to take the law into their hands but instead bring them to trial before executing punishment.