Numbers 35:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites [there shall be] six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The cities you give to the L'vi'im are to be the six cities of refuge to which you permit the person who kills someone to flee to; plus an additional forty-two cities.

Berean Standard Bible:

Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities.

American Standard Version:

And the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, they shall be the six cities of refuge, which ye shall give for the manslayer to flee unto: and besides them ye shall give forty and two cities.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And among the cities^{H5892} which ye shall give^{H5414} unto the Levites^{H3881} there shall be six^{H8337} cities^{H5892} for refuge^{H4733}, which ye shall appoint^{H5414} for the manslayer^{H7523}, that he may flee^{H5127} thither: and to them ye shall add^{H5414} forty^{H705} and two^{H8147} cities^{H5892}.

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Commentary for Numbers 35:6

**Themes:**
- **Sanctuary and Justice:** The theme of cities of refuge underscores the concepts of sanctuary, justice, and mercy within the legal system of ancient Israel. These cities provided a haven for individuals who had unintentionally caused the death of another, allowing them to escape the avenging hand of the deceased's family until a fair trial could be held.
- **Protection of Life:** The establishment of these cities reflects the value placed on human life and the importance of distinguishing between intentional (murder) and unintentional (manslaughter) killings.
- **Levitical Service:** The allocation of cities to the Levites is indicative of their role in religious and community service, as they were set apart for the service of God and did not receive a tribal inheritance like the other Israelite tribes.

**Historical Context:**
- **Mosaic Law:** Numbers 35:6 is part of the Mosaic Law, which was given to the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings after the Exodus from Egypt. This law code, including the provision for cities of refuge, was meant to govern the religious and civil life of the Israelite nation.
- **Preparation for Settlement:** At the time this command was given, the Israelites were on the verge of entering the Promised Land. The detailed instructions regarding the cities of refuge were part of the preparations for organizing the land and establishing a structured society.
- **Tribal Allotments:** The broader context of Numbers 35 involves the distribution of land among the tribes of Israel. The Levites, being dedicated to priestly duties, received cities within the territories of other tribes rather than a contiguous territory of their own.
- **Cities of Refuge:** There were to be six cities of refuge in total, with three on each side of the Jordan River. These cities were accessible to both Israelites and foreigners for protection, demonstrating an early form of asylum. The additional forty-two cities brought the total number of cities given to the Levites to forty-eight, a significant number in the context of the Israelite community and its organization.

In summary, Numbers 35:6 reflects the establishment of a legal structure within ancient Israel that balanced the need for communal protection with the requirement for justice and the sanctity of life, while also providing for the religious class within the nation.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5892
   There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עִיר
   Transliteration: ʻîyr
   Pronunciation: eer
   Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3881
   There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֵוִיִּי
   Transliteration: Lêvîyîy
   Pronunciation: lay-vee-ee'
   Description: or לֵוִי; patronymically from לֵוִי; a Levite or descendant of Levi; Leviite.
   
4. Strong's Number: H8337
   There are 203 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֵׁשׁ
   Transliteration: shêsh
   Pronunciation: shaysh
   Description: masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4733
   There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִקְלָט
   Transliteration: miqlâṭ
   Pronunciation: mik-lawt'
   Description: from קָלַט in the sense of taking in; an asylum (as a receptacle); refuge.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7523
   There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָצַח
   Transliteration: râtsach
   Pronunciation: raw-tsakh'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murder; put to death, kill, (man-) slay(-er), murder(-er).
   
7. Strong's Number: H5127
   There are 143 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נוּס
   Transliteration: nûwç
   Pronunciation: noos
   Description: a primitive root; to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver); [idiom] abate, away, be displayed, (make to) flee (away, -ing), put to flight, [idiom] hide, lift up a standard.
   
8. Strong's Number: H705
   There are 178 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַרְבָּעִים
   Transliteration: ʼarbâʻîym
   Pronunciation: ar-baw-eem'
   Description: multiple of אַרְבַּע; forty; -forty.
   
9. Strong's Number: H8147
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
   Transliteration: shᵉnayim
   Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
   Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.