Numbers35

Numbers chapter 35 details the allocation of cities to the Levites, including the establishment of cities of refuge. These cities provided sanctuary for individuals who unintentionally caused another's death, protecting them from the revenger of blood. The chapter clearly distinguishes between intentional murder, which warranted the death penalty, and accidental manslaughter, which allowed for refuge until the high priest's death. It also emphasizes the necessity of capital punishment for murderers to prevent the defilement of the land.

The Levites' Cities and Pasturelands

1
In the plains of Mo'av by the Yarden, across from Yericho, ADONAI said to Moshe, ​
2
"Order the people of Isra'el to give to the L'vi'im cities to live in from the heritage they will possess, and you are also to give the L'vi'im some of the open land surrounding the cities. ​
3
They are to have the cities to live in, while their open land will be for their livestock, for growing crops and for all their animals.
4
The open land around the cities you give to the L'vi'im is to commence at a line drawn around the city wall 1,500 feet outside it and is to extend outward from there. ​
5
Measure 3,000 feet outward from the city wall to the east, south, west and north, with the city in the center. The space between the 1,500-foot line and the 3,000-foot line will be their open land around the cities.
6
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. ​
7
Thus you will give the L'vi'im forty-eight cities, with their surrounding open land.
8
As to the cities you will give from those the people of Isra'el possess, from the many you will take many, and from the few you will take few - each tribe will contribute from its cities to the L'vi'im in accordance with the size of its inheritance." ​

Establishing the Cities of Refuge

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. ​

Defining Murder and Manslaughter

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. ​
20
Likewise, if he shoves him out of hatred; or intentionally throws something at him, causing his death;
21
or out of hostility strikes him with his hand, so that he dies; then the one who struck him must be put to death; he is a murderer; and the next-of-kin avenger is to put the murderer to death upon meeting him.
22
"'But suppose he shoves him suddenly, but without hostility; or he throws something at him unintentionally;
23
or, without seeing him, being his enemy or seeking to harm him, he throws a stone big enough to cause death; and the person dies.
24
Then the community is to judge between the one who struck him and the next-of-kin avenger in accordance with these rules;
25
and the community is to save the killer from the next-of-kin avenger. The community is to return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he is to live there until the cohen hagadol, who was anointed with the holy oil, dies. ​
26
But if the killer ever goes beyond the limits of the city of refuge he fled to,
27
and the next-of-kin avenger finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger kills the killer, he will not be guilty of the man's blood;
28
because he must stay in his city of refuge until the death of the cohen hagadol. But after the death of the cohen hagadol the killer may return to the land he owns. ​
29
These things shall constitute your standard for judgment through all your generations, wherever you live.

Judicial Procedures and Land Purity

30
"'If anyone kills someone, the murderer is to be put to death upon the testimony of witnesses; but the testimony of only one witness will not suffice to cause a person to be put to death. ​
31
Also, you are not to accept a ransom in lieu of the life of a murderer condemned to death; rather, he must be put to death. ​
32
Likewise, you are not to accept for someone who has fled to his city of refuge a ransom that would allow him to return to his land before the death of the cohen.
33
In this way you will not defile the land in which you are living. For blood defiles the land, and in this land no atonement can be made for the blood shed in it except the blood of him who shed it. ​
34
No, you are not to defile the land in which you live and in which I live; for I, ADONAI, live among the people of Isra'el.'" ​

Study Notes for Numbers 35

Verse 1

This command is given just before Israel enters Canaan, ensuring the Levites—who received no territorial inheritance—are provided for by the community.

Verse 2

The Levites, dedicated to priestly and sanctuary service, needed cities for residence and pastureland ('suburbs') for their necessary livestock.

Verse 4

The measurements are detailed: 1,000 cubits (approx. 1,500 feet) outward from the city wall for pasture, ensuring sufficient grazing area.

Verse 6

Out of the 48 total cities given to the Levites, six were designated as special sanctuaries for those who committed accidental homicide.

Verse 8

The burden of providing these cities was distributed fairly among the tribes based on the size of their inheritance and population, ensuring equitable contribution.

Verse 11

The primary purpose of the Cities of Refuge was to protect individuals who killed 'at unawares' (unintentionally or accidentally) from immediate revenge.

Verse 12

The refuge protected the slayer from the *go’el haddam* (avenger of blood) until a legal judgment could be rendered by the congregation.

Verse 15

This law demonstrates remarkable equity, extending the protection of the Cities of Refuge to resident aliens and sojourners as well as native Israelites.

Verse 16

This section begins to distinguish intentional murder (premeditated violence using a deadly weapon) from accidental killing, requiring capital punishment for the former.

Verse 19

The 'revenger of blood' (*go’el haddam*) was the closest male relative legally obligated to execute the identified murderer, upholding the principle of justice.

Verse 25

The congregation (local elders/judges) was responsible for determining the facts and returning the slayer to the city of refuge if the killing was accidental.

Verse 28

The death of the High Priest served as a symbolic atonement, marking the end of the slayer's exile and allowing him to return to his family land without fear of the avenger.

Verse 30

This verse establishes the fundamental rule that capital punishment requires the testimony of at least two witnesses, a standard repeated throughout the Law (Deut. 19:15).

Verse 31

This prohibition against accepting monetary ransom for a murderer underscores the sanctity of life; intentional murder could only be satisfied by the murderer's death.

Verse 33

Blood defiles the land because God dwells there. Justice (the execution of the murderer) is required to cleanse the land and maintain its ritual purity.

Verse 34

The presence of Yahweh among Israel necessitates strict adherence to these laws, as judicial failure would effectively pollute the land where God resides.

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