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.
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The Levites' Cities and Pasturelands

1
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, ​
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Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them. ​
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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.
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And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about. ​
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And ye 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 midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.
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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. ​
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So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs.
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And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth. ​

Establishing the Cities of Refuge

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And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
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Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
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Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. ​
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And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. ​
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And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.
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Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.
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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 killeth any person unawares may flee thither. ​

Defining Murder and Manslaughter

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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. ​
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And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
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Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
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The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. ​
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But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;
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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 meeteth him.
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But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,
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Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:
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Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:
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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, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. ​
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But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;
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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:
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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. ​
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So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Judicial Procedures and Land Purity

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Whoso killeth 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. ​
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Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. ​
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And ye 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.
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So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. ​
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Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel. ​

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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