Numbers 35:11

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.

Then ye shall appoint {H7136} you cities {H5892} to be cities {H5892} of refuge {H4733} for you; that the slayer {H7523} may flee {H5127} thither, which killeth {H5221} any person {H5315} at unawares {H7684}.

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.

designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there.

then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer that killeth any person unwittingly may flee thither.

Commentary

This verse from Numbers 35:11 introduces a vital provision within the Mosaic Law concerning unintentional killing, establishing specific locations where individuals could seek safety from immediate retribution.

Context

Numbers chapter 35 deals with the allocation of land to the tribe of Levi, who did not receive a tribal territory like the others. They were given cities scattered throughout the other tribes' lands. This passage specifically instructs the Israelites, as they prepare to enter and settle the land of Canaan, to designate six of these Levitical cities as "cities of refuge." This system was necessary because the prevailing custom in the ancient Near East was blood vengeance, where a relative of the slain person (the "avenger of blood") had the right and duty to kill the slayer. The cities of refuge provided a legal framework to distinguish between premeditated murder and unintentional killing, offering protection for the latter.

Key Themes

  • Justice and Mercy: The system balances the need for justice for the victim with mercy for the unintentional killer, preventing hasty and potentially unjust retribution.
  • Distinction of Intent: A core principle is the critical difference between intentional homicide and accidental death. The Law required careful examination of the circumstances.
  • Protection of Life: The cities served as sanctuaries, preserving the life of someone who killed "at unawares" until a proper trial could be held.
  • The Law of Moses: This provision is a specific example of the detailed and often nuanced legal code given by God to govern the Israelite society.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "at unawares" in the KJV translates the Hebrew word bishgaga (ื‘ึดึผืฉึฐืื’ึธื’ึธื”), which means "unintentionally," "by error," or "accidentally." This term is crucial as it differentiates this type of killing from deliberate murder (which carried the death penalty without refuge). The system was designed specifically for cases where there was no prior malice or intent to harm.

Reflection and Application

The concept of cities of refuge highlights God's concern for both justice and fairness within a legal system. It demonstrates the importance of examining intent and circumstance, a principle still fundamental in modern legal systems. While we don't have physical cities of refuge today, the underlying principles remind us of the need for due process, the distinction between accidental harm and malicious intent, and the provision of safety for those who have unintentionally caused harm. Spiritually, some see a parallel in seeking refuge in Christ from the consequences of our sins, though the primary context here is civil law.

For further reading on the laws concerning unintentional killing and the cities of refuge, see Deuteronomy 19:4 and Joshua 20:2.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 21:13 (7 votes)

    And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver [him] into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

  • Joshua 20:2 (4 votes)

    Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

  • Numbers 35:6 (4 votes)

    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.

  • Numbers 35:22 (3 votes)

    But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,

  • Numbers 35:25 (3 votes)

    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.

  • Deuteronomy 4:42 (3 votes)

    That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:

  • Deuteronomy 19:1 (3 votes)

    ยถ When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;