Numbers 35

Numbers 35:1-8

A provision made for the tribe of Levi. 1. Forty-eight cities assigned them, with their Suburbs, from its every tribe, ver. 1-8. 2. Six of those were to be far cities of refuge, if a man killed another uncrowries, ver. 9-15. 1. This sanctuary was not allowed in each of twelfth mardar, ver. 16-21. 2. In other cities it was allowed, ver. 20-24. 3. What was the law concerning those that took shelter in those cities of refuge, ver. 25-34.

1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab, by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 2. “Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possessions, cities to dwell in: and ye shall give unto the Levites of Suburbs for the cities round about them. 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 ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward, a thousand cubits round about. 5. 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. 6. And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the man-slayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. 7. So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites, shall be forty and eight cities: them shall be five to the Levites, shall be forty and eight cities: them shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five to the Levites, shall be five

one

one shall give of his cities unto the Levites, according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.

As the Levites would need an abode, when they came into the land, God assigns them forty-eight cities, with their suburbs, for their cattle, in the several tribes. They needed not arable land, as the tythes were their portion, and the care of the soil would have diverted them from the care of men’s fouls. For mutual edification they dwell together; for general usefulness their cities are dispersed, each tribe, according to its extent, furnishing them out of their lot with a suitable abode. Note, (1.) To provide a gospel ministry, should be the great concern of every people. (2.) They who are engaged in the ministry should, as much as possible, divest themselves of every worldly care. (3.) They who muster to us in spirituals, have a right to reap our worldly things.

9. ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 10. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, ‘When ye be come over Jordan, into the land of Canaan: 11. Then ye shall appoint you cities, to the cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. 12.’ And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger, that the man-slayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. 13. And of these cities which ye shall give, fix cities shall ye have the refuge. 14. ‘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. 15. These fix 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. 16.’ And if he finite him with an instrument of iron, (so that he die) he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 17. And if he finite him with throwing a stone, (wherewith he may die) and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 18. Or if he finite 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. 19. The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him he shall slay him. 20. But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurt at him by laying of wait, that he die: 21. Or in enmity finite him with his hand, that he die, he that fronte him shall surely be put to death, for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him. 22. But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait: 23. Or with any stone wherewith a man may die, fencing him not, and cast it upon 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. 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, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. 26. But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither 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; if 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 unto you, throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 30. Whoever 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. 31. 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. 32. 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. 33. So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood * is 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. 34. Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

Numbers 35:9-34

Six of these forty-eight cities are appropriated to a particular purpose, as places of refuge for the man-slayer, who killed his neighbour unawares; and particular instructions given to distinguish between the murderer and the man-slayer, the refuge which was allowed the one, being justly denied the other.

1. If a man, whether on a sudden provocation, or more deliberate contrivance, from his neighbour with any instrument, with a stone, or his hand, and death ensued, then it was murder: in which case no refuge was allowed, no escape from suffering permitted. Blood required blood, and till it be shed, the land was defiled. The kindness of the deceased was to be the executioner of vengeance himself, on conviction of the offender; and two witnesses are required to prove the fact, as in cases of life and death clear evidence is necessary. Note, (1.) The crime of murder is unpardonable. It is at the magistrate’s peril that execution be done on the offender, as he will answer to God in the day of judgment. No quality nor interest must in this case ever be regarded. (2.) If murderers through sinful connivance now escape, God’s sword will overtake them.

2. The case of the man-slayer described, and his remedy. He is supposed to have killed his neighbour undefriendly, without any previous enmity, or anger, and wholly by accident, v. 22, 23. In this case he is allowed to fly to one of the cities of refuge, where he should be protected. If he were found loitering on the road, or negligent of escaping, the avenger of blood might slay him harmless. If he was safe lodged, he might demand a trial; and if the fact was found murder, the city no longer afforded him protection: he was immediately executed. If he was acquitted of the murder, then he was restored to the city of refuge, and continued there during the life of the high priest for the time being. If he went out of the bounds of the city before the high priest’s death, then he was not entitled to protection: if the avenger of blood found him, he might slay him. From which we should learn, a horror of blood, which, though accidentally shed, is attended with such disagreeable effects. The whole of this trandition affords us a lively type of that grave provided for the future in the gospel, and the necessity of flying to Christ, as the only refuge of a guilty soul. (1.) If death overtake us loitering in our sins, we must perish in them. (2.) There is a door of hope opened to the miserable in Jesus Christ, and he who flies to his blood and righteousness, is safe from fear of evil. (3.) Like these cities, Christ is near to flee unto, and the way plain and clear: it is only look to him, and he fared. (4.) As the stranger was intitled to these cities of refuge, as well as the Israelite, so is it in Christ; all are welcome, and he who cometh to him shall be in no wise cast out. (5.) We must abide in Christ, as well as flee to him; our security depends upon it, and, blessed he his name, he who calls us to him, hath promised to keep us, that we shall not depart from him.