Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Numbers 35
Numbers 35:6"The cities that you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit the manslayer to flee, and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities."
This verse establishes the dual purpose of the Levitical cities, highlighting that six of them will serve as sanctuaries, blending God's provision for the priests with His provision for justice.Numbers 35:12The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
Here, the primary function of the cities of refuge is made clear: to halt the cycle of revenge and replace it with a formal, community-based legal process.Numbers 35:33-34You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.”
These verses provide the ultimate theological reason for these laws - the shedding of innocent blood defiles the land where God himself dwells, making justice a matter of worship and purity.
Historical & Cultural Context
Providing for the Priests
As the book of Numbers concludes, Israel is camped on the plains of Moab, poised to cross the Jordan River into Canaan. The generation that rebelled in the wilderness has passed away, and Moses is giving final instructions to the new generation. This chapter follows the delineation of tribal boundaries in Numbers 34, addressing a key question: since the tribe of Levi is dedicated to religious service and won't receive a large territory, where will they live? God's solution is a system of 48 cities scattered throughout the other tribes' lands, ensuring their presence and influence would be felt across the entire nation.
Establishing Cities of Safety
Beyond providing for the Levites, God introduces a groundbreaking legal provision: the cities of refuge. In the ancient world, family honor often demanded that if a person was killed, a relative (the 'avenger of blood') was obligated to avenge the death by killing the one responsible. This system, however, didn't account for accidents. God's law interrupts this cycle of vengeance by creating safe havens where a person who killed someone unintentionally could flee for protection until their case was judged fairly by the community.
A Blueprint for a Just Society
In Numbers 35, God speaks to Moses on the plains of Moab, giving final instructions before Israel enters the Promised Land. The chapter unfolds as a divine blueprint for a just and holy society. It begins by detailing the provision of cities for the Levites and then transitions into one of the Old Testament's most significant legal concepts: the cities of refuge, which balance the demand for justice with the need for mercy.
Cities for the Levites (Numbers 35:1-8)
1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying:
2 “Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites some of the inheritance of their possession as cities for them to dwell in. And you shall give to the Levites pasturelands around the cities.
3 And the cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
4 "The pasturelands of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits around."
5 And you shall measure, outside 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, the city being in the middle. This shall belong to them as pastureland for their cities.
6 "The cities that you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit the manslayer to flee, and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities."
7 So all the cities that you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities with their pasturelands.
8 And as for the cities that you shall give from the possession of the people of Israel, from the larger tribes you shall take many, and from the smaller tribes you shall take few; each, in proportion to the inheritance that it inherits, shall give of its cities to the Levites."
Commentary:
God instructs Israel to provide 48 cities with pasturelands for the Levites, ensuring the nation's spiritual guides are supported and distributed throughout the land.
Introducing the Cities of Refuge (Numbers 35:9-15)
9 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
10 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11 then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there.
12 The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
13 And the cities that you give shall be your six cities of refuge.
14 You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge.
15 These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there.
Commentary:
God establishes six cities of refuge where a person who kills someone accidentally can flee for safety from vengeance until a fair trial is held.
Defining Intentional Murder (Numbers 35:16-21)
16 “But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.
17 And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.
18 Or if he struck him down with a wooden object that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.
19 The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.
20 And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died,
21 or in enmity struck him with his hand so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
Commentary:
The law clearly defines murder as a killing done with a deadly weapon or born of hatred and premeditation, for which there is no refuge.
The Trial and Exile of the Manslayer (Numbers 35:22-29)
22 "But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait"
23 or if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.
24 then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood, in accordance with these rules.
25 And the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
26 But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the boundaries of his city of refuge to which he fled,
27 And the avenger of blood finds him outside the boundaries of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood.
28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.
29 And these things shall be for a statute and rule for you throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.
Commentary:
For an accidental killing, the community judges the case. If found innocent of murder, the person must live in a city of refuge until the high priest dies.
The Purity of the Land (Numbers 35:30-34)
30 “If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
31 Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death.
32 And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest.
33 You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
34 You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.”
Commentary:
To keep the land holy for God's presence, murder requires the testimony of multiple witnesses and cannot be pardoned with a ransom payment.
God's Blueprint for Justice and Mercy
The Sanctity of Human Life
This chapter shows how highly God values human life, which is created in His image. The detailed laws distinguish between tragic accidents and malicious murder, ensuring that justice is applied thoughtfully. The severe penalty for murder underscores that taking a life is an offense against God himself.
Justice Tempered with Mercy
The entire system of refuge cities is a beautiful illustration of God's character. While He demands justice for sin, He also provides a path for mercy. The law protects the innocent from unjust vengeance and gives them a chance for life, even while they bear the consequences of their actions through exile.
God's Holy Presence
The final verses reveal the ultimate motivation for these laws: 'for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel' (v. 34). Unpunished violence and injustice pollute the land, making it unfit for a holy God to inhabit. Therefore, upholding justice is a social duty and an act of worship that preserves the relationship between God and His people.
Living Out Justice and Refuge Today
This chapter teaches us that intent matters deeply to God. It encourages you to look beyond an action to the heart behind it, promoting a justice system that is fair and discerning. In your own life, it's a reminder to avoid making snap judgments about others' motives and to seek understanding before passing judgment.
The cities of refuge were places of safety and second chances. This challenges you to consider how your church, family, or community can be a refuge for people who have made terrible mistakes. As seen in verse 15, this protection was for everyone, reminding you to extend grace and create safe spaces for healing for those you know and for strangers.
The principle in verses 33-34 is that our actions have spiritual consequences that affect our environment and our relationship with God. This calls you to live with integrity, knowing that your choices contribute to either the health or the 'pollution' of your community and spiritual life. It encourages you to actively pursue justice and righteousness, creating a space where God's presence is honored.
God's Design for a Holy Community
Numbers 35 reveals that God is deeply concerned with the moral fabric of society. He provides a blueprint where justice is not blind vengeance but a careful, community-led process that discerns the truth. By establishing cities of refuge, God shows His heart for protecting the vulnerable while still holding people accountable. The ultimate message is that life is sacred, and the community that honors God must reflect His character by upholding both justice and mercy.
What This Means for Us Today
The laws in Numbers 35 are an invitation to build communities that mirror God's own heart. We are called to create spaces of refuge, fairness, and restoration for those who have stumbled, while also taking sin seriously. This chapter challenges us to be agents of both justice and mercy, reflecting the God who is our ultimate refuge.
- In what area of my life do I need to seek refuge in God today?
- How can I contribute to making my community a safer, more just place for everyone?
- Who in my life needs me to show mercy instead of judgment?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter defines the borders of the Promised Land, setting the stage for how the land will be organized and governed in Numbers 35.
This final chapter addresses a related legal issue of land inheritance for daughters, ensuring tribal allotments remain intact.
Connections Across Scripture
Moses restates and expands upon the laws of the cities of refuge as part of his final address to the new generation.
This chapter records the fulfillment of the command in Numbers 35, as Joshua and the Israelites officially designate the six cities of refuge.
The New Testament uses the imagery of fleeing to a refuge to describe the security and hope believers have by taking hold of God's promises in Christ.
Historical and Cultural Context
Comparing these laws to others of the time, like the Code of Hammurabi, highlights the unique emphasis on motive and community justice in Israel's laws.
Discussion Questions
- The 'avenger of blood' had a legal right to pursue justice. How does this concept of family-administered justice compare with our modern, state-run systems, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of each?
- The manslayer's freedom was tied to the death of the high priest. What does this connection suggest about concepts like atonement, forgiveness, and new beginnings?
- Numbers 35:34 states that God's presence is the reason for keeping the land pure. How would our communities, churches, and nations change if we made decisions with the constant awareness that God 'dwells in our midst'?
Glossary
places
figures
Levites
The tribe of Israel descended from Levi, set apart for religious duties and priestly service.
Avenger of Blood
A male relative of a murder victim who, under ancient customs, was responsible for avenging the death.
High Priest
The chief religious official in ancient Israel, who represented the people before God.
theological concepts
terms
Manslayer
A term for someone who has killed another person, used in this chapter specifically for an unintentional killing.
Cubit
An ancient unit of measurement, roughly the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (about 18 inches).
Congregation
The assembly of the Israelite community, which in this context acted as a court to judge legal cases.