Numbers 35

Numbers 35:2

UNto the Levites] By Levites here must be understood the whole Tribe of Levi, as comprehending also the Priests; because they had none inheritance assigned them in the Land of Canaan; and they had none inheritance distinct and apart from the rest of the Tribes, because they were to be dispersed throughout the Land for instruction of the people, and exhortation to obedience to the Law of God: and herein that malediction, Genesis 49:7. is turned into an honourable blessing.

Numbers 35:3

Cities] Fourtie eight in number, Josh. 21. vers. 41. In one of these Cities for the most part was the Tabernacle placed, whither the Priests and Levites came to minister, as their course required; and that done, they returned to the Cities of their setled habitations and possessions; such were those which are mentioned, Leviticus 25:32.

to dwell in] For them, their wives, and children, and servants, yet not for them onely; (though for them chiefely) for a Citie cannot well be furnished without men of severall Arts and Occupations, which might live among the Levites, and be so farre partakers with them, as that they might take their houses by way of Mortgage, and hold them (if the Levites did not redeeme them) untill the yeare of Jubilee. See Annot. on Leviticus 25:33.

Numbers 35:5

two thousand cubits] In the precedent verse there is numbred but a thousand cubites, in this two thousand; which some take for the same measure, making the word Ammah in the fourth verse, to signifie a pace, and the same word in this verse a cubite (as the word Nahal in the same verse, viz. Deuteronomy 2:36. in the Hebrew is put for a brooke and for a valley) and allowing to every pace two cubites. The distinction of the word cubite taken for an ordinary cubite in this verse, and for a cubite of the Sanctuary (which is thought to be twice as much) in the precedent verse, is brought by some to cleare this seeming contradiction; others affirme they had from the walles of the Citie a thousand cubites allowed for pasture of cattell, and two thousand more for corne fields and vineyards; but the clearest way for avoydance of this seeming difference is this; they had a thousand cubites from the walles of the Citie out-right in length, and two thousand in compasse on each side, East, West, North, and South, which taken together made up the whole compasse eight thousand cubites, which may best be discerned by this Figure; In which it plainly appeareth, that the Lines stretched out foure severall waies from the Citie, are each of them a thousand cubits distant from the Citie, and each side of the square, East, West, North, and South, being twice so much in length as the line coming from the City outward (which is one thousand cubits, vers. 4.) must make up for each quarter two thousand cubits, according to the fifth verse: and if the forme of the Citie and Suburbs be circular, this proportion may be observed, with very little difference; for taking the semediameter, that is, the line halfe way from East to West, and from North to South, that is, from D to E, or from B to E, there is a thousand cubits, stretched out to a full diameter, that is, from D on the East side, to F on the West, and from B on the North side to H on the South, will make up two thousand cubits a piece; and if these be drawne about with a circular line, that circle will be about three times the length of the whole Diameter; and the Citie being in the midst of it, and the lines on each side drawne not from the Center of it, but from the wall or the outside, the circle or circumference will be so much the greater, that it will arise to eight thousand cubits; and so the whole quartered into foure parts, East, West, North, and South, each part will containe two thousand cubits, according to this verse, without any contradiction; yea with exact conformitie to the one thousand cubits in the fourth verse: and about this proportion in distance from the Citie wals, and in compasse or circuit about them, will the Levites portion of Suburbs be, whether the Citie be great or small, round or square, or of any other figure.

Numbers 35:6

sixe cities of refuge] Before that there were Cities of refuge, it is like the Tabernacle was a place of refuge, and afterward the Temple, especially the Altar, Exodus 21:14. but they were to yeeld no refuge to a wilfull murderer, who was by force (if he took Sanctuary there) to be plucked thence, as Joab was, 1 Kings 2:31. but for securitie to the unwitting and unwilling man slayer.

man-slayer] There was no Citie of refuge for any other offender but a manslayer; whereof the reason may be, because bloud-shed is pursued (especially by those who are of the same flesh and bloud with the man slaine) with most violent and bloudy revenge, without taking leasure to consider the fault as well as the fact, and the degree of it, whether it deserve to be punished with death or no: The man-slayer here allowed a place of protection is such an one as slew another ignorantly and against his will, vers. 11. 15. of this Chapter, and Joshua 20:3. to keepe him from the rage of the pursuer, untill his cause may judicially be heard; and the pursuer was he who was next of kinne to the slaine man; who, if the slayer were condemned to death, was to doe or to see execution done upon him, vers. 19. But in what Citie should he be tried? some thinke in the City whither he hath betaken himselfe for refuge; but it is more probable to be in the City where the man was killed, or in that which was next to the place of slaughter, whither he was to be brought with a sufficient guard, and his cause heard before all the people, vers. 12. and if he were found guilty of witting and wilfull murder, he was to be given up into the hands of the next kindred of the slaine man, to be put to death; if he were cleared of so grosse a guilt, he was to be returned to the Citie of refuge, from whence he was brought, and there to continue untill the High-priests death, before which time if he were taken out of his Citie by the avenger of bloud, (the slain mans living kinsman) he might be slaine.

Numbers 35:12

untill he stand] He shall not be put to death by anothers wrath, but upon a deliberate tryall before a competent Judge.

Numbers 35:14

on this side Iordan] Among the Reubenites, Gadites, and halfe Tribe of Manasseh, Deuteronomy 4:41.

Numbers 35:15

sojourners] Who dwelt with them for a time, and were not of the same Religion with them; yet some conceive this priviledge was onely for such strangers as were Proselytes, or Converts to the Religion of the Hebrewes.

Numbers 35:16

smite him] Wittingly and willingly.

Numbers 35:17

and he die] That is, presently upon the blow; but if he rose againe and died not, he that smote him was not to be put to death, but to beare the charge of his cure untill he were recovered; as Exodus 21:19.

Numbers 35:19

meeteth him] That is, when after a true tryall of his guilt he is presented to his view, and put into his hands by the Magistrates of the City, as vers. 30. then some hold he might, some that he must doe execution upon him, not taking any satisfaction to take him off from a just revenge, vers. 31.

Numbers 35:22

without enmitie] Which may be reasonably conjectured, if there were no quarrell or falling out betwixt them before, this was a ground of presumption (against a malicious or murderous intention) sufficient to cleare him.

Numbers 35:24

the Congregation shall judge] The Elders shall judge openly and in the presence of the Congregation, in such sort, as that they shall approve of the sentence given in the cause.

Numbers 35:25

death of the high Priest] The High-priest was a type of Christ in making atonement for the people in his life-time, but in this case (by his death restoring the exiled person to his liberty, so that he might leave the Citie of refuge (if he had committed man-slaughter unawares) and be safe) he did prefigure the freedome of the redeemed of the Lord, whose death reduced them to the fruition of a free condition: See vers. 28.

Numbers 35:26

at any time] Except at the death of the High-priest.

Numbers 35:27

the avenger of bloud] That is, the next of kinne to him that was killed, who was to doe execution, or to see it certainely done by another.

Numbers 35:29

• statute of judgement] A Law to judge man-killers, whether done of purpose, or unadvisedly. Chap. 27. 11.

Numbers 35:33

pollute the land] The guilt of blood hath a diffusive malignitie, spreading it selfe all about, if it be not sought out and pursued to punishment.

of him that shed it] Mercy to a murderer, is crueltie to a Kingdome.

Numbers 35:34

wherein I dwell] God by his infinite immensitie is every where, Psal. 139. 7, 8, 9. yet he preferreth some persons and places before others; and to whom, and where he gives evidence of his presence in more favourable and familiar manner, there he may be said to dwell especially: See Isaiah 57:15. Psalms 135:21. 1 King 9. 3. Matthew 18:20.