Numbers 35

Numbers 35:1

J. Cities of the Levites (35:1-5) Since the tribe of Levi did not inherit with the other tribes, God decreed that forty-eight cities should be set apart for the Levites. It is difficult to understand the measurements given in verses 4 and 5, but it is at least clear that the cities were surrounded by common-land for grazing the livestock. (Perhaps the two thousand cubits mentioned in verse 5 were inclusive of the one thousand cubits already mentioned in verse 4.)

Numbers 35:6

K. Cities of Refuge and Capital Punishment (35:6-34)35:6-8 Six of the Levite cities were to be designated as cities of refuge. A person who had accidentally killed another could flee to one of these cities and be safe to stand trial. Those tribes which had much territory would donate cities for the Levites accordingly. Those which had little were not expected to give as many cities. 35:9-21 Of the cities of refuge, three were to be on each side of the Jordan River. A manslayer would ordinarily be pursued by a near relative of the victim, known as the avenger. If the manslayer reached a city of refuge, he was safe there until his case came up for trial (v. 12). The cities of refuge did not provide sanctuary for a murderer (vv. 16-19). Crimes committed through hatred or enmity were punishable by death (vv. 20, 21). 35:22-28 If the homicide appeared to be a case of manslaughter, the man would be tried by the congregation (vv. 22-24). If acquitted, the manslayer had to stay in the city of refuge . . . until the death of the high priest. He was then allowed to return home (v. 28). If he ventured outside . . . the city before the death of the high priest, the avenger of blood could slay him without incurring guilt (vv. 26-28). The death of the high priest brought freedom to those who had escaped to the cities of refuge. They could no longer be harmed by the avenger of blood. The death of our Great High Priest frees us from the condemning demands of the Law. How foolish this stipulation would be if one failed to see in it a symbol of the work of our Lord at the Cross! Unger relates some traditional details: According to the rabbis, in order to aid the fugitive it was the business of the Sanhedrin to keep the roads leading to the cities of refuge in the best possible repair. No hills were left, every river was bridged, and the road itself was to be at least thirty-two cubits broad. At every turn were guideposts bearing the word Refuge; and two students of the law were appointed to accompany the fleeing man, to pacify, if possible, the avenger, should he overtake the fugitive. As for the symbolic teaching, the people of Israel are the manslayer, having put the Messiah to death. Yet they did it ignorantly (Act_3:17). The Lord Jesus prayed, “. . . they know not what they do” (Luk_23:34). Just as the manslayer was displaced from his own home and had to live in the city of refuge, so Israel has been living in exile ever since. The nation’s complete restoration to its possession will take place, not at the death of the Great High Priest (for He can never die), but when He comes to reign. 35:29-34 Capital punishment was decreed for murderers; there was no escape or satisfaction (vv. 30, 31). A manslayer could not purchase release from a city of refuge (v. 32). Blood that was shed in murder defiled the land, and such blood demanded the death of the murderer (vv. 33, 34). Think of this in connection with the death of Christ!