Keraia
Numbers 35

Numbers 35:25

Six Cities of Refuge · Numbers 35:9–34
Read Numbers 35

Translations

Modern
The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And the congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge where there he had fled; and he shall remain there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the oil of holiness.
Latin
…liberabitur innocens de ultoris manu, et reducetur per sententiam in urbem, ad quam confugerat, manebitque ibi, donec sacerdos magnus, qui oleo sancto unctus est, moriatur.

Original

Hebrew
English
The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

Notes

Numbers 35:24–25

  • If the person who caused the death was found not guilty of murder at a public trial before the community (compare Deuteronomy 19:11–12), that person had to remain in the city of refuge.

    The avenger was not allowed to take revenge. The community had decided that the person was not guilty of murder.

  • until the death of the high priest: The death of the high priest likely served as a kind of expiation (a way of removing guilt or cleansing from sin) for the blood that had been shed. Even if the person did not commit murder, the spilling of human blood was believed to pollute the land (see Numbers 35:33; compare Genesis 4:10–11).

Numbers 35:6–34

Six of the Levites’ towns had a special purpose. They served as cities of refuge. A city of refuge was a place where a person could run for safety after accidentally killing someone.

These cities show the humanitarian (care for human life) side of Hebrew law (see also Deuteronomy 4:41–43; 19:1–13; Joshua 20).

These six towns offered protection when someone killed accidentally or unintentionally (compare Exodus 21:12–14).

The 48 towns given to the Levites were spread throughout Israel. In the same way, the six cities of refuge were placed in different parts of the land. This made them easy to reach for anyone who needed safety (see Joshua 20:7–8).

Before these cities were established, a person could sometimes seek safety by holding on to the altar. The altar was a place connected with worship (for example, 1 Kings 1:50–53; 2:28–34; compare Exodus 21:14).

Other ancient peoples also had places of refuge. Often these places were connected to an altar (see Exodus 21:12–14; 1 Kings 2:28–34). However, only ancient Israel created entire towns as places of safety. This practice shows Israel’s special concern for justice and the protection of human life.

Theme notes and profiles

The Cities of Refuge The Family Redeemer

Parallels

Deuteronomy 4:41–43 Deuteronomy 19:1–14 Joshua 20:1–9

Glossary

Arabah Avenger of Blood Bloodguilt Cities of Refuge Courts and Trials Criminal Law and Punishment Deuteronomy, Book of Joshua, Book of Moses Numbers, Book of Ransom

Topics

Anointing in Consecration of High Priests Avenger of Blood: Scriptures Relating To Cities of Refuge: Those Admitted to Obliged to Remain In, Until the High Priest's Death Government: Mosaic: The Court in Certain Capital Cases Homicide: Accidental Homicide: Confinement in the City of Refuge the Punishment For Homicide: Distinguished from Murder Refuge: Cities of from the Avenger of Blood