What are the cities of refuge in this passage?

The cities of refuge are six special Levite cities set apart by God as safe places for anyone who killed a person by accident. If someone caused a death “unawares,” they could flee to one of these cities to escape the avenger of blood, usually a close relative of the dead person. The person had to stay there until they stood before the congregation for judgment. If they were found to be an unintentional killer, they lived in that city until the death of the high priest. These cities showed both God’s justice and His mercy.

Why did God give cities to the Levites instead of land like the other tribes?

The Levites were set apart to serve God and teach His law, so they did not receive a large land inheritance like the other tribes. Instead, God commanded Israel to give them forty‑eight cities scattered throughout the nation, each with surrounding land for their animals and goods. This let them focus on their spiritual duties rather than farming large estates. Being spread among all the tribes also meant the Levites were close to the people, able to guide them in worship and help keep them faithful to God’s ways.

How did God distinguish between murder and accidental killing here?

This passage makes a clear difference between killing with hatred and planning, and killing without intent. If someone used iron, a heavy stone, or a deadly wooden weapon in anger or with lying in wait, they were called a murderer and had to be put to death. But if a person pushed another suddenly without enmity, or dropped something without seeing them, and there was no ongoing hostility, it was treated as unintentional. In that case, the congregation judged the case, rescued the slayer from the avenger of blood, and sent him to live safely in a city of refuge.

Who is the avenger of blood in this chapter?

The avenger of blood is usually the nearest relative of the person who was killed. In this law, that relative had the right to pursue and kill a murderer once the case was clear, acting as an agent of justice. However, the avenger could not simply act on anger alone. If the killing might have been accidental, the slayer could run to a city of refuge and wait for the congregation’s judgment. If the slayer was found innocent of murder, the avenger of blood was not allowed to harm him inside the city of refuge as long as he stayed within its borders.

Why did the manslayer have to stay in the city of refuge until the high priest died?

The one who killed unintentionally had to live in the city of refuge and remain there until the death of the high priest. Leaving early meant the avenger of blood could kill him without guilt. Staying there was like serving a long, protected exile that respected the life that had been lost. When the high priest died, the manslayer was free to return to his own land. This marks a kind of fresh start for the community and for the slayer, showing both the seriousness of taking a life and God’s mercy in allowing eventual restoration.

Why does the passage say blood pollutes the land?

The passage teaches that when a person is killed, their blood defiles the land before God. The land can only be cleansed when the one who shed the blood is judged, which for a murderer meant death. Accepting money to spare a murderer, or letting a killer go free, would leave the land stained. God explains this because He Himself lives among His people. Their land and community are to reflect His holiness. Allowing unchecked violence or treating human life lightly would offend God and bring guilt on everyone who lives there.

Why were six of the Levite cities chosen as cities of refuge?

Out of the forty‑eight Levite cities, God set apart six as cities of refuge, three on each side of the Jordan. Levite cities were natural places for this, because the Levites were teachers of God’s law and could help handle these hard cases wisely. Having the refuge cities spread across the land meant they were reachable from anywhere in Israel. This arrangement tied together God’s care for justice, through careful judgment, with His care for mercy, by providing quick and clear access to safety for anyone involved in an unintentional death.

Why does this law forbid taking money instead of putting a murderer to death?

The passage clearly says Israel must not take “satisfaction” or payment to spare the life of a murderer who is guilty of death. Allowing someone to buy their way out of punishment would cheapen human life and treat a serious crime as something that could be settled like a debt. God wanted the people to see that murder attacks a person made in His image and defiles the whole land. By refusing payment and carrying out the proper sentence, the community showed that they honored God’s standard of justice and the value of every human life.

What does this passage teach about God’s character?

This chapter shows God as both just and merciful. He cares deeply about the value of human life, so murder is punished firmly, and the land must not be polluted by innocent blood. At the same time, He makes room for mistakes and accidents by giving cities of refuge so that an unintentional killer is not treated like a murderer. He also provides for the Levites, ensuring they can live and serve throughout the nation. Altogether, we see a God who orders community life, protects the weak, and balances justice with mercy.

Num.35.1

Numbers 35:1

KJV

And the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,

Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites

Cities for the Levites

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 possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites 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.

Cities of Refuge

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 manslayer, 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 ye give with their suburbs.

8 And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.

Six Cities of Refuge

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 be 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 manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

13 And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for 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 six 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 smite 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 smite 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 smite 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 hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;

21 Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote 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, seeing 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; 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 Whoso 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 it 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.

Cross References

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