Numbers 35:14

_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._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

9-34 To show plainly the abhorrence of murder, and to provide the more effectually for the punishment of the murderer, the nearest relation of the deceased, under the title of avenger of blood, (or the redeemer of blood,) in notorious cases, might pursue, and execute vengeance. A distinction is made, not between sudden anger and malice aforethought, both which are the crime of murder; but between intentionally striking a man with any weapon likely to cause death, and an unintentional blow. In the latter case alone, the city of refuge afforded protection. Murder in all its forms, and under all disguises, pollutes a land. Alas! that so many murders, under the name of duels, prize-fights, c. should pass unpunished. There were six cities of refuge one or other might be reached in less than a day's journey from any part of the land. To these, man-slayers might flee for refuge, and be safe, t...

YE SHALL GIVE THREE CITES ON THIS SIDE JORDAN,.... Which were Bezer in the wilderness, out of the tribe of Reuben; and Ramoth in Gilead, out of the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, out of the tribe of Manasseh, Joshua 20:8, AND THREE CITIES SHALL YE GIVE IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: which were Kadesh in Galilee, in Mount Naphtali; Shechem in Mount Ephraim; and Kirjatharba, or Hebron, in the mountain of Judah, Joshua 20:7 [WHICH] SHALL BE CITIES OF REFUGE; the three on the other side Jordan, the Jews say, were separated by Moses, and the three in the land of Canaan by Joshua, but not one of them was a refuge until they were all separated m: it may seem strange that there should be as many in the two tribes and a half on the other side Jordan, as in the nine tribes and a half in th

11. THE CITIES OF REFUGE CHAPTER 35 _ 1. The provision of the Levites: Forty-eight cities (Numbers 35:1)_ 2. The cities of refuge (Numbers 35:9) The cities of the Levites were scattered through the land. Genesis 49:7 is therefore fulfilled. The provision of cities for refuge is full of interest. The careful study of the purpose of these cities is recommended. Note especially that they were provided to give shelter for those who had killed a person unawares. The avenger of blood (Hebrew: _goel, which means to redeem) pursued the person and the city of refuge gave shelter. The death of the high priest resulted in liberty for all who were in the cities of refuge. It was the signal that they could

CONDITIONS LIMITING THE PRIVILEGE OF SANCTUARY. Anciently the holiness of a sanctuary extended to all who came in contact with it, so that the right of asylum was liable to be abused; but by this law protection at a city of refuge was to be refused to those homicides who in the judgment of the community, on the evidence of two witnesses, were guilty of murder, as inferred from (_a)_ the existence of previous enmity or evidence of premeditation, (_b)_ the use of a murderous weapon. Those who were guilty of manslaughter only (see Deuteronomy 19:4 f.) were safe within the city during the lifetime of the high priest: after his death they ceased to be liable to vengeance. Though the law promoted justice by discriminating between the intentional and the unintentional homicide, it still left the punishment of the former to private revenge instead of committing it to the community.

THREE CITIES. Bezer, Ramoth, Golan (Deuteronomy 4:41). AND THREE. Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron (Joshua 20:7). These were placed in due order, east and west, in two ranks: Hebron over against Bezer. Shechem over against Ramoth. Kedesh over against Golan. If the Lord enlarged their land, they were to add three more (Deuteronomy 19:8; Deuteronomy 19:9)....

_The -Cities of Refuge,"_and the _Law relating to homicide_ In Numbers 35:9 the appointment of the six cities and their purpose are prescribed; Numbers 35:16 contain specimen cases distinguishing deliberate murder from accidental homicide; Numbers 35:24 provide the legal procedure; Numbers 35:29 form a conclusion. The section presents the latest development in the O.T. of the Law of Asylum. In early days (Exodus 21:13 f. E) an appointed place was provided, to which the manslayer might flee, i.e. an altar, which would be within easy reach

AND AMONG THE CITIES WHICH YE SHALL GIVE UNTO THE LEVITES, THERE SHALL BE SIX CITIES FOR REFUGE, &C.— The cities of the Levites were appointed for this purpose, rather than any other, because they were a kind of sacred places inhabited by sacred persons; and here men might spend their time better than in other places, being among the ministers of religion. These _cities of refuge_ were only for those who _killed any person unawares,_ Numbers 35:11 i.e. _unwittingly,_ or _ignorantly,_ as it is in Deuteronomy 19:4 and Joshua 20:3. See also Numbers 35:22 following. _The avenger,_...

E. REGULATIONS REGARDING THE CITIES OF REFUGE vv. 9-15 TEXT Numbers 35:9. 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 per

THE LEVITICAL CITIES. THE CITIES OF REFUGIE 1-8. The Levitical Cities. The tribe of Levi received no part of the land of Canaan as their inheritance (Numbers 18:20; Numbers 26:62). By way of compensation they received the tithes for their support (Numbers 18:21). It is here further provided that 48 cities with their suburbs be allotted to them out of the inheritance of the other tribes, for the maintenance of themselves and their herds. The carrying out of this injunction is recorded in Joshua 21, where it is also noted that the priests (the sons of Aaron) received 13 of these cities ...