Numbers 35:6

_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._ There shall be six cities ... for the manslayer. These were sacred cities, as inhabited by the Levitical order, who acted as moral guardians, and presided along with the elders in the inferior tribunals in those cities to which men charged with homicide fled for an asylum. The establishment of those privileged sanctuaries among the cities of the Levites is probably traceable to the idea that they would be the most suitable and impartial judges; that their presence and counsels might calm or restrain the stormy passions of the blood-avenger; and that, from their being invested with the sacred character, they might be types of Christ, in whom sinners find a refuge from the destro...

1-8 The cities of the priests and Levites were not only to accommodate them, but to place them, as religious teachers, in several parts of the land. For though the typical service of the tabernacle or temple was only in one place, the preaching of the word of God, and prayer and praise, were not thus confined. These cities were to be given out of each tribe. Each thus made a grateful acknowledgement to God. Each tribe had the benefit of the Levites dwelling amongst them, to teach them the knowledge of the Lord; thus no parts of the country were left to sit in darkness. The gospel provides that he who is taught in the word, should communicate to him that teaches, in all good things, Galatians 6:6. We are to free God's ministers from distracting cares, and to leave them at leisure for the duties of their station; so that they may be wholly employed therein, and avail themselves of every o...

The Levitical cities were in an special manner the Lord’s; and therefore the places of refuge, where the manslayer might remain under the protection of a special institution devised by divine mercy, were appropriately selected from among them. No doubt also the Priests and Levites would be the fittest persons to administer the law in the doubtful cases which would be sure to occur: compare Numbers 35:24 note....

AND AMONG THE CITIES WHICH YE SHALL GIVE UNTO THE LEVITES,.... The number of which is not yet expressed, but is afterwards: there shall be SIX CITIES FOR REFUGE; a sort of asylums, of which there were many among the Heathens, perhaps in imitation of these, for persons to have recourse to for safety, when in danger of life: the Septuagint render the words, "cities of flight" b; or to flee unto, which certainly was the use of them: to this the apostle alludes when he speaks of some that fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before them, Hebrews 6:18, the word c used for refuge signifies "gathering or receiving", for here persons in distress gathered or betook themselves; and here they were received, retained, protected, and sheltered: what and where these six cities were to be, and were, is after shown: WHICH YE SHALL APPOINT FOR THE MANSLAYER; not

REFUGE The cities of refuge are types of Christ sheltering the sinner from judgment. (Psalms 46:1); (Psalms 142:5); (Isaiah 4:6); (Exodus 21:13); (Deuteronomy 19:2); (Romans 8:1); (Romans 8:33); (Romans 8:34); ...

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

APPOINTMENT OF LEVITICAL CITIES AND CITIES OF REFUGE. This law must be supplementary to, and later than, the law in Numbers 18:8, which does not contemplate the assignment to the Levites of cities in addition to the tithes, and indeed, definitely denies to them any territorial possessions (Numbers 18:20; _cf._ Deuteronomy 18:1). The cities here bestowed on the Levites are forty-eight in number, and are enumerated in Joshua 21; but the facts (_a)_ that some did not come fully under Israelitish ownership until after Joshua's death (_e.g._ Gezer, see p. 28, Judges 1:29 *,...

SIX CITIES. See Deuteronomy 4:41.Joshua 20:2; Joshua 20:7; Joshua 20:8; Joshua 21:3....

_The Levitical cities_ The Levites are to receive 48 cities with their surrounding land (E.VV. -suburbs"), six of which are to be -cities of refuge." The cities are to be contributed by each tribe in numbers proportionate to its size. Each plot of land is to be a square of 2,000 cubits (_c._1,000 yards). The carrying out of this law is related in fuller detail in Joshua 21, where the allotment is as follows: the _Kohathite Levites_were given 10 towns in Ephraim, Dan and western Manasseh, the _Gershonites_13 in Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and eastern Manasseh, the _Merarites_12 in Reuben, Gad and Zebulun, while the _priests_had 10 in Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. Two considerations, however, shew that this is a purely ideal arrangement, which could never have been actually brought about: 1st, In a hilly country like Palestine, cut with deep ravines, it would be impossib

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,_...