Numbers 35: Cities of Refuge and Levite Towns

Pentateuch

Jul 28

Short answer: Numbers 35 records God's instruction to Israel to allocate forty-eight cities to the Levites, including six cities of refuge where someone who killed another unintentionally could flee. It also sets out the distinction between murder and accidental killing, the role of the avenger of blood, and the requirement of witnesses for a death sentence.

What Numbers 35 says

The chapter opens with God speaking to Moses in the plains of Moab, directing that the Israelites give the Levites cities to live in from their inheritance, along with surrounding pasture lands. Verses 2 through 5 specify the dimensions: pasture lands extending a thousand cubits from the city wall, and an additional two thousand cubits on each side, with the city in the middle. These lands are for the Levites' livestock, possessions, and animals. Verses 6 through 8 then state that among the forty-eight cities given to the Levites, six are to be cities of refuge for those who kill unintentionally. The allocation is proportional: larger tribes give more cities, smaller tribes give fewer, according to each tribe's inheritance.

Verses 9 through 15 shift to the purpose of the cities of refuge. When Israel crosses the Jordan into Canaan, they are to appoint these cities so that anyone who kills a person without intent may flee there. The cities protect the killer from the avenger of blood until a congregation can judge the case. Three cities are to be east of the Jordan and three in Canaan, and they are open to Israelites, strangers, and foreigners living among them. This provision ensures that even the unintentional killer has a safe place to await trial, preventing immediate revenge and allowing due process.

Verses 16 through 24 distinguish between murder and accidental killing. If someone strikes another with an iron instrument, a stone, or a wooden weapon that could cause death, and the victim dies, that person is a murderer and must be put to death. The avenger of blood is responsible for executing the murderer. Similarly, if someone shoves another out of hatred or throws something with intent, or strikes with a hand in hostility, it is murder. But if the act is sudden, without hostility or premeditation, or if a stone is thrown without seeing the person, and there was no enmity or intent to harm, then the congregation must judge between the striker and the avenger. The congregation protects the unintentional killer.

Verses 25 through 34 conclude with further regulations. The congregation must deliver the unintentional killer from the avenger and return him to his city of refuge, where he must stay until the death of the high priest. If he leaves the city before that, the avenger may kill him without guilt. After the high priest dies, the killer may return home. These statutes are permanent for all generations. A murderer must be executed only on the testimony of multiple witnesses; a single witness is insufficient. No ransom is allowed for a murderer or for one who fled to a city of refuge to return before the priest's death. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement can only be made by the blood of the one who shed it. God dwells among Israel, so they must not defile the land.

Verses that carry the chapter

““The cities which you shall give to the Levites, they shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the man slayer to flee to. Besides them you shall give forty-two cities.” (Numbers 35:6) — This verse introduces the six cities of refuge, a central provision of the chapter, showing God's concern for justice and protection for those who kill unintentionally.
“The cities shall be for your refuge from the avenger, that the man slayer not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.” (Numbers 35:12) — It explains the purpose of the cities: to protect the killer from the avenger until a fair trial before the congregation, highlighting the importance of due process.
““ ‘But if he struck him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death.” (Numbers 35:16) — This verse begins the distinction between murder and accidental killing, specifying that striking with an iron instrument that causes death makes one a murderer deserving death.
““ ‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain based on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify alone against any person so that he dies.” (Numbers 35:30) — It establishes the requirement of multiple witnesses for a death sentence, safeguarding against false accusations and ensuring justice.

Gospel connection

The cities of refuge in Numbers 35 foreshadow the ultimate refuge found in Christ. Just as the unintentional killer could flee to a city and be safe from the avenger until the high priest died, we flee to Jesus, our high priest, who died to secure our safety from the penalty of sin. The chapter's insistence that blood pollutes the land and requires atonement points to the necessity of a blood sacrifice, ultimately fulfilled in Christ's death on the cross. The distinction between murder and accidental killing reflects God's justice and mercy, both perfectly displayed in the gospel, where God is just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus.

Application

This chapter calls readers to value both justice and mercy. It challenges us to protect the innocent and ensure fair treatment for those accused, not rushing to judgment. It also reminds us that God takes life seriously and that bloodshed has consequences. For believers, it points to the greater refuge we have in Christ, urging us to find safety in him and to extend grace to others. It also encourages us to live in a way that honors the sacredness of life and to trust God's provision for forgiveness and restoration.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not specify the names of the cities of refuge, nor does it describe the exact procedure for trial beyond the requirement of witnesses. It does not claim that the cities of refuge were only for Israelites, since verse 15 explicitly includes strangers and foreigners. It does not state how the avenger of blood was identified or whether the congregation's judgment could be appealed. The text is silent on the emotional state of the killer or the avenger, and it does not explain how the death of the high priest relates to atonement beyond allowing the killer to return home. It also does not mention any specific historical events or later fulfillment beyond the statute's permanence.

Questions for study

Why do you think God commanded the Levites to receive cities and pasture lands instead of a large contiguous territory?
What does the provision of cities of refuge reveal about God's character and his concern for justice?
How does the distinction between murder and accidental killing in verses 16 through 24 guide our understanding of intent and responsibility?
Why was the death of the high priest significant for the person who fled to a city of refuge?
In what ways does the requirement of multiple witnesses for a death sentence protect the innocent and uphold justice?

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FAQ

What were the cities of refuge?

They were six Levitical cities designated as safe places where someone who killed another person unintentionally could flee to escape the avenger of blood until a fair trial.

How did the cities of refuge distinguish between murder and accidental killing?

If someone killed another with a weapon or in hostility, it was murder and the killer was put to death. If the killing was accidental and without enmity, the congregation protected the killer in the city of refuge.

Why was the death of the high priest important for the person in the city of refuge?

The person had to remain in the city of refuge until the high priest died; after that, they could return home without fear of the avenger of blood.

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