351 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, in the plains of Moab, by Jordan, 'near' Jericho, saying, 2 'Command the sons of Israel, and they have given to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to inhabit; also a suburb for the cities round about them ye do give to the Levites. 3 And the cities have been to them to inhabit, and their suburbs are for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts. 4 'And the suburbs of the cities which ye give to the Levites 'are', from the wall of the city and without, a thousand cubits round about. 5 And ye have measured from the outside of the city, the east quarter, two thousand by the cubit, and the south quarter, two thousand by the cubit, and the west quarter, two thousand by the cubit, and the north quarter, two thousand by the cubit; and the city 'is' in the midst; this is to them the suburbs of the cities. 6 'And the cities which ye give to the Levites 'are' the six cities of refuge, which ye give for the fleeing thither of the man-slayer, and besides them ye give forty and two cities; 7 all the cities which ye give to the Levites 'are' forty and eight cities, them and their suburbs. 8 And the cities which ye give 'are' of the possession of the sons of Israel, from the many ye multiply, and from the few ye diminish; each, according to his inheritance which they inherit, doth give of his cities to the Levites.'
9 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 10 'Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, When ye are passing over the Jordan to the land of Canaan, 11 and have prepared to yourselves cities—cities of refuge they are to you—then fled thither hath a man-slayer, smiting a person unawares, 12 and the cities have been to you for a refuge from the redeemer, and the man-slayer doth not die till his standing before the company for judgment. 13 'As to the cities which ye give—six 'are' cities of refuge to you; 14 the three of the cities ye give beyond the Jordan, and the three of the cities ye give in the land of Canaan; cities of refuge they are. 15 To sons of Israel, and to a sojourner, and to a settler in their midst, are these six cities for a refuge, for the fleeing thither of any one smiting a person unawares. 16 'And if with an instrument of iron he hath smitten him, and he dieth, he 'is' a murderer: the murderer is certainly put to death. 17 'And if with a stone 'in' the hand, wherewith he dieth, he hath smitten him, and he dieth, he 'is' a murderer: the murderer is certainly put to death. 18 'Or with a wooden instrument 'in' the hand, wherewith he dieth, he hath smitten him, and he dieth, he 'is' a murderer: the murderer is certainly put to death. 19 'The redeemer of blood himself doth put the murderer to death; in his coming against him he doth put him to death. 20 'And if in hatred he thrust him through, or hath cast 'anything' at him by lying in wait, and he dieth; 21 or in enmity he hath smitten him with his hand, and he dieth; the smiter is certainly put to death; he 'is' a murderer; the redeemer of blood doth put the murderer to death in his coming against him. 22 'And if, in an instant, without enmity, he hath thrust him through, or hath cast at him any instrument, without lying in wait; 23 or with any stone wherewith he dieth, without seeing, and causeth 'it' to fall upon him, and he dieth, and he 'is' not his enemy, nor seeking his evil; 24 then have the company judged between the smiter and the redeemer of blood, by these judgments. 25 'And the company have delivered the man-slayer out of the hand of the redeemer of blood, and the company have caused him to turn back unto the city of his refuge, whither he hath fled, and he hath dwelt in it till the death of the chief priest, who hath been anointed with the holy oil. 26 'And if the man-slayer at all go out 'from' the border of the city of his refuge whither he fleeth, 27 and the redeemer of blood hath found him at the outside of the border of the city of his refuge, and the redeemer of blood hath slain the man-slayer, blood is not for him; 28 for in the city of his refuge he doth dwell till the death of the chief priest; and after the death of the chief priest doth the man-slayer turn back unto the city of his possession.
29 'And these things have been to you for a statute of judgment to your generations, in all your dwellings: 30 whoso smiteth a person, by the mouth of witnesses doth 'one' slay the murderer; and one witness doth not testify against a person—to die. 31 'And ye take no atonement for the life of a murderer who 'is' condemned—to die, for he is certainly put to death;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 35:1-31
Commentary on Numbers 35:1-8
(Read Numbers 35:1-8)
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 opportunity, by acts of kindness, to gain the good-will of the people, and to draw their attention.
Commentary on Numbers 35:9-34
(Read Numbers 35:9-34)
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, till they had a fair trial. If acquitted from the charge, they were protected from the avenger of blood; yet they must continue within the bounds of the city till the death of the high priest. Thus we are reminded that the death of the great High Priest is the only means whereby sins are pardoned, and sinners set at liberty. These cities are plainly alluded to, both in the Old and New Testament, we cannot doubt the typical character of their appointment. Turn ye to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope, saith the voice of mercy, Hebrews 6:18. The rich mercies of salvation, through Christ, prefigured by these cities, demand our regard. 1. Did the ancient city rear its towers of safety on high? See Christ raised up on the cross; and is he not exalted at the right hand of his Father, to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins? 2. Does not the highway of salvation, resemble the smooth and plain path to the city of refuge? Survey the path that leads to the Redeemer. Is there any stumbling-block to be found therein, except that which an evil heart of unbelief supplies for its own fall? 3. Waymarks were set up pointing to the city. And is it not the office of the ministers of the gospel to direct sinners to Him? 4. The gate of the city stood open night and day. Has not Christ declared, Him that cometh unto me I will in nowise cast out? 5. The city of refuge afforded support to every one who entered its walls. Those who have reached the refuge, may live by faith on Him whose flesh is meat indeed, and whose blood is drink indeed. 6. The city was a refuge for all. In the gospel there is no respect of persons. That soul lives not which deserves not Divine wrath; that soul lives not which may not in simple faith hope for salvation and life eternal, through the Son of God.