ScriptureDepth's study of Numbers 35
“You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and you shall give three cities in the land of Canaan. They shall be cities of refuge.”
Numbers 35:14
Yahweh commands Moses to tell the children of Israel to establish cities of refuge, which are critical for those who unintentionally kill another.
What Numbers 35 is about
Yahweh commands Moses to instruct the Israelites to give cities to the Levites. The Levites will have cities and suburbs to live in, with space for their livestock (vv. 1-4). The total number of cities for the Levites will be forty-eight, including six cities of refuge (vv. 5-8). These cities will provide refuge for someone who kills another person without intent. The slayer can flee there until they stand for judgment (vv. 9-12). Three cities will be beyond the Jordan, and three will be in Canaan (vv. 13-15). If a person kills someone purposely, that person is a murderer and will be executed (vv. 16-21). If the killing was accidental, the congregation will judge the case (vv. 22-24). The slayer must stay in the city of refuge until the high priest dies or they could be killed (vv. 25-28). Bloodshed pollutes the land, and no ransom can be taken for a murderer (vv. 29-34).
Blood pollutes the land, and atonement requires the death of the one who shed it.
Numbers 35 at a glance
- Numbers 35:1–8Provision for the Levites
- Numbers 35:9–15Establishing Cities of Refuge
- Numbers 35:16–21Laws on Murder
- Numbers 35:22–28Judgment and Refuge
- Numbers 35:29–34Statutes on Bloodshed
Key verse: Numbers 35:14
One thing to notice
Verses 11-15 mention cities of refuge designated for a person who unintentionally causes death. The 'man slayer' can flee there for safety from the avenger of blood. This provision is available for both Israelites and foreigners living among them.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Numbers 35 (WEB)
Provision for the Levites Numbers 35:1–8
1Verse 1. Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, 2Verse 2. “Command the children of Israel to give to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in. You shall give suburbs for the cities around them to the Levites. 3Verse 3. They shall have the cities to dwell in. Their suburbs shall be for their livestock, and for their possessions, and for all their animals. 4Verse 4. “The suburbs of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, shall be from the wall of the city and outward one thousand cubits around it. 5Verse 5. You shall measure outside of the city for the east side two thousand cubits, and for the south side two thousand cubits, and for the west side two thousand cubits, and for the north side two thousand cubits, the city being in the middle. This shall be the suburbs of their cities.
6Verse 6. “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. 7Verse 7. All the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities together with their suburbs. 8Verse 8. Concerning the cities which you shall give of the possession of the children of Israel, from the many you shall take many; and from the few you shall take few. Everyone according to his inheritance which he inherits shall give some of his cities to the Levites.”
Establishing Cities of Refuge Numbers 35:9–15
9Verse 9. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 10Verse 10. “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11Verse 11. then you shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the man slayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there. 12Verse 12. The cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the man slayer not die, until he stands before the congregation for judgment. 13Verse 13. The cities which you shall give shall be for you six cities of refuge. 14Verse 14. You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and you shall give three cities in the land of Canaan. They shall be cities of refuge.
15Verse 15. For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the foreigner living among them, shall these six cities be for refuge; that everyone who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.
Laws on Murder Numbers 35:16–21
16Verse 16. “‘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. 17Verse 17. If he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. 18Verse 18. Or if he struck him with a weapon of wood in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. 19Verse 19. The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death. When he meets him, he shall put him to death.
20Verse 20. If he shoved him out of hatred, or hurled at him, lying in wait, so that he died, 21Verse 21. or in hostility struck him with his hand, so that he died, he who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meets him.
Judgment and Refuge Numbers 35:22–28
22Verse 22. “‘But if he shoved him suddenly without hostility, or hurled on him anything without lying in wait, 23Verse 23. or with any stone, by which a man may die, not seeing him, and cast it on him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm; 24Verse 24. then the congregation shall judge between the striker and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. 25Verse 25. The congregation shall deliver the man slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, where he had fled. He shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
26Verse 26. “‘But if the man slayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge, where he flees, 27Verse 27. and the avenger of blood finds him outside of the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the man slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood, 28Verse 28. because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest, the man slayer shall return into the land of his possession.
Statutes on Bloodshed Numbers 35:29–34
29Verse 29. “‘These things shall be for a statute and ordinance to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 30Verse 30. “‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die. 31Verse 31. “‘Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death. 32Verse 32. “‘You shall take no ransom for him who is fled to his city of refuge, that he may come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.
33Verse 33. “‘So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it. 34Verse 34. You shall not defile the land which you inhabit, in the middle of which I dwell; for I, Yahweh, dwell in the middle of the children of Israel.’”
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Numbers 35
justice and mercy
The provision for cities of refuge in vv. 11-15 expresses both justice and mercy for those who accidentally kill another person. These cities serve as a safe haven for the 'man slayer who kills any person unwittingly.' The law mandates that they flee to these cities to escape the avenger of blood until judgment occurs, showcasing how justice is tempered with merciful protection.
sanctity of life
In vv. 16-21, the text asserts the serious nature of taking a life, establishing that a murderer must be put to death. For instance, if someone strikes another person with a weapon of iron, the guilty party is defined as a murderer. This commitment to justice ensures that life is regarded as sacred and not to be taken lightly, emphasizing the consequences of unlawful killing.
forgiveness and redemption
The chapter does not explicitly address forgiveness but outlines mechanisms for redemption through the city of refuge. In vv. 25 and 28, the man slayer can return to his land of possession after the high priest's death, which can signify a form of redemption. The structure allows for a second chance under the law, indicating a process for moving beyond the consequences of unintentional sin.
God's provision for safety
In Numbers 35, God designates specific cities for the Levites in verses 2-8, assigning them to dwell in cities with surrounding suburbs for their safety and support. Additionally, verses 9-15 establish six cities of refuge, offering safe havens for those accused of unintentional homicide. This arrangement provides a means of protection and care for individuals in precarious situations, highlighting a structured approach to community safety.
Chapter outline
How Numbers 35 unfolds
Numbers 35:1–8 Provision for the Levites
Yahweh instructs Moses to command the Israelites to allocate 'cities to dwell in' for the Levites, along with 'suburbs' for their livestock and possessions, totaling 'forty-eight cities together with their suburbs' (vv. 2-8).
Numbers 35:9–15 Establishing Cities of Refuge
Moses is directed to designate six cities of refuge for accidental killers, ensuring they have a safe place to flee until a trial is held (vv. 11-12). Three cities are to be located beyond the Jordan, and three in Canaan (vv. 14-15).
Numbers 35:16–21 Laws on Murder
Murder is defined as intentional acts resulting in death, with the requirement that 'the murderer shall surely be put to death' (vv. 16-20). The avenger of blood is designated to execute justice against the murderer (v. 21).
Numbers 35:22–28 Judgment and Refuge
The congregation is tasked with judging cases of unintentional killing and ensuring the man slayer remains protected until the high priest's death (vv. 24-25). Leaving the city of refuge results in vulnerability to the avenger (vv. 26-27).
Numbers 35:29–34 Statutes on Bloodshed
Laws are set regarding the consequences of murder, asserting that a murderer cannot escape punishment through ransom (vv. 30-31). Bloodshed is stated to pollute the land, emphasizing the need for justice to maintain purity (vv. 33-34).
Key verses
Numbers 35:14Yahweh commands Moses to tell the children of Israel to establish cities of refuge, which are critical for those who unintentionally kill another.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Numbers 35
- observeIn v6, what are the 'six cities of refuge' designated for?
- observeWhat does Yahweh instruct the Israelites to do in vv. 10-11?
- interpretIn v28, what does it mean for the man slayer to return 'to the land of his possession'?
- interpretIn v31, why is there a prohibition against taking 'ransom' for a murderer?
- applyWhen have you felt the need for a 'refuge' in your life?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Numbers 35
- Deuteronomy 19Numbers 35:30 and Deuteronomy 19:15Both witness for judgment: Numbers 35:30 says, ‘one witness shall not testify,’ while Deuteronomy 19:15 says, ‘at the mouth of two witnesses.’
- Joshua 20Numbers 35:15 and Joshua 20:9Both cities for refuge: Numbers 35:15 states, ‘these six cities be for refuge,’ while Joshua 20:9 says, ‘these were the appointed cities for all.’
- Exodus 21Numbers 35:11 and Exodus 21:13Both flee from unintentional acts: Numbers 35:11 mentions ‘the man slayer who kills any person unwittingly,’ while Exodus 21:13 says, ‘God allows it to happen.’
- 2 Samuel 14Numbers 35:28 and 2 Samuel 14:14Both return after the high priest: Numbers 35:28 mentions, ‘after the death of the high priest,’ while 2 Samuel 14:14 says, ‘neither does God take away life.’
- Joshua 21Numbers 35:6 and Joshua 21:3Both cities for Levites: Numbers 35:6 states, ‘the cities which you shall give to the Levites,’ while Joshua 21:3 says, ‘the children of Israel gave to the Levites.’
- Matthew 5Numbers 35:30 and Matthew 5:21Both judgment for murder: Numbers 35:30 says, ‘the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses,’ while Matthew 5:21 states, ‘whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
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