Numbers 35:7 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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⁷ So all the cities ^H5892 which ye shall give ^H5414 to the Levites ^H3881 shall be forty ^H705 and eight ^H8083 cities: ^H5892 them shall ye give with their suburbs. ^H4054

Cross Reference

Joshua 21:3-42 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 gave ^H5414 unto the Levites ^H3881 out of their inheritance, ^H5159 at the commandment ^H6310 of the LORD, ^H3068 these cities ^H5892 and their suburbs. ^H4054 And the lot ^H1486 came out ^H3318 for the families ^H4940 of the Kohathites: ^H6956 and the children ^H1121 of Aaron ^H175 the priest, ^H3548 which were of the Levites, ^H3881 had by lot ^H1486 out of the tribe ^H4294 of Judah, ^H3063 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Simeon, ^H8099 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Benjamin, ^H1144 thirteen ^H7969 ^H6240 cities. ^H5892 And the rest ^H3498 of the children ^H1121 of Kohath ^H6955 had by lot ^H1486 out of the families ^H4940 of the tribe ^H4294 of Ephraim, ^H669 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Dan, ^H1835 and out of the half ^H2677 tribe ^H4294 of Manasseh, ^H4519 ten ^H6235 cities. ^H5892 And the children ^H1121 of Gershon ^H1648 had by lot ^H1486 out of the families ^H4940 of the tribe ^H4294 of Issachar, ^H3485 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Asher, ^H836 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Naphtali, ^H5321 and out of the half ^H2677 tribe ^H4294 of Manasseh ^H4519 in Bashan, ^H1316 thirteen ^H7969 ^H6240 cities. ^H5892 The children ^H1121 of Merari ^H4847 by their families ^H4940 had out of the tribe ^H4294 of Reuben, ^H7205 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Gad, ^H1410 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Zebulun, ^H2074 twelve ^H8147 ^H6240 cities. ^H5892 And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 gave ^H5414 by lot ^H1486 unto the Levites ^H3881 these cities ^H5892 with their suburbs, ^H4054 as the LORD ^H3068 commanded ^H6680 by the hand ^H3027 of Moses. ^H4872 And they gave ^H5414 out of the tribe ^H4294 of the children ^H1121 of Judah, ^H3063 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of the children ^H1121 of Simeon, ^H8095 these cities ^H5892 which are here mentioned ^H7121 by name, ^H8034 Which the children ^H1121 of Aaron, ^H175 being of the families ^H4940 of the Kohathites, ^H6956 who were of the children ^H1121 of Levi, ^H3878 had: for theirs was the first ^H7223 ^H7223 lot. ^H1486 And they gave ^H5414 them the city ^H7151 of Arba ^H704 ^H7153 the father ^H1 of Anak, ^H6061 which city is Hebron, ^H2275 in the hill ^H2022 country of Judah, ^H3063 with the suburbs ^H4054 thereof round about ^H5439 it. But the fields ^H7704 of the city, ^H5892 and the villages ^H2691 thereof, gave ^H5414 they to Caleb ^H3612 the son ^H1121 of Jephunneh ^H3312 for his possession. ^H272 Thus they gave ^H5414 to the children ^H1121 of Aaron ^H175 the priest ^H3548 Hebron ^H2275 with her suburbs, ^H4054 to be a city ^H5892 of refuge ^H4733 for the slayer; ^H7523 and Libnah ^H3841 with her suburbs, ^H4054 And Jattir ^H3492 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Eshtemoa ^H851 with her suburbs, ^H4054 And Holon ^H2473 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Debir ^H1688 with her suburbs, ^H4054 And Ain ^H5871 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Juttah ^H3194 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Bethshemesh ^H1053 with her suburbs; ^H4054 nine ^H8672 cities ^H5892 out of those two ^H8147 tribes. ^H7626 And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Benjamin, ^H1144 Gibeon ^H1391 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Geba ^H1387 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Anathoth ^H6068 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Almon ^H5960 with her suburbs; ^H4054 four ^H702 cities. ^H5892 All the cities ^H5892 of the children ^H1121 of Aaron, ^H175 the priests, ^H3548 were thirteen ^H7969 ^H6240 cities ^H5892 with their suburbs. ^H4054 And the families ^H4940 of the children ^H1121 of Kohath, ^H6955 the Levites ^H3881 which remained ^H3498 of the children ^H1121 of Kohath, ^H6955 even they had the cities ^H5892 of their lot ^H1486 out of the tribe ^H4294 of Ephraim. ^H669 For they gave ^H5414 them Shechem ^H7927 with her suburbs ^H4054 in mount ^H2022 Ephraim, ^H669 to be a city ^H5892 of refuge ^H4733 for the slayer; ^H7523 and Gezer ^H1507 with her suburbs, ^H4054 And Kibzaim ^H6911 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Bethhoron ^H1032 with her suburbs; ^H4054 four ^H702 cities. ^H5892 And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Dan, ^H1835 Eltekeh ^H514 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Gibbethon ^H1405 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Aijalon ^H357 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Gathrimmon ^H1667 with her suburbs; ^H4054 four ^H702 cities. ^H5892 And out of the half ^H4276 tribe ^H4294 of Manasseh, ^H4519 Tanach ^H8590 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Gathrimmon ^H1667 with her suburbs; ^H4054 two ^H8147 cities. ^H5892 All the cities ^H5892 were ten ^H6235 with their suburbs ^H4054 for the families ^H4940 of the children ^H1121 of Kohath ^H6955 that remained. ^H3498 And unto the children ^H1121 of Gershon, ^H1648 of the families ^H4940 of the Levites, ^H3881 out of the other half ^H2677 tribe ^H4294 of Manasseh ^H4519 they gave Golan ^H1474 in Bashan ^H1316 with her suburbs, ^H4054 to be a city ^H5892 of refuge ^H4733 for the slayer; ^H7523 and Beeshterah ^H1203 with her suburbs; ^H4054 two ^H8147 cities. ^H5892 And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Issachar, ^H3485 Kishon ^H7191 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Dabareh ^H1705 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Jarmuth ^H3412 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Engannim ^H5873 with her suburbs; ^H4054 four ^H702 cities. ^H5892 And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Asher, ^H836 Mishal ^H4861 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Abdon ^H5658 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Helkath ^H2520 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Rehob ^H7340 with her suburbs; ^H4054 four ^H702 cities. ^H5892 And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Naphtali, ^H5321 Kedesh ^H6943 in Galilee ^H1551 with her suburbs, ^H4054 to be a city ^H5892 of refuge ^H4733 for the slayer; ^H7523 and Hammothdor ^H2576 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Kartan ^H7178 with her suburbs; ^H4054 three ^H7969 cities. ^H5892 All the cities ^H5892 of the Gershonites ^H1649 according to their families ^H4940 were thirteen ^H7969 ^H6240 cities ^H5892 with their suburbs. ^H4054 And unto the families ^H4940 of the children ^H1121 of Merari, ^H4847 the rest ^H3498 of the Levites, ^H3881 out of the tribe ^H4294 of Zebulun, ^H2074 Jokneam ^H3362 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Kartah ^H7177 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Dimnah ^H1829 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Nahalal ^H5096 with her suburbs; ^H4054 four ^H702 cities. ^H5892 And out of the tribe of Reuben, ^H7205 Bezer ^H1221 with her suburbs, and Jahazah ^H3096 with her suburbs, Kedemoth ^H6932 with her suburbs, and Mephaath ^H4158 with her suburbs; four ^H702 cities. ^H5892 And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Gad, ^H1410 Ramoth ^H7433 in Gilead ^H1568 with her suburbs, ^H4054 to be a city ^H5892 of refuge ^H4733 for the slayer; ^H7523 and Mahanaim ^H4266 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Heshbon ^H2809 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Jazer ^H3270 with her suburbs; ^H4054 four ^H702 cities ^H5892 in all. So all the cities ^H5892 for the children ^H1121 of Merari ^H4847 by their families, ^H4940 which were remaining ^H3498 of the families ^H4940 of the Levites, ^H3881 were by their lot ^H1486 twelve ^H8147 ^H6240 cities. ^H5892 All the cities ^H5892 of the Levites ^H3881 within ^H8432 the possession ^H272 of the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 were forty ^H705 and eight ^H8083 cities ^H5892 with their suburbs. ^H4054 These cities ^H5892 were every one ^H5892 ^H5892 with their suburbs ^H4054 round about ^H5439 them: thus were all these cities. ^H5892

1 Chronicles 6:54-81 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

Now these are their dwelling places ^H4186 throughout their castles ^H2918 in their coasts, ^H1366 of the sons ^H1121 of Aaron, ^H175 of the families ^H4940 of the Kohathites: ^H6956 for theirs was the lot. ^H1486 And they gave ^H5414 them Hebron ^H2275 in the land ^H776 of Judah, ^H3063 and the suburbs ^H4054 thereof round about ^H5439 it. But the fields ^H7704 of the city, ^H5892 and the villages ^H2691 thereof, they gave ^H5414 to Caleb ^H3612 the son ^H1121 of Jephunneh. ^H3312 And to the sons ^H1121 of Aaron ^H175 they gave ^H5414 the cities ^H5892 of Judah, namely, Hebron, ^H2275 the city of refuge, ^H4733 and Libnah ^H3841 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Jattir, ^H3492 and Eshtemoa, ^H851 with their suburbs, ^H4054 And Hilen ^H2432 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Debir ^H1688 with her suburbs, ^H4054 And Ashan ^H6228 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Bethshemesh ^H1053 with her suburbs: ^H4054 And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Benjamin; ^H1144 Geba ^H1387 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Alemeth ^H5964 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Anathoth ^H6068 with her suburbs. ^H4054 All their cities ^H5892 throughout their families ^H4940 were thirteen ^H7969 ^H6240 cities. ^H5892 And unto the sons ^H1121 of Kohath, ^H6955 which were left ^H3498 of the family ^H4940 of that tribe, ^H4294 were cities given out of the half ^H2677 tribe, ^H4294 namely, out of the half ^H4276 tribe of Manasseh, ^H4519 by lot, ^H1486 ten ^H6235 cities. ^H5892 And to the sons ^H1121 of Gershom ^H1647 throughout their families ^H4940 out of the tribe ^H4294 of Issachar, ^H3485 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Asher, ^H836 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Naphtali, ^H5321 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Manasseh ^H4519 in Bashan, ^H1316 thirteen ^H7969 ^H6240 cities. ^H5892 Unto the sons ^H1121 of Merari ^H4847 were given by lot, ^H1486 throughout their families, ^H4940 out of the tribe ^H4294 of Reuben, ^H7205 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Gad, ^H1410 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of Zebulun, ^H2074 twelve ^H8147 ^H6240 cities. ^H5892 And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 gave ^H5414 to the Levites ^H3881 these cities ^H5892 with their suburbs. ^H4054 And they gave ^H5414 by lot ^H1486 out of the tribe ^H4294 of the children ^H1121 of Judah, ^H3063 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of the children ^H1121 of Simeon, ^H8095 and out of the tribe ^H4294 of the children ^H1121 of Benjamin, ^H1144 these cities, ^H5892 which are called ^H7121 by their names. ^H8034 And the residue of the families ^H4940 of the sons ^H1121 of Kohath ^H6955 had cities ^H5892 of their coasts ^H1366 out of the tribe ^H4294 of Ephraim. ^H669 And they gave ^H5414 unto them, of the cities ^H5892 of refuge, ^H4733 Shechem ^H7927 in mount ^H2022 Ephraim ^H669 with her suburbs; ^H4054 they gave also Gezer ^H1507 with her suburbs, ^H4054 And Jokmeam ^H3361 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Bethhoron ^H1032 with her suburbs, ^H4054 And Aijalon ^H357 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Gathrimmon ^H1667 with her suburbs: ^H4054 And out of the half ^H4276 tribe ^H4294 of Manasseh; ^H4519 Aner ^H6063 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Bileam ^H1109 with her suburbs, ^H4054 for the family ^H4940 of the remnant ^H3498 of the sons ^H1121 of Kohath. ^H6955 Unto the sons ^H1121 of Gershom ^H1647 were given out of the family ^H4940 of the half ^H2677 tribe ^H4294 of Manasseh, ^H4519 Golan ^H1474 in Bashan ^H1316 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Ashtaroth ^H6252 with her suburbs: ^H4054 And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Issachar; ^H3485 Kedesh ^H6943 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Daberath ^H1705 with her suburbs, ^H4054 And Ramoth ^H7216 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Anem ^H6046 with her suburbs: ^H4054 And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Asher; ^H836 Mashal ^H4913 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Abdon ^H5658 with her suburbs, ^H4054 And Hukok ^H2712 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Rehob ^H7340 with her suburbs: ^H4054 And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Naphtali; ^H5321 Kedesh ^H6943 in Galilee ^H1551 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Hammon ^H2540 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Kirjathaim ^H7156 with her suburbs. ^H4054 Unto the rest ^H3498 of the children ^H1121 of Merari ^H4847 were given out of the tribe ^H4294 of Zebulun, ^H2074 Rimmon ^H7417 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Tabor ^H8396 with her suburbs: ^H4054 And on the other side ^H5676 Jordan ^H3383 by Jericho, ^H3405 on the east side ^H4217 of Jordan, ^H3383 were given them out of the tribe ^H4294 of Reuben, ^H7205 Bezer ^H1221 in the wilderness ^H4057 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Jahzah ^H3096 with her suburbs, ^H4054 Kedemoth ^H6932 also with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Mephaath ^H4158 with her suburbs: ^H4054 And out of the tribe ^H4294 of Gad; ^H1410 Ramoth ^H7216 in Gilead ^H1568 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Mahanaim ^H4266 with her suburbs, ^H4054 And Heshbon ^H2809 with her suburbs, ^H4054 and Jazer ^H3270 with her suburbs. ^H4054

Commentary on Numbers 35 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Chapter 35

Orders having been given before for the dividing of the land of Canaan among the lay-tribes (as I may call them), care is here taken for a competent provision for the clergy, the tribe of Levi, which ministered in holy things.

I. Forty-eight cities were to be assigned them, with their suburbs, some in every tribe (v. 1-8).
II. Six cities out of these were to be for cities of refuge, for any man that killed another unawares (v. 9-15). In the law concerning these observe,
- 1. In what case sanctuary was not allowed, namely, that of wilful murder (v. 16-21).
- 2. In what cases it was allowed (v. 22-24).
- 3. What was the law concerning those that took shelter in these cities of refuge (v. 25, etc.).

Num 35:1-8

The laws about the tithes and offerings had provided very plentifully for the maintenance of the Levites, but it was not to be thought, nor indeed was it for the public good, that when they came to Canaan they should all live about the tabernacle, as they had done in the wilderness, and therefore care must be taken to provide habitations for them, in which they might live comfortably and usefully. It is this which is here taken care of.

I. Cities were allotted them, with their suburbs, v. 2. They were not to have any ground for tillage; they needed not to sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, for their heavenly Father fed them with the tithe of the increase of other people's labours, that they might the more closely attend to the study of the law, and might have more leisure to teach the people; for they were not fed thus easily that they might live in idleness, but that they might give themselves wholly to the business of their profession, and not be entangled in the affairs of this life.
- 1. Cities were allotted them, that they might live near together, and converse with one another about the law, to their mutual edification; and that in doubtful cases they might consult one another, and in all cases strengthen one another's hands.
- 2. These cities had suburbs annexed to them for their cattle (v. 3), a thousand cubits from the wall was allowed them for out-houses to keep their cattle in, and then two thousand more for fields to graze their cattle in, v. 4, 5. Thus was care taken that they should not only live, but live plentifully, and have all desirable conveniences about them, that they might not be looked upon with contempt by their neighbours.
II. These cities were to be assigned them out of the possessions of each tribe, v. 8.
- 1. That each tribe might thus make a grateful acknowledgment to God out of their real as well as out of their personal estates (for what was given to the Levites was accepted as given to the Lord) and thus their possessions were sanctified to them.
- 2. That each tribe might have the benefit of the Levites' dwelling among them, to teach them the good knowledge of the Lord; thus that light was diffused through all parts of the country, and none were left to sit in darkness, Deu. 33:10, They shall teach Jacob thy judgments. Jacob's curse on Levi's anger was, I will scatter them in Israel, Gen. 49:7. But that curse was turned into a blessing, and the Levites, by being thus scattered, were put into a capacity of doing so much the more good. It is a great mercy to a country to be replenished in all parts with faithful ministers.
III. The number allotted them was forty-eight in all, four out of each of the twelve tribes, one with another. Out of the united tribes of Simeon and Judah nine, out of Naphtali three, and four apiece out of the rest, as appears, Jos. 21. Thus were they blessed with a good ministry, and that ministry with a comfortable maintenance, not only in tithes, but in glebe-lands. And, though the gospel is not so particular as the law was in this matter, yet it expressly provides that he that is taught in the word should communicate unto him that teaches in all good things, Gal. 6:6.

Num 35:9-34

We have here the orders given concerning the cities of refuge, fitly annexed to what goes before, because they were all Levites' cities. In this part of the constitution there is a great deal both of good law and pure gospel.

I. Here is a great deal of good law, in the case of murder and manslaughter, a case of which the laws of all nations have taken particular cognizance. It is here enacted and provided, consonant to natural equity,
- 1. That wilful murder should be punished with death, and in that case no sanctuary should be allowed, no ransom taken, nor any commutation of the punishment accepted: The murderer shall surely be put to death, v. 16. It is supposed to be done of hatred (v. 20), or in enmity (v. 21), upon a sudden provocation (for our Saviour makes rash anger, as well as malice prepense, to be murder, Mt. 5:21, 22), whether the person be murdered with an instrument of iron (v. 16) or wood (v. 18), or with a stone thrown at him (v. 17, 20); nay, if he smite him with his hand in enmity, and death ensue, it is murder (v. 21); and it was an ancient law, consonant to the law of nature, that whoso sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, Gen. 9:6. Where wrong has been done restitution must be made; and, since the murderer cannot restore the life he has wrongfully taken away, his own must be exacted from him in lieu of it, not (as some have fancied) to satisfy the manes or ghost of the person slain, but to satisfy the law and the justice of a nation; and to be a warning to all others not to do likewise. It is here said, and it is well worthy the consideration of all princes and states, that blood defiles not only the conscience of the murderer, who is thereby proved not to have eternal life abiding in him (1 Jn. 3:15), but also the land in which it is shed; so very offensive is it to God and all good men, and the worst of nuisances. And it is added that the land cannot be cleansed from the blood of the murdered, but by the blood of the murderer, v. 33. If murderers escape punishment from men, those that suffer them to escape will have a great deal to answer for, and God will nevertheless not suffer them to escape his righteous judgments. Upon the same principle it is provided that no satisfaction should be taken for the life of a murderer (v. 31): If a man would give all the substance of his house to the judges, to the country, or to the avenger of blood, to atone for his crime, it must utterly be contemned. The redemption of the life is so precious that it cannot be obtained by the multitude of riches (Ps. 49:6-8), which perhaps may allude to this law. A rule of law comes in here (which is a rule of our law in cases of treason only) that no man shall be put to death upon the testimony of one witness, but it was necessary there should be two (v. 30); this law is settled in all capital cases, Deu. 17:6; 19:15. And, lastly, not only the prosecution, but the execution, of the murderer, is committed to the next of kin, who, as he was to be the redeemer of his kinsman's estate if it were mortgaged, so he was to be the avenger of his blood if he were murdered (v. 19): The avenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer, if he be convicted by the notorious evidence of the fact, and he needed not to have recourse by a judicial process to the court of judgment. But if it were uncertain who the murderer was, and the proof doubtful, we cannot think that his bare suspicion, or surmise, would empower him to do that which the judges themselves could not do but upon the testimony of two witnesses. Only if the fact were plain then the next heir of the person slain might himself, in a just indignation, slay the murderer wherever he met him. Some think this must be understood to be after the lawful judgment of the magistrate, and so the Chaldee says, "He shall slay him, when he shall be condemned unto him by judgment;' but it should seem, by v. 24, that the judges interposed only in a doubtful case, and that if the person on whom he took vengeance was indeed the murderer, and a wilful murderer, the avenger was innocent (v. 27), only, if it proved otherwise, it was at his peril. Our law allows an appeal to be brought against a murderer by the widow, or next heir, of the person murdered, yea, though the murderer have been acquitted upon an indictment; and, if the murderer be found guilty upon that appeal, execution shall be awarded at the suit of the appellant, who may properly be called the avenger of blood.
- 2. But if the homicide was not voluntary, nor done designedly, if it was without enmity, or lying in wait (v. 22), not seeing the person or not seeking his harm (v. 23), which our law calls chance-medley, or homicide per infortunium-through misfortune, in this case there were cities of refuge appointed for the manslayer to flee to. By our law this incurs a forfeiture of goods, but a pardon is granted of course upon the special matter found. Concerning the cities of refuge the law was,
  - (1.) That, if a man killed another, in these cities he was safe, and under the protection of the law, till he had his trial before the congregation, that is, before the judges in open court. If he neglected thus to surrender himself, it was at his peril; if the avenger of blood met him elsewhere, or overtook him loitering in his way to the city of refuge, and slew him, his blood was upon his own head, because he did not make use of the security which God had provided for him.
  - (2.) If, upon trial, it were found to be willful murder, the city of refuge should no longer be a protection to him; it was already determined: Thou shalt take him from my altar, that he may die, Ex. 21:14.
  - (3.) But if it were found to be by error or accident, and that the stroke was given without any design upon the life of the person slain or any other, then the man-slayer should continue safe in the city of refuge, and the avenger of blood might not meddle with him, v. 25. There he was to remain in banishment from his own house and patrimony till the death of the high priest; and, if at any time he went out of that city or the suburbs of it, he put himself out of the protection of the law, and the avenger of blood, if he met him, might slay him, v. 26-28. Now,
    - [1.] By the preservation of the life of the man-slayer God would teach us that men ought not to suffer for that which is rather their unhappiness than their crime, rather the act of Providence than their own act, for God delivered him into his hand, Ex. 21:13.
    - [2.] By the banishment of the man-slayer from his own city, and his confinement to the city of refuge, where he was in a manner a prisoner, God would teach us to conceive a dread and horror of the guilt of blood, and to be very careful of life, and always afraid lest by oversight or negligence we occasion the death of any.
    - [3.] By the limiting of the time of the offender's banishment to the death of the high priest, an honour was put upon that sacred office. The high priest was to be looked upon as so great a blessing to his country that when he died their sorrow upon that occasion should swallow up all other resentments. The cities of refuge being all of them Levites' cities, and the high priest being the head of that tribe, and consequently having a peculiar dominion over these cites, those that were confined to them might properly be looked upon as his prisoners, and so his death must be their discharge; it was, as it were, at his suit that the delinquent was imprisoned, and therefore at his death it fell. Actio moritur cum persona-The suit expires with the party. Anisworth has another notion of it, That as the high priests, while they lived, by their service and sacrificing made atonement for sin, wherein they prefigured Christ's satisfaction, so, at their death, those were released that had been exiled for casual murder, which typified redemption in Israel.
    - [4.] By the abandoning of the prisoner to the avenger of blood, in case he at any time went out of the limits of the city of refuge, they were taught to adhere to the methods which Infinite Wisdom prescribed for their security. It was for the honour of a remedial law that it should be so strictly observed. How can we expect to be saved if we neglect the salvation, which is indeed a great salvation!
II. Here is a great deal of good gospel couched under the type and figure of the cities of refuge; and to them the apostle seems to allude when he speaks of our fleeing for refuge to the hope set before is (Heb. 6:18), and being found in Christ, Phil. 3:9. We never read in the history of the Old Testament of any use made of these cities of refuge, any more than of other such institutions, which yet, no doubt, were made use of upon the occasions intended; only we read of those that, in dangerous cases, took hold of the horns of the altar (1 Ki. 1:50; 2:28); for the altar, wherever that stood, was, as it were the capital city of refuge. But the law concerning these cities was designed both to raise and to encourage the expectations of those who looked for redemption in Israel, which should be to those who were convinced of sin, and in terror by reason of it, as the cities of refuge were to the man-slayer. Observe,
- 1. There were several cities of refuge, and they were so appointed in several parts of the country that the man-slayer, wherever he dwelt in the land of Israel, might in half a day reach one or other of them; so, though there is but one Christ appointed for our refuge, yet, wherever we are, he is a refuge at hand, a very present help, for the word is nigh us and Christ in the word.
- 2. The man-slayer was safe in any of these cities; so in Christ believers that flee to him, and rest in him, are protected from the wrath of God and the curse of the law. There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8:1. Who shall condemn those that are thus sheltered?
- 3. They were all Levites' cities; it was a kindness to the poor prisoner that though he might not go up to the place where the ark was, yet he was in the midst of Levites, who would teach him the good knowledge of the Lord, and instruct him how to improve the providence he was now under. It might also be expected that the Levites would comfort and encourage him, and bid him welcome; so it is the work of gospel ministers to bid poor sinners welcome to Christ, and to assist and counsel those that through grace are in him.
- 4. Even strangers and sojourners, though they were not native Israelites, might take the benefit of these cities of refuge, v. 15. So in Christ Jesus no difference in made between Greek and Jew; even the sons of the stranger that by faith flee to Christ shall be safe in him.
- 5. Even the suburbs or borders of the city were a sufficient security to the offender, v. 26, 27. So there is virtue even in the hem of Christ's garment for the healing and saving of poor sinners. If we cannot reach to a full assurance, we may comfort ourselves in a good hope through grace.
- 6. The protection which the man-slayer found in the city of refuge was not owing to the strength of its walls, or gates, or bars, but purely to the divine appointment; so it is the word of the gospel that gives souls safety in Christ, for him hath God the Father sealed.
- 7. If the offender was ever caught struggling out of the borders of his city of refuge, or stealing home to his house again, he lost the benefit of his protection, and lay exposed to the avenger of blood; so those that are in Christ must abide in Christ, for it is at their peril if they forsake him and wander from him. Drawing back is to perdition.

Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Numbers » Chapter 35 » Verse 7