Again, this is the fortieth year after the children of Israel departed out of the land of Egypt, and they are encamped on the plains of Moab, right across the Jordan river from the town of Jericho. God has given Moses instructions as to the boundaries of the promise land that they are about to take, and how that land was to be divided up. Now there are a few more items that must be covered before Moses goes up on mount Nebe to view the land, and die. The first item was the land and cities of the Levites. Though there would be no inheritance to the tribe of Levi, there would be authorized places for the Levites and their families to live and raise their animals.

Numbers 35:2 ""Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possessions cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them."

Though all the land was given as an inheritance to all the other tribes, each tribe was to make room from their inheritance for these Levites, these priests that would be living among them, in service to the Lord. Much of the governmental duties and all of the Religious duties of the community were to be preformed by these Levites. This land that these Levites will be given will not be theirs of ownership, but free rental, if you would, for their families, and the many livestock that they have of their own, and for the duties at the tabernacle. The cities that they were given, were not entire cities, but housing that was needed, and the suburbs were small patches of pasture land just outside the walls of the cities. There will be a number of Levites assigned in each community to perform the duties for each of the tribes.

Numbers 35:3 "And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts."

However the cities that are declared cities of refuge will be occupied mostly by Levites, but the cities not declared as cities of refuge will have only a few families of Levites. These families have their cattle and beasts just as the other families, and they need a proper place to live in and care for their possessions and livestock.

Leviticus 25:33, 34 "And if a man purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sould, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the year of jubile: for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel." [33] "But the field of the suburbs of their cities man not be sold; for it is their perpetual possession." [34]

If a Levite sells his house given to him, on the year of jubilee, that house is returned to him, so it becomes like a rental unit, rented out until the fiftieth year, the year of Jubilee, but he also had the right to redeem that home at any time. However the pasture land for his cattle can not be taken or sold under any condition, for it is a perpetual possession that will belong to that family for future generations.

When a non-Levite sold his home, he had to wait until the year of jubilee to redeem his home, and then it had to be within one year following the year of Jubilee. Where the man of all the other tribes had to make the commitment to redeem that land and property back to himself, this was automatic for the Levite. By law it went back, and there was no redemption to pay for getting the land. These redemption rights, and the year of jubilee are covered in chapter 25 of Leviticus.

Numbers 35:4 "And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about."

The length of a "cubit" is still in dispute, and it depended on who was doing the measuring; However, it ranged from 21 to 25 inches. So the distance that the Levites field would extend away from the wall of the city on all sides of the city would be about 2000 feet, plus or minus a few feet. This would be about 335 yards, or extending out to what we know as a city block in our American towns.

Numbers 35:5 "And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities."

So the Levites would control all the land for this two thousand cubits, or city block just outside the town in all directions for their cattle and livestock. The size of the land mass that the Levites would be given, would be depending on the length of the walls of the city, and the size of the city. Large cities would give much more land than those of a small town.

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."

"Refuge" as used in the Hebrew text # 4733 in the Strong's Hebrew Dictionary; "miqlat, mik-lawt; in a sense of taking in, for asylum." So these six cities are to give asylum to those people that would accidentally take the life of another, and be protected from harm by the next of kin of the dead person. It would be a safe haven where that person causing the death could go to and life his life in safety.

Lets discuss the purpose of these cities of refuge, and go to Joshua 20:1-6

Joshua 20:1, 2 "And the Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying," [1] "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, `Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:" [2]

Of course at this time the entire land of Canaan was in the possession of the Israelites. Moses was dead, and the tribes were dividing up the land.

Joshua 20:3, 4 "That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood." [3] "And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place that he may dwell among them." [4]

The person that took the life of the other person was completely by accident, for there was no premeditative thought in the taking of that life. If two were cutting wood, and the axe head slipped of ones axe and killed his partner, this would be an accident. This person would flee to one of these cities, and announce himself at that gate, giving the elders of the city the cause and reason for being there, and asylum would be granted that person. He could stay there as long as the priest of that city was alive, and under his protection.

Joshua 20:5, 6 "And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime." [5] "And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled." [6]

The "avenger of blood" that would be following the person that took the life, would be the next of kin, or kinsman redeemer. It was his duty to avenge his kinsman's death. However this killing was not premeditative, or murder, it was an accidental death, and as such, this man had the right to protection until the trial before the congregation, or people of his community, and all the facts could come out.

This person that sought protection must then stay in that city of refuge and not leave until all the facts are out, and remain under the protection of the High priest, until that priest dies. Then he knows he is save to return home. The facts are out, the heat of hot pursuit is over, and any killing that would take place at that time would be premeditative murder by any "avenger of blood".

Joshua 20:7 "And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arab, which is Hebron, in the mount of Judah." These are the cities of refuge on the west side of the Jordan river.

Joshua 20:8 "And on the other side of Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh." These were on the east side of the Jordan river.

Joshua 20:9 "These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation."

The family of the killed person had the right to witness the trial before the congregation of the man accused of the killing. By the end of that trial it should be know whether it was an accident or not.

Numbers 35:7 "So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs."

Genesis 49:5-7 "Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations." [5] "O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall." [6] "Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." [7]

However when Moses came down off the mount Sinai having just received the law, and saw all the wickedness of the golden calf that was in the center of the camp, he asked the question "Who will stand on the side of the Lord's", and Exodus 32:26 "...and all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him." Not one of the sons of Levi was on the side of the rebellion. Then we read in verse 29

Exodus 32:29 "For Moses had said, "Consecrate yourselves to day to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that He may bestow upon you a blessing this day."

These sons of Levi became the consecrated men that would serve the Lord before the congregation. Just as the people would be scattered all over the land on both sides of the Jordan river, so also will the men that are consecrated for the service to God amongst the people. This is why the requirement for forty eight cities, so that the Levites can serve the people where ever they are.

Numbers 35:8 "And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many, but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth."

So the more land and cities that you have, the more you are required to share with the Levites, because more Levites would be assigned to your tribe. The way that this was divided, nine of the Levites cities would be in the land of the tribes of Judah and Simeon. and four in all of the other tribes, except in the case of Naphatli which had three.

Numbers 35:9 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,"

Numbers 35:10 "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, `When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;"

This is to be applied after you have taken the land of Canaan, and have built your cities there.

Numbers 35:11 "Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares."

Now we will take a closer look at these cities of refuge, and how they were to be used and controlled. By the use of the word "slayer" does not mean that it is premeditated murder; only that the death was at his hand. It is assumed here that this shedding of blood in the death of the man was purely by accident. "At unawares" means "by misadventure" or accident, and not intentional..

Numbers 35:12 "And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment."

It was for protection of the man from the next of kin, or kinsman redeemer of the man that was slain. So this was for the safety of the man until the trial could take place and determine the cause of the accident. Remember that the man would declare that he was the one that killed the man at the gate of the city before entering, so the trial was to determine if it was an accident, and the cause. This is why it was important to have these cities on both sides of the Jordan, so he could flee in time from the avengers of blood.

Numbers 35:13 "And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge."

Numbers 35:14 "Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge."

At the time of Moses instructions given to the congregation here, they were on the plains of Moab and the land of Canaan had not been taken. However God wanted to make sure that this was by statute in the law, and was know and would be acted upon, at the time when the inheritance of the tribes were being staked out. At the beginning of this chapter was give the entire chapter of Joshua 20, when these cites were being designated, and marked, on both sides of the Jordan river.

Numbers 35:15 "These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither."

If the "avenger of blood" were at the city of Refuge when the man that took the life of his family member arrived, and he had two witnesses and the proof of the murder, then the Levites were to turn over the man to the Avenger, to take his life. Capital punishment was very much alive, it the avenger of blood, or next of kin was the one to claim that life, and carry out the judgment.

However if the Levites did not believe what was given them by the avenger of blood, then that city of refuge would give him safe passage back to the congregation to where the killing took place for trial. What ever city of refuge he flesh do, must protect him until the trial.

Moses named these cities of refuge that were on the east side of the Jordan river before his death, by the others were named after the lands were taken and the enemy nations were killed or removed.

Numbers 35:16 "And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death."

If the man slayer struck the man and killed him intentionally, which we call premeditated murder; with an object of iron or any object, then that murderer shall be put to death. Though here the death would be swift and sure, today were are living in nations that have civil laws that govern our action in this case. In our land we have the trial, and the protection before the trial. Evidence must be presented, and a jury of the man's community, determines the correctness of the evidence presented. Following the trial, the rights of the accused are respected, and we have appeal boards that have to review the case before the murderer's life can be taken, and it may go all the way to the highest court in our land.

As Christians we must respect the laws of our land, for they are there for our protection. The Apostle Paul told us in Romans 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the highter powrs. for there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."

God even has a plan for these end times, and the events of this generation are all within the plan of God. God sets up nations and He allows nations to be taken down. He sets up kings and rulers, and they die and are removed. Even when Satan comes to earth, he will come with the supernatural powers and the authority by God to use his powers to deceive and test the world. Yet when Satan oversteps the limits that God puts on him, he also will be taken down by Christ and put in the pit.

Romans 13:2, 3 "Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." [2] "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:" [3]

When you go against the laws or power of any land, there are policemen there to enforce those laws, and a fine or price to pay for your negligence. If we follow the ten commandments, and the simple things of treating our brethren like we would like to be treated, no matter what the race, then there are no laws in any land that will go against those teachings.

Numbers 35:17 "And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death."

I any person premeditate and lie in wait to kill another person, that is murder; and "the murderer shall surely be put to death." How can there be any confusion over this matter. If it was planned ahead of time, and the method of death set in motion by a person before the killing took place, that is murder.

Numbers 35:18 "Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death."

If the man uses any object to kill another man that he made or obtained ahead of time for that sake, for these tools, such as a club or gun, has the intentional use of killing, then he is a murderer. If he bought an axe to cut trees and he did not plan the death of the man, then if the axe head slipped off the handle and killed his friend, he would not be a murderer: but if he went to the creek and selected a rock to throw at the man, and then threw that rock and killed the man, he would be a murderer. Here again we have a double witness to the fact: "The murderer shall surely be put to death." But remember that there must be the act of lying in wait, planning the murder before the time that it actually takes place, and that it is intentional.

Numbers 35:19 "The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him."

It is the right of the next of kin, the "revenger of blood" himself to kill the murderer by what ever means is required. In some states today the death is hanging, other states by injection, but back in this time of Moses it probably was a sword or the hanging tree. The laws of a land will state the requirements for taking that life of a murderer. The blood of a murdered man or woman would defile the land, and only the blood of the murderer could cleanse that land. When the Murder is dead and gone, the community just does not have to worry about that person any more.

Numbers 35:20 "But if he trust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;"

Numbers 35:21 "Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him."

However if a person plan an event that will cause a conflict that would end in that persons death, that is murderer. Or if a man one man in anger hits another man, and that man dies, then he is a murderer. However this also has to be proven that the intent was there, and that it wasn't self defense that the man's life was taken. Today that intent has to be proven in the court of law. But here in Moses day, with the word of two witnesses, the "avenger of blood" would be responsible for bringing the witnesses to the gate of the city, and in taking the life of the murderer. Today the witnesses may be in the form of DNA, finger prints, or video cameras mounted security sites, which they did not have then.

Numbers 35:22 "But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,"

This is covered in Exodus 21:13, for if there was not pre-meditation that had taken place,

Numbers 35:23 "Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, as cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:"

This is given in the case of building a house of wall, and one of the workers threw a stone or brick by accident, and it hit one of the other workers, that would be an accident, and the person would not be a murderer. There was no malice between the two men in the first place. That is the difference between the two events that would cause a man to be killed; was their intent to do harm before the death took place.

Numbers 35:24 "Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:"

The congregation is the people gathering themselves together, where the act occurred, so the man seeking shelter at a city of refuge must be taken back to that sight, and judged by the people there. It was the duty of the city of refuge to see that he arrived safely for the trial, and that both would be present for the trial. It was up to the congregation to force the witness to be present, and make the decisions about the trial.

Numbers 35:25 "And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil."

If the man was found to be innocent of murder, and there was still strife between the man on trial and the avenger of blood, the congregation or community would be responsable to return the man to the city of refuge, where he would be allowed to live there until the High Priest that gave him is protection, died. This High priest was over all the nation of Israel, and at his death, he this man would be free to go.

Numbers 35:26 "But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;"

However if he left the city on his own accord, he become fair game to the Avenger of blood of the man that was killed.

Numbers 35:27 "And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:"

The "avenger of blood" the next of kin would still have the right under the law, to continue to consider this man a murderer, even after the congregation freed him to go back to his city of refuge. Is it fair? It was the law then. This city of refuge would be their save haven in this time of trouble, it was to keep the two separate from each other.

Numbers 35:28 "Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession."

Yet remember that the avenger of blood could still be trying to kill the man, even after he departed following the death of the High priest. However, after the death of the High priest, then if the avenger of death killed this man, he would be guilty of murder, just as if he planned and waited for any other person. So his protection as the avenger of blood ended with the death of the High priest, the anointed of God.

All this is a type for our High Priest today, who is Jesus Christ. When He died and shed His blood, it covered over our sins also, and allowed those to sins to be taken from us. But the conditions was our believing and accepting His blood for the covering of our sins. That is why we pray all of our prayer of repentance, "in Jesus name", as we do in all our prayers.

Numbers 35:29 "So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings."

These laws dealing with murder were to continue on through all generation, as long as this earth age of flesh man exists. We notice that the laws of our land are fitted very closely to what the Laws of God were that were given to Moses and Joshua.

Numbers 35:30 "Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die."

Notice that it requires the mouth of two witnesses, not one. If only one witness speak out as a witness, and that witness is speaking a lie, then that one witness will also be put to death upon his own lie that would claim a life.

Deuteronomy 17:6 "At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mount of one witness he shall not be put to death."

Only when there was two or three witnesses to the murderer, could the death penalty be used. This was to prevent one with hard feeling against another, from causing that person's death. Remember there could be a mistake of identity or any of a number of other reasons.

Numbers 35:31 "Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death."

"Satisfaction" as used in the Hebrew text is # 3724 "kopher", which is "ransom" for the life of the murderer. Don't allow the murderer to buy his way out of the death sentence that has been placed on him. Many nations in early times had a provision in their law that if they murdered someone, they could settle with the next of kin, and buy their way out of the death sentence. That is not God's way. God's way is if you intentionally take a life, you give your in return. "The murderer shall surely be put to death." The matter is only settled one way in God's eyes, and that is the shedding of blood by the murderer.

Numbers 35:32 "And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest."

Not only can the murderer buy his way our the death penalty, but the one that went to the city of refuge can't buy his way back home until the the High priest dies. If a person seeks shelter in that city, he remains there until the High priest dies, and forces that avenger of blood to stop seeking the blood of that person. Then if he continues his vengeance against the man in refuge, he become a murderer, and his blood will be on the line by the avenger of that man's family and next of kin.

Numbers 35:33 "So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it."

The land that was defiled by the murderer of innocent blood can only be cleansed by the blood of the one that plotted the murder, and killed that innocent man.

Numbers 35:34 "Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel."