Cities for the Levites
Study note
Since the Levites did not receive their own territory like the other tribes, they were given 48 cities scattered throughout Israel, along with pastureland around each city. The pastureland extended 1,000 cubits (about 1,500 feet) from the city walls on every side. Each tribe gave cities to the Levites based on its size: larger tribes gave more cities, smaller tribes gave fewer.
1 On the plains of Moab beside the Jordan across from Jericho, the Lord told Moses, And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
2 "Tell the Israelites that when they settle in the land, they must give the Levites cities to live in. They must also give them pasture lands around those cities." Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.
3 "The Levites will live in the cities. The land around them will give space for their cattle, flocks, and other animals." 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.
4 "The pastureland around each Levite city must extend 1,500 feet out from the city wall on every side." 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.
5 "Mark out 3,000 feet from each side of the city -- east, south, west, and north -- with the city in the middle. This will be the cities' pastureland." 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.
6 "Six of the cities you assign to the Levites will be cities of refuge, where someone who has killed a person can go for protection. Beyond those six, give the Levites 42 additional cities." 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.
7 "The total number of Levite cities will be 48, each with its surrounding pastureland." So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs.
8 "When selecting which cities to give, take more from the tribes with large territories and fewer from the tribes with small ones. Every tribe must contribute some of its cities to the Levites in proportion to its land." 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.
The Six Cities of Refuge
Study note
Among the 48 Levite cities, six were set apart as cities of refuge. Three were on each side of the Jordan River. If someone accidentally killed another person, they could flee to one of these cities for safety. The cities of refuge protected them from the 'avenger of blood,' a close relative of the dead person who had the right to seek justice. These cities were open to Israelites and foreigners alike.
9 The Lord told Moses, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
10 "Tell the Israelites: After you cross the Jordan into Canaan," Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
11 "Pick certain cities to be cities of safety. If someone kills another person by accident, they can run there for protection." 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.
12 "These cities will shield people from the victim's avenger. The person who caused the death must not be killed. They deserve a fair trial before the group." 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.
13 "Set aside six cities as places of refuge." And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.
14 "Locate three on the east side of the Jordan and three in Canaan." 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.
15 "These six cities will be safe places for Israelites, foreigners, and all who live among you. Anyone who kills someone by accident may go there for safety." 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.
The Difference Between Murder and Accidental Killing
Study note
God gave clear guidelines for telling the difference between murder and an accident. If someone used a weapon or acted out of hatred or ambush, it was murder, and the avenger of blood was allowed to carry out the death penalty. But if the killing was sudden, without hatred, and without planning, the community had to protect the person and send them to a city of refuge. The person had to stay there until the high priest died.
16 "If someone hits a person with something made of iron and that person dies, the attacker is a murderer. That person must be put to death." 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.
17 "If someone throws a stone big enough to kill and the person dies, the thrower is a murderer. That person must be put to death." 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.
18 "Someone hits a person with a wooden weapon that could kill. The person dies. The attacker is a killer. That person must be put to death." 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.
19 "The avenger of blood has the right to execute the murderer. When the avenger finds the murderer, the avenger must kill them." The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.
20 "Someone pushes another person on purpose. Or someone throws something at them on purpose. The person dies." But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;
21 "Or if someone hits another person out of hatred and that person dies, the one who struck must be put to death. That person is a murderer. The one who avenges the death must carry out the punishment when they find the murderer." 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.
22 "But maybe someone pushes another person on impulse. They had no hatred. Or maybe they throw something by mistake." But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,
23 "or without seeing them, drops a stone that kills them, and there was no hatred or intention to cause harm." Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:
24 "In these cases, the community must judge between the one who caused the death and the avenger of blood. They must follow these rules." Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:
25 "The community must save the person from the one seeking revenge. They must send the person back to the city of refuge where they went for safety. That person must stay there until the high priest who was anointed with holy oil dies." 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.
Rules for Justice
Study note
A person who fled to a city of refuge had to stay within its boundaries. If they left before the high priest died, the avenger of blood could legally kill them. After the high priest died, the person was free to return home. A murderer could only be put to death based on the testimony of more than one witness. No ransom or payment could be accepted for a murderer's life. God said that murder pollutes the land, and only justice can make it clean. The Lord reminded Israel that he lived among them, and the land must be kept pure.
26 "But if the person who caused the death ever goes outside the borders of the city of refuge where they are living," But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;
27 "The avenger of blood finds them outside the city. The avenger may kill that person. The avenger will not be guilty for it." 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:
28 "The person must remain within the city of refuge until the high priest dies. Only after the high priest's death may they return to their own land." 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.
29 "These rules will be your standard law for all time, wherever you live." So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
30 "A murderer can only be put to death if more than one witness speaks against them. One witness alone is never enough for a death sentence." 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.
31 "Never accept a ransom payment in exchange for sparing a murderer who deserves death. That person must be executed." 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.
32 "Never take payment from someone living in a city of refuge so they can go home before the high priest dies." 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.
33 "Do not defile the land where you live. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and the only way to cleanse land of shed blood is through the death of the person who shed it." 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.
34 "Do not contaminate the land where you live, because I live there too. I am the Lord, and I dwell among the Israelites." Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.