Números 35

Números 35

Meyer - Numbers 35:25, 28, 32 The Death of the High Priest. One after another they passed away. They were not able to continue by reason of death. Their offices, and garments, and ministry, passed from each in turn, as from Aaron, whom Moses stripped with his own hands on Nebo. But their death only brings into greater prominence the encouraging contrast in the case of our blessed Lord, who ever liveth, and hath, therefore, an unchangeable priesthood. Christ ever lives: what an encouragement to the penitent! — All that He ever was, He is; all that He ever did for others, He is willing to do for thee. The records of his earthly life, with his tenderness for those who were out of the way, are leaves and specimen pages of the diary of his life. Therefore, there need be no hesitation in applying to Him. Christ ever lives: what a blessing to the saint! — “I am He that liveth.” He bent over his fainting apostle, and said in effect, You remember what I was when you leant on my bosom, followed Me to the shore on which I had prepared your repast, and assured you of my never-altering affection. I am all that still; through death I have come to a life which can never decay; because I live, ye shall live also. Let us rest our souls on this sweet word — from his heart there will ever stream to us rivers of incorruptible life. Let us keep all the channels of our being open towards the fountain of eternal life, that there may be no stint or restraint to our reception. Christ ever lives: what a warning to the Church! — There is no need, therefore, of the human priest to transact matters between man and God. The Son is Priest and King in his own house, in the power of an endless life; and human mediators are no more necessary than flickering night-lights at noon. Numbers 35:26 'But if the manslayer at any time goes beyond the border of his city of refuge to which he may flee, After the manslayer had been received into the city of refuge, the avenger of blood could only act as prosecutor; and the magistrates, in the presence of the people, were appointed to decide the cause according to the rules here laid down. Probably the accused person was tried at or near the place where the deceased had been slain, and where evidence could most easily be brought: and in case he was acquitted by the decision of the judges, and with the approbation of the people, he was conveyed back to the city of refuge, where he was protected as a kind of prisoner at large, till the death of the high priest; when the public loss, and the grief occasioned by it, might be supposed to swallow up all personal regrets and resentments: and then he was permitted to return to his house and estate. But if, in the mean while, he ventured to leave the city, and the avenger met him and slew him, he was supposed to merit his doom by thus neglecting the appointment of God for his preservation, and the avenger must not be punished. This shews that in other cases, if the avenger slew an innocent man on surmise, he was liable to the punishment of a murderer; but if, by the testimony of two credible witnesses, the man who had fled to the city of refuge was adjudged guilty, he must without fail be put to death. Numbers 35 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MANSLAYER PROTECTED ONLY IN CITY OF REFUGE But if the manslayer at any time goes beyond the border of his city of refuge to which he may flee - A manslayer cannot leave the city of refuge until the high priest dies. To do so would be foolish, for the blood avenger would be fully justified in killing him. Numbers 35:27 and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger kills the manslayer, he will not be guilty of blood he shall not be guilty of blood: , Ex 22:2 De 19:6,10 Numbers 35 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MANSLAYER OUTSIDE CITY OF REFUGE CAN BE PUT TO DEATH and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger kills the manslayer, he will not be guilty of blood (Heb. no blood shall be to him) - This statement clears the blood avenger of all guilt if he kills a manslayer who has been foolish enough to leave the city of refuge. Numbers 35:28 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 manslayer shall return to the land of his possession. he should: Joh 15:4-6 Ac 11:23 27:31 Heb 3:14 6:4-8 10:26-30,39 after the death: Heb 9:11,12,15-17 Numbers 35 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AFTER THE HIGH PRIEST DIES because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest - This simply reiterates how foolish it would be to leave the place of safety. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer shall return to the land of his possession - The implication is that the blood avenger now can no longer legally kill the manslayer. Currid - The death of the high priest signals an amnesty: the manslayer may return home and the avenger of blood is released from his obligation of vengeance. Noordtzij argues that this death of the chief religious official signifies the end of an old era and a dawning of a new one. Noth sees the act as parallel to the amnesty granted to prisoners at the accession of a new king. Others (Harrison, Numbers: An Exegetical Commentary, p. 422. Cf. R. D. Cole, Numbers, p. 554.) go further by interpreting the death as a form of expiation; as Harrison states, ‘The death of the high priest was interpreted as an atonement for the offence of manslaughter.’" (EPSC-Nu)