Números 35
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Números 35
NJB (MT versing) Cities for the Levites Cities for the Levites Plans for Levitical Cities and Cities of Refuge The Cities Assigned to the Levites The Portion of the Levites 35:1-3 35:1-8 35:1-5 35:1-8 35:1 35:2-4 35:4-5 Cities of Refuge 35:5-8 35:6-8 Cities of Refuge 35:6-8 The Cities of Refuge Cities of Refuge 35:9-15 35:9-15 35:9-12 35:9-15 35:9 35:10-15 35:13-15 35:16-21 35:16-21 35:16-21 35:16-19 35:16-19 35:20-21 35:20-29 35:22-28 35:22-28 35:22-28 35:22-29 35:29 25:29-34 35:29 35:30-34 35:30-34 35:30-34 35:30-34 Etc.
Números 35:1-3
35:2 "give to the Levites from the inheritance of their possession cities to live in" Numbers 35 is basically a description of the Levitical cities which are also found in Lev. 25:32-35 and Joshua 21. There are forty-eight Levitical cities divided among all the tribes. Six of these are special cities of refuge: three in the trans-Jordan area and three in the Promised Land. The Levites took the place of the firstborn child (cf. Exodus 13), and, therefore, did not inherit land, for YHWH was their possession and they served Him in a unique way. However, God provided some plot of land for them for farming, as is seen in verse 2, in that they could have a thousand cubits each around these Levitical cities. Because one of these cities, Hebron, was uniquely given to Caleb, it is my personal opinion that each of these cities was not completely owned and operated by Levites, but probably was shared by members of the tribe in whose division the Levitical city was located. See SPECIAL TOPIC: CITIES OF REFUGE.
Números 35:4-5
35:4 "one thousand cubits" A cubit was the distance between a man's longest finger and his elbow, usually about eighteen inches. This was enough land for the priests to have a small flock or garden to supplement what they received from the tithes of the people every year. See SPECIAL TOPIC: CUBIT.
Números 35:6-8
35:6 "six cities of refuge" These are discussed in detail in Num. 35:9-24 and Joshua 20. It is interesting that as God continued to expand the borders of the Jews, there was a division for more allotments to be given to the Levites (cf. Num. 35:17; Deut. 19:8-10). The cities of refuge in the trans-Jordan area are: Bezer, Ramoth-Gilead, and Golan; in the Promised Land they are: Hebron, Shechem, and Kadesh, not Kadesh-Barnea in southern Judea, but a city located north of the Sea of Galilee. ▣ "manslayer" This is a Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, BDB 253, KB 1283. It is used 18 times in this chapter. Numbers 35:19-21 deals with specific cases where there is intent to kill, while vv. 22-28 deal with cases of manslaughter (cf. Exod. 21:12-14). See SPECIAL TOPIC: LAW IN THE ANE, "Casuistic Laws". 35:7 "forty-eight cities" The Levites were meant to be the teachers of the Law, as well as the helpers in the Temple. Spreading them throughout the Promised Land showed that God symbolically dwelt among all of His people (cf. Num. 35:34).
Números 35:9-15
35:11 "cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there" This is a discussion about intentional murder versus unintentional murder. There seems to be two court cases involved (cf. Num. 35:24). Apparently one court met at the city of refuge to which the man fled and if he was found to be innocent, he was retried at the site of the murder. If found to be innocent there of premeditation, then he was returned to the city of refuge where he must live until the death of the High Priest (cf. vv. 25,28). The High Priest's death apparently acted as a kind of atonement for the accidental death of another covenant partner. It is interesting that in this chapter we are introduced to the term "Go'el" (BDB 145 I), which is often translated as "the kinsman redeemer" (cf. Boaz in the book of Ruth). Here, the same term means "the blood avenger" (cf. Num. 35:19,21,24,25,27). The closest relative was responsible for maintaining family unity, economically and here, in the case of revenge for a death (see Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, pp. 63-65,501). Basically this is an attempt to limit the "eye-for-an-eye" revenge (cf. Exod. 21:23-25), which was common during the time of Israel's living in the desert and to set up the legal procedures of a settled community (see Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 150-151). Premeditation seems to be the key in determining whether a death was accidental (cf. Num. 35:22-28) or not (cf. vv. 16-21). See SPECIAL TOPIC: UNINTENTIONAL SINS and NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 42-43. 35:14 It is interesting to note that the phrase "across Jordan" depends on the location of the later writer the location of the person speaking In this verse Moses is on the plains of Moab but the later writer/editor/compiler writes as if in Canaan. 35:15 YHWH's compassion for the alien sojourner is clear from this verse (also note Num. 9:14; 15:15; 19:10; Lev. 16:29; 17:8, 15; 18:26; 20:2; 24:16). There is one law for all!
Números 35:16-21
35:16 "the murderer shall surely be put to death" The VERB is an intensified grammatical feature (i.e., INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root, BDB 559, KB 562), used six times in this chapter (Num. 35:16, 17, 18, 21, 26, 31). Israel must be purged of intentional sin (cf. v. 24). See SPECIAL TOPIC: DEATH PENALTY IN ISRAEL. 35:20 The issue of this verse (and v. 22) is the intent of the murderer. internal motivation ‒ "hate (BDB 971) the manner of premeditation ‒ "lying in wait" (BDB 841)
Números 35:22-28
35:25 NASB, NKJV, JPSOA "the priest" NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, Peshitta, Samaritan Pentateuch "the High Priest" "the great priest" The MT has "the priest" but obviously it is the High Priest. The normal title for him in the Pentateuch is "the Priest" (cf. Lev. 21:10). SPECIAL TOPIC: MURDER SPECIAL TOPIC: CITIES OF REFUGE
Números 35:30-34
35:30 "at the evidence of witnesses" We learn from Deut. 17:6 and 19:15 that two eyewitnesses were required in order to convict a person. However, it was very unusual to have two eyewitnesses of some crimes. The Hebrew word "witnesses" here does not imply "eyewitness" but allows for some degree of circumstantial testimony. 35:31-32 "you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death" "Ransom" (BDB 497 I) denotes a price paid for the loss of a life (cf. Exod. 21:28-32; Job 33:24; 36:18; Pro. 13:8; 21:18). There was not ransom for premeditated murder (cf. Num. 35:33). The only ransom was the life of the murderer. 35:33 "So you shall not pollute the land in which you are" The discussion of the pollution involved in unsolved murders and how to solve them is found in Deut. 21:3-8 (cf. Ps. 106:38). YHWH was holy (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE) and He could not live among unholy or unclean people. The Day of Atonement provided some reckoning, but these elaborate procedures show the need for God's people to be uniquely holy and like Him (i.e., Lev. 11:45; 19:2; Matt. 5:48). ▣ "no expiation" This is the VERB form of the NOUN "ransom" in Num. 35:31,32, it is a Pual IMPERFECT (BDB 497, KB 493).