Num 35:6, 11-12, 15-28, Deu 19:1-10, Heb 6:18 | TSK | STEP | six cities for refuge. to them ye shall add. Heb. above them ye shall give.

Numbers 35:6

six cities for refuge.

13,14; De 4:41-43; Jos 20:2-9; 21:3,13,21,27,32,36,38; Ps 9:9

Ps 62:7,8; 142:4,5; Isa 4:6; Mt 11:28; Heb 6:18

to them ye shall add. Heb. above them ye shall give.

Numbers 35:11-12

ye shall appoint.As the {goel,} or kinsman, had a right to avenge the death of his relation, by slaying the murderer wherever he found him, the appointment of these cities was a humane institution for the protection of the involuntary homicide; for they were designed only for the protection of such.

6; Jos 20:2

unawares. Heb. by error.

22,23; Ex 21:13; De 4:42; 19:4,5

from the avenger.

19,25-27; De 19:6; Jos 20:3-6,9; 2Sa 14:7

until he stand.

24; De 19:11,12; Jos 20:4-6

Numbers 35:15-28

15:16; Ex 12:49; Le 24:22; Ro 3:29; Ga 3:28

if he smite.

22-24; De 19:11-13

the.

30-33; Ge 9:5,6; Ex 21:12-14; Le 24:17

throwing a stone. Heb. a stone of the hand.

Ex 21:18

12,21,24,27; De 19:6,12; Jos 20:3,5

if he thrust.

Ge 4:5,8; 2Sa 3:27; 13:22,28,29; 20:10; 1Ki 2:5,6,31-33; Pr 26:24

Pr 28:17; Lu 4:29

by laying.

Ex 21:14; De 19:11; 1Sa 18:10,11,25; 19:9-12; 20:1; 23:7-9; 24:11

Ps 10:7-10; 11:2; 35:7,8; 57:4-6; Pr 1:18,19; Mr 6:19,24-26

Ac 20:3; 23:21

11; Ex 21:13; De 19:5; Jos 20:3,5

12; Jos 20:6

abide in it.

28; Jos 20:6; Ro 3:24-26; Eph 2:16-18; Heb 4:14-16; 7:25-28

Heb 9:12-15; 10:19-22

anointed.

Ex 29:7; Le 4:3; 8:12; 21:10 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.

he shall not be guilty of blood. Heb. no blood shall be tohim

Ex 22:2; De 19:6,10

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

Deuteronomy 19:1-10

1 The cities of refuge.

4 The privilege thereof for the manslayer.

14 The land-mark is not to be removed.

15 Two witnesses at the least are required.

16 The punishment of a false witness.

hath cut.

6:10; 7:1,2; 12:1,29; 17:14

succeedest. Heb. inheritest, or possessest.

12:29

separate three cities.Unquestionably in imitation of these cities, the heathen had their {asyla,} and the Roman Catholics their privileged altars: and similar traditions seem to obtain in many barbarous nations, for "the North American Indian nations have most of them either a house or town of refuge, which is a sure asylum to protect a manslayer, or the unfortunate captive, if he once enter it. In almost every Indian nation, there are several towns, which are called old beloved, ancient, holy, or white towns, (white being their fixed emblem of peace, friendship, prosperity, happiness, purity, etc.) They seem to have been formerly towns of refuge; for it is not in the memory of the oldest people that human blood was shed in them."

4:41-43; Ex 21:13; Nu 35:10-15; Jos 20:2-7; Heb 6:18

Isa 35:8; 57:14; 62:10; Heb 12:13

the slayer.

4:42; Nu 35:15-24

in time past. Heb. from yesterday the third day.

6; Ge 31:2; Jos 3:4; 1Ch 11:2; Isa 30:33; *margins

head. Heb. iron.

2Ki 6:5-7

helve. Heb. wood. lighteth. Heb. findeth. he shall flee.

Nu 35:25; Pr 27:12; Isa 32:2

the avenger.

Nu 35:12; Jos 20:5; 2Sa 14:7