Numbers 35:6-7
“The cities that you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit the manslayer to flee, and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities. All the cities that you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight, with their pasturelands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While it sounds like the six cities of refuge are a special category in addition to the Levites' other cities, the verse actually places them among the Levitical cities. This means all the Levitical cities, including the forty-two others, were intended to serve as places of refuge and safety for those fleeing harm.
God is instructing Moses on how to distribute the Levites' inheritance across the land, assigning them specific cities and surrounding pasturelands. This specific instruction clarifies that within the cities given to the Levites, six are designated as cities of refuge for accidental killings, with forty-two additional cities also allocated to them. This provision ensures the Levites have places to live and graze their livestock, while also providing safe havens for those who unintentionally caused someone's death.
Why did the Levites, unlike other tribes, not receive a land inheritance? God had a different plan for them.
The Levites were a unique tribe in Israel, set apart for special service to God. While other tribes received portions of the Promised Land to farm and build their lives, the Levites' inheritance was God Himself (Numbers 18:20). Instead of land, God commanded that they be given cities to dwell in throughout the land, along with surrounding pastureland for their livestock. This wasn't a lesser provision, but a strategic one. Their dispersal across Israel meant they served as the spiritual heart of the nation, teaching God's law and maintaining worship, ensuring God's presence and word were accessible to all.
This arrangement allowed them to focus fully on their sacred duties without the distractions of managing land. It also positioned them as centers of spiritual life, reminding every Israelite of God's constant presence and covenant.
In a land where justice was swift, God established special havens for those who caused death unintentionally. What does this reveal about His heart?
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Within the cities allotted to the Levites, a special provision was made: six cities designated as 'cities of refuge.' These were not places for premeditated murderers, but for those who had accidentally caused someone's death. The purpose was to provide a safe haven, a place to flee from the 'avenger of blood' until a fair trial could be held. This demonstrates God's deep concern for justice and mercy, even in a society with strict laws regarding bloodshed.
By placing these cities within Levitical territory, God ensured that the refuge was administered by a people known for their dedication to God's law. The Levites, as interpreters of the law, were uniquely positioned to offer a sanctuary that honored God's justice while also providing protection for the innocent and repentant.
Understand the original words
ʿārîm · Hebrew Noun (plural)
The sacred, central place of residence for the tribe of Levi, who were set apart by God for priestly and tabernacle service, possessing no inheritance of land themselves but living among the other tribes.
miqlāṭ · Hebrew Noun
Designated locations appointed by God to provide asylum for someone who committed unintentional homicide, preventing immediate retaliatory blood vengeance while legal adjudication could take place.
rōṣēaḥ · Hebrew Noun
One who has caused the death of another person, specifically used in legal contexts regarding the transition from accidental killing to judicial review.
migrāš · Hebrew Noun (plural)
Open land or common grazing fields surrounding the Levitical cities, provided for the sustenance of their livestock and essential for their livelihood within the inheritance of Israel.
This wasn't just a random scattering of towns; the provision of specific cities for the Levites and especially the cities of refuge was a deliberate act of God's justice and mercy, woven into the very fabric of how Israel would live in the Promised Land. It ensured that justice was tempered with compassion, and that even in a land governed by blood-feud traditions, there was a safe haven for the unintentional killer.
c. 1446 BC
Israel Enters the Promised Land
Following their exodus from Egypt and 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, conquer and divide the land of Canaan among the twelve tribes.
c. 1446-1406 BC— this verse
Levitical Cities Appointed
God commands the Israelites to set aside cities for the Levites throughout their territories. This includes six cities designated as places of refuge for those who commit accidental homicide.
c. 1406 BC
Joshua Appoints Cities of Refuge
After the land is largely conquered, Joshua and the elders formally designate and establish the six cities of refuge, along with the other Levitical cities, as commanded by God.
c. 1400 BC
Tribal Distribution of Levitical Cities
The 48 cities designated for the Levites are distributed among the tribes, with each tribe contributing a proportional number based on its inheritance size.
This passage originally establishes the concept of a place of refuge for those who unintentionally kill someone, setting the stage for the specific implementation detailed in Numbers.
Deuteronomy 19:1-10This passage reiterates and expands on the law of the cities of refuge, emphasizing the need for intentionality in murder and the process of seeking sanctuary.
Joshua 20:1-9This passage describes the actual appointment and designation of the six cities of refuge, showing the practical fulfillment of the command given in Numbers.
Hebrews 6:18This New Testament passage draws a parallel between the Old Testament cities of refuge and the hope found in Christ, illustrating the spiritual significance of these ancient sanctuaries.
calvinNumbers 35:1-8: "And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,"
Et loquutus est Jehova in campestribus Moab juxta Jordanem. Jericho, dicendo:
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.
Praecipe filiis Israel ut dent Levitis de haereditate possessionis suae urbes ad habitandum, et suburban…
ellicottNumbers 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."
(6, 7, 8) And among the cities which ye shall give . . . — The construction of this verse is involved; or, rather, there is a suspension of the subject in Numbers 35:6 , and a resumption of it in Numbers 35:7-8 . The verses may be rendered thus: And as to the cities which…
While it sounds like the six cities of refuge are a special category in addition to the Levites' other cities, the verse actually places them among the Levitical cities. This means all the Levitical cities, including the forty-two others, were intended to serve as places of refuge and safety for those fleeing harm.
God is instructing Moses on how to distribute the Levites' inheritance across the land, assigning them specific cities and surrounding pasturelands. This specific instruction clarifies that within the cities given to the Levites, six are designated as cities of refuge for accidental killings, with forty-two additional cities also allocated to them. This provision ensures the Levites have places to live and graze their livestock, while also providing safe havens for those who unintentionally caused someone's death.
God is instructing Moses on how to distribute the Levites' inheritance across the land, assigning them specific cities and surrounding pasturelands. This specific instruction clarifies that within the cities given to the Levites, six are designated as cities of refuge for accidental killings, with forty-two additional cities also allocated to them. This provision ensures the Levites have places to live and graze their livestock, while also providing safe havens for those who unintentionally caused someone's death.
"“The cities that you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit the manslayer to flee, and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities. All the cities that you give to the Levites shall be forty-e…" — While it sounds like the six cities of refuge are a special category in addition to the Levites' other cities, the verse actually places them among the Levitical cities. This means all the Leviti…
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