Numbers 35:15 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 35:9-34

We have here the orders given concerning the cities of refuge, fitly annexed to what goes before, because they were all Levites? cities. In this part of the constitution there is a great deal both of good law and pure gospel. I. Here is a great deal of good law, in the case of murder and manslaughter, a case of which the laws of all nations have taken particular cognizance. It is here enacted and provided, consonant to natural equity, 1. That wilful murder should be punished with death, and in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 35:15

These six cities shall be a refuge both for the children of Israel and for the stranger ,.... For an Israelite, and a proselyte of righteousness, one that embraced the Jewish religion, and in all things conformed to it, and to whom there was but one law in things civil and religious: and for the sojourner among you ; the proselyte of the gate, who renounced idolatry, and observed the commands of the sons of Noah, but in other things did not comply with the Jewish ceremonies, yet had the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 35:14-16

Numbers 35:14-16. On this side Jordan Because that land was as long as Canaan, though not so broad; and besides, these might be convenient for many of them that lived in Canaan. If he smite him Wittingly and wilfully, though not with premeditated malice. He shall be put to death Yea, though he had fled into the city of refuge. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Numbers 35:1-34

Cities for the Levites (35:1-34)Levi had no tribal area of its own, but received cities, with surrounding pasture lands, in each of the other tribes. There were forty-eight Levitical cities, the number in each tribe being in proportion to the size of the tribe. This ensured that those responsible for teaching God’s law to the people were evenly scattered throughout Israel (35:1-8).Among these forty-eight cities were six cities of refuge, three west of Jordan and three east. These were cities... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 35:15

person = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:6-15

Numbers 35:6-15. And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, there shall be six cities for refuge, &c.— The cities of the Levites were appointed for this purpose, rather than any other, because they were a kind of sacred places inhabited by sacred persons; and here men might spend their time better than in other places, being among the ministers of religion. These cities of refuge were only for those who killed any person unawares, Num 35:11 i.e. unwittingly, or ignorantly,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:14-15

Numbers 35:14. Three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities—in the land of Canaan— This appears not to be an equal partition, the land of Canaan being much larger than the territory beyond Jordan; for it contained about three parts in four of the tribes of Israel: but it is to be considered, that the country beyond Jordan was as long as the land of Canaan, though not so broad; besides, God commanded those in Canaan, if he enlarged their coasts to add three cities more besides these;... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Numbers 35:9-34

Cities of refuge 35:9-34Six of these Levitical towns were also cities of refuge.The appointment of cities of refuge was a divine provision for the safety of a killer who was not guilty of premeditated murder (cf. Deuteronomy 19:1-13; Joshua 20). God had told the Israelites not to murder (Exodus 20:13). The right and duty of man to execute murderers was ancient (Genesis 4:15; Genesis 9:5-6). Ancient Near Easterners practiced capital punishment widely as part of the law of retaliation. The Mosaic... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 35:1-34

The Levitical Cities. The Cities of Refugie1-8. The Levitical Cities.The tribe of Levi received no part of the land of Canaan as their inheritance (Numbers 18:20-24; Numbers 26:62). By way of compensation they received the tithes for their support (Numbers 18:21). It is here further provided that 48 cities with their suburbs be allotted to them out of the inheritance of the other tribes, for the maintenance of themselves and their herds. The carrying out of this injunction is recorded in Joshua... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Numbers 35:15

(15) For the stranger, and for the sojourner . . . —The word ger, “stranger,” properly denotes a foreigner who took up a temporary abode amongst the Israelites; whereas toshab, “sojourner,” denotes one who was settled in Israel. Sometimes, however, the words ger and toshab appear to be used as a compound term, as in Leviticus 25:47, where they occur with the conjunctive (or disjunctive) particle in the former part of the verse, and without it in the latter. “The cities of refuge,” says Dr.... read more