Numbers 35:9-12

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 35:9

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... At the same time, or he continued his speech unto him: saying : as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 35:10

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them ,.... Now, directly: when ye come over Jordan into the land of Canaan ; as they quickly would, being now very near it, and of which there was the utmost certainty, since the Lord had promised to bring them over that river, and put them in possession of that land. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 35:11

Then ye shall appoint your cities to be cities of refuge for you ,.... And, according to the Jewish writers F9 Maimon. Rotzeach, c. 8. sect. 8. Vid. T. Bab. Maccot, fol. 10. 1. , these were neither to be made large nor little, but middling; and they appointed them where there were markets and fairs, at which goods were to be sold; and where there was plenty of water, and a multitude of people; and where there were but few, they fetched others from other places; and they neither made... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 35:12

And they shall be unto you cities of refuge from the avenger ,.... Or near kinsman; for as the right of redemption of an estate that was mortgaged belonged to such an one, so of revenging the blood of any one that was killed: that the manslayer die not ; by the hand of the avenger, who in the heat of his passion would, could he come at him, fall upon him, and slay him, to avenge the death of his relation on him: until he stand before the congregation in judgment ; before the court of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 35:11

Ye shall appoint - cities of refuge - The cities of refuge among the Israelites were widely different from the asyla among the Greeks and Romans, as also from the privileged altars among the Roman Catholics. Those among the Hebrews were for the protection of such only as had slain a person involuntarily. The temples and altars among the latter often served for the protection of the most profligate characters. Cities of refuge among the Hebrews were necessary, because the old patriarchal law... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 35:12

Until he stand before the congregation in judgment - So one of these cities was not a perpetual asylum; It was only a pro tempore refuge, till the case could be fairly examined by the magistrates in the presence of the people, or the elders their representatives; and this was done in the city or place where he had done the murder, Joshua 20:4 , Joshua 20:6 . If he was found worthy of death, they delivered him to the avenger that he might be slain, Deuteronomy 19:12 ; if not, they sent... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 35:10

Verse 10 10.Speak unto the children of Israel God appointed the cities of refuge, not only to make distinction between sills of malice and error, but also lest innocent blood should be rashly shed. Thus far we have seen how severely He would have murder punished: but, inasmuch as it would have been by no means just that he, who had not willfully but accidentally killed his neighbor, should be hurried away to the same punishment, to which willful murderers were subjected, an exception is added... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Numbers 35:12

The avenger - Hebrew גאל gā'al, a term of which the original import is uncertain. The very obscurity of its etymology testifies to the antiquity of the office which it denotes. That office rested on the principle of Genesis 9:6, “whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” The unwritten code of the East conceded to the nearest kinsman of a murdered man the right of avenging the blood that had been shed. Such rude justice necessarily involved grave evils. It gave no opportunity... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 35:11

Numbers 35:11. Unawares Or ignorantly, as it is, Deuteronomy 19:4, and Joshua 20:3; that is, besides his intention, having no such design, and no hatred to him, Numbers 35:22. read more

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