Numbers 35:12

"then you shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the man slayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there."

Key Reflection

The command in Numbers 35:12 was given to ensure justice and mercy coexisted within Israelite society. These cities of refuge provided a safe haven for individuals who accidentally killed someone, allowing them to avoid immediate retaliation from the deceased's family while awaiting legal judgment. This system recognized that unintentional killings could occur due to sudden anger or accidents, and it aimed to prevent blood feuds from escalating into full-scale conflicts, maintaining social order within the community.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

The avenger -Hebrewגאלgā'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 ofGenesis 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.

More from Numbers 35

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion