Numbers 35:12 kjv
And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
Numbers 35:12 nkjv
They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment.
Numbers 35:12 niv
They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.
Numbers 35:12 esv
The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
Numbers 35:12 nlt
These cities will be places of protection from a dead person's relatives who want to avenge the death. The slayer must not be put to death before being tried by the community.
Numbers 35 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 35:6 | "...six cities for refuge..." | Number of refuge cities given. |
| Num 35:9-11 | "...set aside for the manslayer... may flee..." | Purpose of the cities for unintentional killing. |
| Deut 19:1-7 | "You shall designate three cities... for anyone who kills another unintentionally..." | Expands on the law for setting up the cities. |
| Josh 20:1-9 | "Then the LORD spoke to Joshua... designate cities of refuge..." | Fulfillment and implementation of the command. |
| Num 35:19 | "The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death..." | Defines the avenger's role against murderers. |
| Deut 19:6 | "...lest the avenger of blood pursue him in hot anger..." | Highlights the risk from the avenger without refuge. |
| Gen 9:5-6 | "...for the life of man he shall make recompense. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed..." | Establishes the divine principle of life for life. |
| Exod 21:12-14 | "Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death... if it was not intentional, but God let it happen..." | Distinguishes between intentional murder and accidental death. |
| Deut 19:4 | "This is the case of the manslayer who may flee there and live..." | Defines unintentional killing further. |
| Num 35:22-24 | "But if he pushed him suddenly... then the congregation shall judge..." | Details on distinguishing accidental harm and communal judgment. |
| Deut 17:6 | "On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses..." | Principle of multiple witnesses for a just trial. |
| Deut 1:16-17 | "Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously..." | Mandate for impartial justice by judges. |
| Prov 17:15 | "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD." | Condemnation of perversion of justice. |
| Amos 5:24 | "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." | God's demand for abundant justice. |
| Ps 9:9 | "The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." | God as a spiritual refuge for the distressed. |
| Ps 46:1 | "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." | Reinforces God as a source of protection and help. |
| Heb 6:18 | "...who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us." | New Testament theme of Christ as spiritual refuge. |
| Isa 32:2 | "Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm..." | Foreshadowing of a protector/shelter (Messianic context). |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God..." | Divine justice, limiting personal vengeance. |
| Heb 10:30 | "For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,' and again, 'The Lord will judge His people.'" | Reiteration of divine justice and judgment. |
| Num 35:33-34 | "You shall not pollute the land where you are... for blood pollutes the land." | Purity of the land concept, linked to innocent blood. |
| John 14:6 | "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." | Christ as the way to salvation/safety. |
Numbers 35 verses
Numbers 35 12 Meaning
Numbers 35:12 describes the primary purpose and function of the cities of refuge: to offer a temporary safe haven for those who have accidentally killed another person, protecting them from the "avenger of blood." This protection would last until the manslayer could stand before the community in a formal, impartial trial to determine if the act was intentional murder or unintentional manslaughter, ensuring due process and preventing immediate retaliatory killing.
Numbers 35 12 Context
Numbers chapter 35, following the establishment of the Israelite camp and the duties of the Levites, shifts to the practical details of their promised inheritance in the land of Canaan. A crucial part of this instruction is the provision for cities where the Levites will live and, within those cities, designated 'cities of refuge'. This legal framework is given before Israel enters Canaan, anticipating the societal challenges that would arise concerning bloodguilt and justice. Verse 12 specifically highlights the reason for these cities: to act as a buffer against immediate, possibly wrongful, retribution from the go'el haddam (avenger of blood) until a formal, public legal process could determine guilt or innocence. It is part of the broader Mosaic Law designed to establish an orderly society rooted in divine justice and mercy, moving beyond ancient tribal blood feuds by introducing legal procedures overseen by the community ("the congregation").
Numbers 35 12 Word analysis
- And they shall be to you (וְהָיוּ לָכֶם - wəhāyū lāk̲em): Indicates the direct benefit and provision for the Israelite community, not just the individual manslayer. It's a divinely appointed system for their welfare.
- cities for refuge (עָרֵי מִקְלָט - ʿarey miqlāṭ): Miqlāṭ means "reception," "refuge," or "asylum." These were physical places, distinct from any general place of safety, specifically designated by God. They symbolize God's ordered provision for temporary sanctuary.
- from the avenger (מִגֹּאֵל - miggōʾēl): The "avenger" is haggōʾēl, the kinsman-redeemer of blood. In ancient Israelite society, the closest male relative had the right and duty to avenge the blood of a slain family member. This term has deep roots, appearing also in Ruth (Boaz as Go'el) as a redeemer, but here it pertains specifically to blood vengeance. The law regulated, rather than abolished, this custom.
- that the manslayer (מַכֵּה נֶפֶשׁ - makkēh nepeš): Literally "striker of a soul" or "striker of a life." This term intentionally distinguishes between unintentional killing (manslaughter) and deliberate, premeditated murder. The law differentiates consequences based on intent.
- die not (לֹא יָמוּת - lōʾ yāmūṯ): Emphasizes the protective purpose of the cities—to prevent premature or unlawful execution. This provision highlights divine mercy alongside justice.
- until he stand before (עַד עָמְדוֹ לִפְנֵי - ʿad ʿāmədō lipnê): Points to a specific future event, a necessary legal step. The refuge is temporary, pending formal legal process.
- the congregation (הָעֵדָה - hāʿēdâ): Refers to the formal assembly or community of Israel. This signifies a public, collective judicial body, ensuring transparency and accountability in judgment, removing justice from purely private hands.
- in judgment (לַמִּשְׁפָּט - lammišpāṭ): Mishpāṭ refers to "justice," "judgment," or "legal process." This underscores that the cities of refuge were not a means to evade justice but to facilitate it in a lawful manner.
- cities for refuge from the avenger: This phrase signifies a specific legal and social function—protection against the direct and immediate retribution from the designated kinsman of the victim. It aims to prevent retaliatory violence and mob rule.
- that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment: This combined phrase clarifies the temporary nature of the asylum and its ultimate goal. It mandates due process: the manslayer is protected from arbitrary death but must submit to formal inquiry and legal verdict by the community's representatives.
Numbers 35 12 Bonus section
The cities of refuge were a unique institution, illustrating God's meticulous care for justice in Israelite society. They served as a boundary against uncontrolled personal vendettas, providing a legal structure for justice. The requirement for the manslayer to remain in the city until "the death of the high priest" (Num 35:28) signifies a form of atonement and foreshadows a greater High Priest, Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross ultimately frees believers from the just condemnation they faced, serving as the ultimate refuge from divine wrath. This illustrates that God provides a path to freedom through substitutionary atonement. The availability of these cities to foreigners residing in Israel (Num 35:15) also underscored God's universal concern for justice, transcending tribal lines.
Numbers 35 12 Commentary
Numbers 35:12 sets the foundation for a judicial system that meticulously distinguishes between accidental death and premeditated murder. By instituting cities of refuge, God provided a practical and merciful solution to prevent innocent individuals from being unjustly executed by the blood avenger, whose emotional grief might cloud objective judgment. The provision highlights the sanctity of human life and the need for due process in ancient Israel. It transforms personal vengeance into a system of public justice, administered by the "congregation." This system not only protected the innocent but also regulated the avenger's role, ensuring that justice, tempered with mercy, prevailed and that the land was not polluted by innocent blood (Num 35:33-34). It's a testament to God's foresight in providing both grace and strict justice within the framework of the Mosaic Law. The system was designed to allow a full and fair inquiry, demonstrating God's abhorrence of both unlawful killing and unlawful vengeance.