Numbers 35 32

Numbers 35:32 kjv

And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.

Numbers 35:32 nkjv

And you shall take no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest.

Numbers 35:32 niv

"?'Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest.

Numbers 35:32 esv

And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest.

Numbers 35:32 nlt

And never accept a ransom payment from someone who has fled to a city of refuge, allowing a slayer to return to his property before the death of the high priest.

Numbers 35 verses

Numbers 35 32 Meaning

Numbers 35:32 decrees that for an individual who has unintentionally caused the death of another and sought refuge in a designated City of Refuge, no monetary payment or other form of compensation (kofer) may be accepted to facilitate their early release from sanctuary. The unintentional slayer must remain within the City of Refuge until the death of the reigning High Priest. This rule prevents wealthy individuals from buying their way out of the divinely ordained period of confinement, ensuring equitable justice for all, and symbolically links their eventual freedom to the High Priest's life and death.

Numbers 35 32 Context

Numbers chapter 35 details the allocation of forty-eight cities to the Levites, with six of these being specifically designated as "Cities of Refuge" (Arei HaMiklat). This legislation served a crucial function within ancient Israel, regulating the ancient practice of blood vengeance (go'el haddam or "avenger of blood"). For intentional murder, swift execution by the avenger, after due process, was commanded (Num 35:19-21, 31). However, for unintentional homicide, the Cities of Refuge provided a legal sanctuary, protecting the manslayer from immediate, arbitrary revenge by the victim's kin. The requirement to stay in the city of refuge, enforced by verse 32, underscores a divine legal system that was simultaneously merciful, by providing sanctuary, and just, by imposing a form of punishment—exile—and by not allowing financial gain to circumvent legal consequences or the spiritual ramifications of bloodshed. Historically, this system prevented social chaos and provided a structured legal alternative to purely retributive clan-based justice, emphasizing the sanctity of human life and the need for purification for defiled land.

Numbers 35 32 Word analysis

• And: This conjunction links the prohibition of accepting satisfaction (ransom) to the previous rules concerning the cities of refuge and the status of the manslayer. It demonstrates that this verse is a continuation and specific reinforcement of the broader legal framework.
• ye shall take no satisfaction: Hebrew: לֹא תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר (lo' tiqchu kofer).
  • "take": Tiqchu (from laqach), meaning "to take," "receive." It signifies the act of accepting payment.
  • "no satisfaction": Lo' kofer. This is a crucial term.
    • "Satisfaction": Kofer (כֹפֶר) often translated as ransom, atonement, bribe, or price of redemption. Here, it refers specifically to a monetary payment or compensation offered to secure early release from legal consequence.
    • Significance: The use of kofer emphatically states that the divinely ordained period of confinement for unintentional homicide cannot be monetized or bought off. This ensures justice is administered fairly, irrespective of one's wealth. It stands against ancient Near Eastern practices where "blood money" could completely clear a homicide, reinforcing a unique aspect of Israel's covenant law that prioritized sacred law over individual financial capacity. It signifies that certain offenses against the sanctity of life require more than mere financial redress.
• for him that is fled to the city of his refuge: This identifies the subject of the prohibition: the unintentional manslayer who has sought and obtained protection in one of the sanctuary cities designated by God. This legal status means they are under the special protection and jurisdiction of these cities.
• that he should come again to dwell in the land: This clarifies the purpose of taking no satisfaction – to prevent the premature return of the manslayer to their previous residence and social standing in the wider land of Israel. "To dwell in the land" implies resuming normal life and reintegration into the community outside the city of refuge.
• until the death of the priest: Hebrew: עַד מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן (ad mot ha'kohen).
  • "the priest": Ha'kohen (הַכֹּהֵן). The definite article points specifically to the High Priest, as confirmed by Num 35:25, 28, where it is stated ha'kohen hagadol (the great priest or High Priest). The High Priest was the spiritual head of the nation, mediating between God and the people, bearing their sins symbolically.
  • Significance: The death of the High Priest serves as the sole trigger for the manslayer's release. This unique provision has profound theological implications:
    • Symbolic Atonement: The High Priest's death acted as a communal form of atonement, spiritually cleansing the land and allowing the manslayer to return without defilement. This links the release of a sinner to the "death" of a sin-bearer.
    • Equality in Justice: Since no one could know when the High Priest would die, the period of exile was indeterminate for all, ensuring fairness regardless of wealth or status.
    • National Significance: It ties the individual's fate to a figure of national spiritual importance, highlighting the collective aspect of sin and purification.
    • Type of Christ: Many biblical commentators view the High Priest's death as a type or shadow of the ultimate atonement provided by Christ's death as our great High Priest, which releases us from the consequences of sin and allows us to "return to the land" of fellowship with God.

Numbers 35 32 Bonus section

The extended period of mandatory exile in the City of Refuge, tied to the unknown date of the High Priest's death, was itself a form of disciplinary measure and repentance. It compelled the unintentional manslayer to reflect on the gravity of their action, no matter how unintended, and fostered a dependence on God's timing for their release. This system highlights God's comprehensive view of justice, balancing mercy (providing sanctuary) with consequence (forced exile). The provision directly counteracts societal pressures common in the ancient world where financial gain often superseded genuine justice, particularly in cases involving death or injury. Furthermore, the selection of cities of refuge in each tribal territory and their accessibility underscore God's desire for all his people to have access to protection and a fair hearing.

Numbers 35 32 Commentary

Numbers 35:32 is a stringent safeguard within the legal framework of the Cities of Refuge, designed to uphold divine justice, the sanctity of life, and the purity of the land. By explicitly forbidding any payment or "satisfaction" for the premature release of an unintentional manslayer, God prevents justice from being undermined by wealth. This principle ensures that all individuals, rich or poor, face the same consequence of temporary exile. The specific condition for release—the death of the High Priest—is profound. It transforms a private legal matter into a divinely significant event, where the High Priest's passing functions as a communal, if indirect, expiation. This not only provided an external timeline beyond human manipulation but also subtly pointed towards a greater reality where release from a penalty or sin would come through the death of a singular, perfect High Priest—Jesus Christ—whose sacrificial death offers eternal release and reconciliation with God.