NUMBERS LESSON 43
We will begin this lesson in Numbers 35:1 "And the LORD spake
unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho, saying,"
This is a brand new message from the LORD to Moses. This again,
is just before they enter the land of promise at Jericho. These are
some more last minute instructions, on how the inheritance is to be
handled.
Numbers 35:2 "Command the children of Israel, that they give unto
the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in;
and ye shall give [also] unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round
about them." Numbers 35:3 "And the cities shall they have to dwell
in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their
goods, and for all their beasts."
The Levites had been separated out from the other tribes of
Israel, from the very first time they were counted. They were not to
labor with their hands in the fields. They were to serve God and the
people in the ministry. They did not receive an allotment of land.
They were to live of the things of the tabernacle, or the temple, as
it would soon be. They needed a place to have homes for their
families. That is what is covered in this lesson. The cities were
where they would serve the Lord. The suburbs, here, is speaking of an
area where they could graze their livestock. It was almost impossible
to live in those days without a few cows. The children of the other
tribes tithed in the tabernacle, and the Levites lived of those tithes
and offerings.
Numbers 35:4 "And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give
unto the Levites, [shall reach] from the wall of the city and outward
a thousand cubits round about."
At the time this was written, the Levitical tribe was the
governing body of the church. These cities were not where the
shepherds lived. The shepherds lived on farms, where their sheep were.
These cities, which were given to the Levites, were to extend 1,500
feet out from the wall of the city, for the grazing of their animals.
Numbers 35:5 "And ye shall measure from without the city on the
east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand
cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north
side two thousand cubits; and the city [shall be] in the midst: this
shall be to them the suburbs of the cities."
It appears from this, that past the area of the grazing of their
animals, was an area of 1,500 feet for the growing of gardens and
vineyards. The entire area outside the wall would be 3,000 feet in
every direction. This is not explained in detail, so we must assume
this is correct.
Numbers 35:6 "And among the cities which ye shall give unto the
Levites [there shall be] six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint
for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add
forty and two cities."
There are six cities chosen out to be a place for a manslayer to
go for safety. These six cities are called cities of refuge. There
were to be 42 cities for the Levites, besides the cities of refuge.
Numbers 35:7 "[So] all the cities which ye shall give to the
Levites [shall be] forty and eight cities: them [shall ye give] with
their suburbs." The 42 cities for the Levites and the 6 cities for the
cities of refuge make 48 cities. The Levites were a fairly small
tribe, so they, divided into 42 cities will be small towns in the
beginning.
Numbers 35:8 "And the cities which ye shall give [shall be] of
the possession of the children of Israel: from [them that have] many
ye shall give many; but from [them that have] few ye shall give few:
every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his
inheritance which he inheriteth."
These cities were not 4 from each tribe. which would have made up
48. Those who had many cities gave more cities, and those who had few
cities gave few. Those who received the most in inheritance, gave the
most for the Levites.
Numbers 35:9 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
This is a break in the other message.
Numbers 35:10 "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto
them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;" Numbers
35:11 "Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for
you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at
unawares."
These cities are to be set up immediately. Those who kill someone
need a place to run to, until they can be properly judged, as to the
punishment they are to receive. "Unawares" is the key to the verse
above.
Numbers 35:12 "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."
This is not a place like a prison that he has been sent. This is
a place of safety, until it can be determined whether this is murder,
or an accident.
Numbers 35:13 "And of these cities which ye shall give six cities
shall ye have for refuge."
For this large number of people, it would take six cities to care
for all of the people with this problem.
Numbers 35:14 "Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan,
and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, [which] shall be
cities of refuge."
Three of these cities shall be located on the east side of Jordan
in the territories of Gad, Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh.
According to Deuteronomy, Moses decided these cities would be: Bezer
of the Reubenites, Ramoth of the Gadites, and Golan of the
Manassehites. The other nine and one half tribes located in what used
to be Canaan, shall have three cities, as well. These are places of
safety, where the manslayer can run, until he is judged.
Numbers 35:15 "These six cities shall be a refuge, [both] for the
children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among
them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee
thither."
In the land of promise, the same law applies to all. The children
of Israel are under the same law as the stranger, or the person who
has decided to live with them.
Numbers 35:16 "And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so
that he die, he [is] a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to
death."
This is the beginning of the instructions, on how to tell if the
death is murder, or not. A piece of iron would certainly be an
instrument of death. The person who hit with the iron, would have the
intention of killing the person they hit.
Numbers 35:17 "And if he smite him with throwing a stone,
wherewith he may die, and he die, he [is] a murderer: the murderer
shall surely be put to death."
This, also, is speaking of someone throwing a rock intending to
kill him. If he dies, it would be murder, because the desire of the
person throwing the rock was to kill him.
Numbers 35:18 "Or [if] he smite him with an hand weapon of wood,
wherewith he may die, and he die, he [is] a murderer: the murderer
shall surely be put to death."
Here, again, this speaks of one who hit him with a board with the
intent of killing him.
Numbers 35:19 "The revenger of blood himself shall slay the
murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him."
The "revenger" was, generally, a brother of the victim, or
someone closely related to the victim. The revenger was not held
guilty, when he killed someone in this case.
Numbers 35:20 "But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by
laying of wait, that he die;"
This, in our society, would be classified as premeditated murder.
This is when a person kills from hate. This is murder.
Numbers 35:21 "Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die:
he that smote [him] shall surely be put to death; [for] he [is] a
murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he
meeteth him."
This is still speaking of someone who plans to kill, and then
carries it out. The revenger shall slay him for the murder he
committed.
Numbers 35:22 "But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or
have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait," Numbers 35:23
"Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing [him] not, and
cast [it] upon him, that he die, and [was] not his enemy, neither
sought his harm:"
Both of these are speaking of accidentally killing someone. This
is not in hate, or anger. It is an accident.
Numbers 35:24 "Then the congregation shall judge between the
slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:"
When the matter is brought before the congregation, they shall
decide whether this was an accident, or whether this is premeditated
murder. If it was an accident, the revenger must not kill him.
Numbers 35:25 "And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out
of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall
restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he
shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was
anointed with the holy oil."
The person who accidentally killed someone could live in the city
of refuge, and no harm would come to him. He would be required to stay
there, until the high priest died. At the death of the high priest,
the sentence would be finished, and he could return to his home
without fear of the revenger.
Numbers 35:26 "But if the slayer shall at any time come without
the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;" Numbers
35:27 "And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the
city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he
shall not be guilty of blood:"
If the one who killed the other man does not stay in the city of
refuge, until the priest dies, he will be at the mercy of the
revenger. The revenger can kill him, and not be punished for it.
Numbers 35:28 "Because he should have remained in the city of his
refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the
high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession."
This is very much like serving the sentence. When the high priest
dies, he is pardoned. While the high priest is alive, he must stay in
the city of refuge.
Numbers 35:29 "So these [things] shall be for a statute of
judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings."
This is just one more commandment that the LORD gave these people
to help them live peaceable lives together. God gave civil laws,
dietary laws, as well as religious laws that they must live by. The
LORD was their only law. They did not have an earthly king.
Numbers 35:30 "Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be
put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not
testify against any person [to cause him] to die."
This is just saying in the matter of death, there must be more
than one witness. A person could not be convicted with just one
witness.
Numbers 35:31 "Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the
life of a murderer, which [is] guilty of death: but he shall be surely
put to death."
This is saying, have no mercy on him who commits murder. If he is
guilty of premeditated murder, he must be put to death.
Numbers 35:32 "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."
This is, also, saying, do not pardon someone before they have
served out their sentence. He must stay in the city of refuge, until
the LORD says his sentence is over, by the death of the high priest.
Numbers 35:33 "So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye [are]:
for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the
blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it."
The sin of murder is actually a sin against God, and the life He
placed in that person. Sin pollutes the land. Only by the shedding of
blood, can sins be washed away.
Numbers 35:34 "Defile not therefore the land which ye shall
inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of
Israel."
He is saying, "Be ye holy for I am holy. He will not dwell in a
polluted land. He left the land of Israel, just before the Babylonians
destroyed it. He will not inhabit a person proclaiming to be a
Christian, if there is sin in his life.
Numbers 43 Questions
1. Where was Moses, when he received this message from the LORD?
2. Where will they enter the promised land?
3. What would be the inheritance for the Levites?
4. Who would give them to them?
5. Why did the Levites need the suburbs?
6. How many feet outside the city was for their animals?
7. What does the author believe the other footage to be for?
8. How many cities of refuge would there be?
9. How many cities would the Levites have?
10. Why can we assume these will be small cities?
11. How many cities did each tribe give?
12. When shall they establish the cities of refuge?
13. Who were the cities of refuge for?
14. Who must the manslayer stand before to be judged?
15. Why was it necessary to have six cities of refuge?
16. How many cities of refuge would be on either side of the Jordan?
17. What were the names of the cities of refuge on the eastern side of
Jordan?
18. Who are the cities of refuge for?
19. If you hit someone with an instrument of iron, you have committed
_____________.
20. Murder is when you _________ to kill someone.
21. Who was the "revenger of blood" usually?
22. In our society, killing that is planned ahead of time is called
______________ __________.
23. Verses 22 and 23 are speaking of what kind of killing?
24. Who lived in the city of refuge?
25. How long must they stay there?
26. What happened, if they came out earlier?
27. Is the revenger guilty of murder?
28. Why did God give civil laws to these people?
29. In the matter of death, there must be ______ than _____ witness to
convict a person.
30. What is verse 31 saying?
31. What is verse 32 saying?
32. The sin of murder is actually against _______.
33. When will God not inhabit a person?
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