Year 1, Week 19, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 19, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Numbers 34-35.

Today’s reading outlines land details concerning the Promised Land. As the new generation enters their new Land, the location of where they will dwell has already been allotted for them. The taking of the new census recorded back in Numbers 26 played a part in determining where each tribe would reside. Numbers 34 provides the geographical survey of the entire area that would comprise the nation of Israel, that is the nine and a half tribes, but not the two and a half tribes who will live east of the Jordan River: "This is the land that you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe…The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, toward the sunrise.” (Numbers 34:13,15). Numbers 35 provides a listing of the forty-eight cities, running throughout the land, which are designated for the Levites. While the Levites were not given tribal allotments of land, they were provided cities in which they would live. Numbers 35 also directs the Israelites to designate six of the forty-eight Levitical cities to serve as cities of refuge.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the LORD’s provision of cities of refuge. These cities of refuge not only served to provide a means for discerning murder from manslaughter, they also pointed to the refuge that God provided to all who look to Him—a refuge from the holy vengeance of God’s justice: “The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” (Psalm 34:18). Since the LORD would be dwelling with His people in the Land, it was crucial that the people not defile the land: “You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the LORD dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.” (Numbers 35:34). The land could be defiled in any number of ways, but today’s reading explored defiling the land by the taking of life: “You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.” (Numbers 35:33). Ironically, it would be through blood sacrifice that the Land could be cleansed, but it was also through blood, that is the taking of a life, that the Land could be defiled. The Priests would be involved in cleansing the Land by offering blood sacrifices, but also in determining the defilement of the Land through their role in deciphering the guilt or innocence of someone charged with intentional murder. 

The cities of refuge were places to flee when someone was involved in the death of another. The deceased next of kin would avenge the death of his relative. Thus, the cities of refuge were first of all a place to flee until the fuller facts surrounding the death could be determined: “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). The relative seeking to avenge the death, could not enter the city of refuge and execute judgement. The congregation would seek to determine if the death was intentional or unintentional. If it was determined to be intentional: “He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.” (Numbers 35:21). On the other hand, if it was determined to be unintentional, vengeance could not be carried out: “the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood, in accordance with these rules.” (Numbers 35:24). When the taking of life was determined to he unintentional, the one who took a life would be free from harm, but they would be restricted to stay in the city of refuge until the death of the High Priest: “the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.” (Numbers 35:25). If he left the city beforehand, the next of kin took up vengeance. 

The cities of refuge provided for a fair and just process for differentiating between intentional murder and involuntary manslaughter. Both the murdered and the manslaughterer took a life and thus had consequences to face, but the consequences differed based upon intent. As the LORD established with Noah, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” (Genesis 9:6); however, this concerned intentional murder: “Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death.” (Numbers 35:31). Nevertheless, the High Priest provided refuge for the manslaugtherer, for when the High Priest died, the manslaughterer would be free to leave the city of refuge and return home. His sin had been atoned for by the death of the High Priest. This reality was a preview: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe