Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Numbers 35

Num 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.

that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance

Jos 14:3, 4; 21:2. Eze 45:1; 48:8-14.

Num 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.

suburbs

i.e. pasture grounds.

Num 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.

cubit

One cubit = 1ft. 5.48in.; also Num 35:5.

Num 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.

cities for refuge

The cities of refuge are types of Christ sheltering the sinner from judgment (Psalms 46:1; 142:5; Isaiah 4:6; Exodus 21:13; Deuteronomy 19:2-9; Romans 8:1, 33, 34; Philippians 3:9; Hebrews 6:18, 19).

Num 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.

unawares

i.e. by error; unwittingly.

Num 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.

avenger

Hebrew goel, Redemption (Kinsman type).Scofield Isaiah 59:20, note.

that the manslayer die not

Deu 19:6; Jos 20:3, 5, 6.

Num 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 cities on this side Jordan

Deu 4:41; Jos 20:8.

Num 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.

if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer

Exo 21:12, 14; Lev 24:17; Deu 19:11, 12.

Num 35:19 The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

revenger [See also Num 35:21, 24, 25, 27.]

Hebrew goel, Redemption (Kinsman type).Scofield Isaiah 59:20, note.

Num 35:20 But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;

by laying of wait, that he die

Exo 21:14; Deu 19:11.

Num 35:22 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,

thrust him suddenly without enmity

Exo 21:13.

Num 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.

which was anointed with the holy oil

Exo 29:7; Lev 4:3; 21:10.

Num 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.

the mouth of witnesses

Deu 17:6; 19:15; Mat 18:16; 2Co 13:1; Heb 10:28.

Num 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.

satisfaction

i.e. ransom.

Num 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.

blood it defileth the land

Psa 106:38; Mic 4:11.

cleansed of the blood

Or, have atonement made for.

by the blood of him that shed it

Gen 9:6.

Num 35:34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel

Exo 29:45, 46.