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Selected Verse: Numbers 35:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Nu 35:6	Strong Concordance	And among the cities [05892] which ye shall give [05414] unto the Levites [03881] there shall be six [08337] cities [05892] for refuge [04733], which ye shall appoint [05414] for the manslayer [07523], that he may flee [05127] thither: and to them ye shall add [05414] forty [0705] and two [08147] cities [05892].
	King James	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.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
CITIES OF REFUGE. (Num 35:6-8) there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer--The establishment of those privileged sanctuaries among the cities of the Levites is probably traceable to the idea, that they would be the most suitable and impartial judges--that their presence and counsels might calm or restrain the stormy passions of the blood avenger--and that, from their being invested with the sacred character, they might be types of Christ, in whom sinners find a refuge from the destroyer (see Deu 4:43; Jos 20:8).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

CITIES OF REFUGE. (Num 35:6-8)

there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer--The establishment of those privileged sanctuaries among the cities of the Levites is probably traceable to the idea, that they would be the most suitable and impartial judges--that their presence and counsels might calm or restrain the stormy passions of the blood avenger--and that, from their being invested with the sacred character, they might be types of Christ, in whom sinners find a refuge from the destroyer (see Deu 4:43; Jos 20:8).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The Levitical cities were in an special manner the Lord's; and therefore the places of refuge, where the manslayer might remain under the protection of a special institution devised by divine mercy, were appropriately selected from among them. No doubt also the Priests and Levites would be the fittest persons to administer the law in the doubtful cases which would be sure to occur: compare Num 35:24 note.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
refuge The cities of refuge are types of Christ sheltering the sinner from judgment. (Psa 46:1); (Psa 142:5); (Isa 4:6); (Exo 21:13); (Deu 19:2-9); (Rom 8:1); (Rom 8:33); (Rom 8:34); (Phi 3:9); (Heb 6:18); (Heb 6:19).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Of these cities which were given up to the Levites, six were to serve as cities of refuge (see at Num 35:12) for manslayers, and in addition to these (עליהם, over upon them) the Israelites were to give of their possessions forty-two others, that is to say, forty-eight in all; and they were to do this, giving much from every tribe that had much, and little from the one which had little (Num 26:54). With the accusatives הערים את and ערי שׁשׁ עת (Num 35:6), the writer has already in his mind the verbs תּרבּוּ and תּמעיטוּ of Num 35:8, where he takes up the object again in the word והערים. According to Josh 21, the Levites received nine cities in the territory of Judah and Simeon, four in the territory of each of the other tribes, with the exception of Naphtali, in which there were only three, that is to say, ten in the land to the east of the Jordan, and thirty-eight in Canaan proper, of which the thirteen given up by Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin were assigned to the families of the priests, and the other thirty-five to the three Levitical families. This distribution of the Levites among all the tribes - by which the curse of division and dispersion in Israel, which had been pronounced upon Levi in Jacob's blessing (Gen 49:7), was changed into a blessing both for the Levites themselves and also for all Israel - was in perfect accordance with the election and destination of this tribe. Called out of the whole nation to be the peculiar possession of Jehovah, to watch over His covenant, and teach Israel His rights and His law (Deu 33:9-10; Lev 10:11; Deu 31:9-13), the Levites were to form and set forth among all the tribes the ἐκλογή of the nation of Jehovah's possession, and by their walk as well as by their calling to remind the Israelites continually of their own divine calling; to foster and preserve the law and testimony of the Lord in Israel, and to awaken and spread the fear of God and piety among all the tribes. Whilst their distribution among all the tribes corresponded to this appointment, the fact that they were not scattered in all the towns and villages of the other tribes, but were congregated together in separate towns among the different tribes, preserved them from the disadvantages of standing alone, and defended them from the danger of moral and spiritual declension. Lastly, in the number forty-eight, the quadrupling of the number of the tribes (twelve) is unmistakeable. Now, as the number four is the seal of the kingdom of God in the world, the idea of the kingdom of God is also represented in the four times twelve towns (cf. Bhr, Symbolik, ii. pp. 50, 51).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Cities for refuge - Or, of escape for manslayers: And these cities are assigned among the Levites, partly because they might be presumed to be the most proper and impartial judges between man - slayers, and wilful murderers; partly because their presence and authority would more effectually bridle the passions of the avenger of blood who might pursue him thither; and perhaps to signify, that it is only in Christ (whom the Levitical priests represented) that sinners find refuge and safety from the destroyer.

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⁸ And on the other side [05676] Jordan [03383] by Jericho [03405] eastward [04217], they assigned [05414] Bezer [01221] in the wilderness [04057] upon the plain [04334] out of the tribe [04294] of Reuben [07205], and Ramoth [07216] in Gilead [01568] out of the tribe [04294] of Gad [01410], and Golan [01474] in Bashan [01316] out of the tribe [04294] of Manasseh [04519].

⁴³ Namely, Bezer [01221] in the wilderness [04057], in the plain [04334] country [0776], of the Reubenites [07206]; and Ramoth [07216] in Gilead [01568], of the Gadites [01425]; and Golan [01474] in Bashan [01316], of the Manassites [04520].

⁶ And among the cities [05892] which ye shall give [05414] unto the Levites [03881] there shall be six [08337] cities [05892] for refuge [04733], which ye shall appoint [05414] for the manslayer [07523], that he may flee [05127] thither: and to them ye shall add [05414] forty [0705] and two [08147] cities [05892].
⁷ So all the cities [05892] which ye shall give [05414] to the Levites [03881] shall be forty [0705] and eight [08083] cities [05892]: them shall ye give with their suburbs [04054].
⁸ And the cities [05892] which ye shall give [05414] shall be of the possession [0272] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: from them that have many [07227] ye shall give many [07235]; but from them that have few [04592] ye shall give few [04591]: every one [0376] shall give [05414] of his cities [05892] unto the Levites [03881] according [06310] to his inheritance [05159] which he inheriteth [05157].

²⁴ Then the congregation [05712] shall judge [08199] between the slayer [05221] and the revenger [01350] of blood [01818] according to these judgments [04941]:

¹⁹ Which [3739] hope we have [2192] as [5613] an anchor [45] of the soul [5590], both [5037] sure [804] and [2532] stedfast [949], and [2532] which entereth [1525] into [1519] that within [2082] the veil [2665];

¹⁸ That [2443] by [1223] two [1417] immutable [276] things [4229], in [1722] which [3739] it was impossible [102] for God [2316] to lie [5574], we might have [2192] a strong [2478] consolation [3874], who [3588] have fled for refuge [2703] to lay hold [2902] upon the hope [1680] set before us [4295]:

⁹ And [2532] be found [2147] in [1722] him [846], not [3361] having [2192] mine own [1699] righteousness [1343], which [3588] is of [1537] the law [3551], but [235] that which [3588] is through [1223] the faith [4102] of Christ [5547], the righteousness [1343] which [3588] is of [1537] God [2316] by [1909] faith [4102]:

³⁴ Who [5101] is he that condemneth [2632]? It is Christ [5547] that died [599], yea [1161] rather [3123] [2532], that is risen again [1453], who [3739] is [2076] even [2532] at [1722] the right hand [1188] of God [2316], who [3739] also [2532] maketh intercession [1793] for [5228] us [2257].

³³ Who [5101] shall lay any thing [1458] to the charge [2596] of God's [2316] elect [1588]? It is God [2316] that justifieth [1344].

¹ There is therefore [686] now [3568] no [3762] condemnation [2631] to them which are in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424], who walk [4043] not [3361] after [2596] the flesh [4561], but [235] after [2596] the Spirit [4151].

² Thou shalt separate [0914] three [07969] cities [05892] for thee in the midst [08432] of thy land [0776], which the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] giveth [05414] thee to possess [03423] it.
³ Thou shalt prepare [03559] thee a way [01870], and divide the coasts [01366] of thy land [0776], which the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] giveth thee to inherit [05157], into three parts [08027], that every slayer [07523] may flee [05127] thither.
⁴ And this is the case [01697] of the slayer [07523], which shall flee [05127] thither, that he may live [02425]: Whoso killeth [05221] his neighbour [07453] ignorantly [01097] [01847], whom he hated [08130] not in time [08543] past [08032];
⁵ As when a man goeth [0935] into the wood [03293] with his neighbour [07453] to hew [02404] wood [06086], and his hand [03027] fetcheth a stroke [05080] with the axe [01631] to cut down [03772] the tree [06086], and the head [01270] slippeth [05394] from the helve [06086], and lighteth [04672] upon his neighbour [07453], that he die [04191]; he shall flee [05127] unto one [0259] of those cities [05892], and live [02425]:
⁶ Lest the avenger [01350] of the blood [01818] pursue [07291] the slayer [0310] [07523], while [03588] his heart [03824] is hot [03179], and overtake [05381] him, because the way [01870] is long [07235], and slay [05221] him [05315]; whereas he was not worthy [04941] of death [04194], inasmuch as [03588] he hated [08130] him not in time [08543] past [08032].
⁷ Wherefore I command [06680] thee, saying [0559], Thou shalt separate [0914] three [07969] cities [05892] for thee.
⁸ And if the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] enlarge [07337] thy coast [01366], as he hath sworn [07650] unto thy fathers [01], and give [05414] thee all the land [0776] which he promised [01696] to give [05414] unto thy fathers [01];
⁹ If thou shalt keep [08104] all these commandments [04687] to do [06213] them, which I command [06680] thee this day [03117], to love [0157] the LORD [03068] thy God [0430], and to walk [03212] ever [03117] in his ways [01870]; then shalt thou add [03254] three [07969] cities [05892] more for thee, beside these three [07969]:

¹³ And if a man lie not in wait [06658], but God [0430] deliver [0579] him into his hand [03027]; then I will appoint [07760] thee a place [04725] whither he shall flee [05127].

⁶ And there shall be a tabernacle [05521] for a shadow [06738] in the daytime [03119] from the heat [02721], and for a place of refuge [04268], and for a covert [04563] from storm [02230] and from rain [04306].

⁵ I cried [02199] unto thee, O LORD [03068]: I said [0559], Thou art my refuge [04268] and my portion [02506] in the land [0776] of the living [02416].

¹ To the chief Musician [05329] for the sons [01121] of Korah [07141], A Song [07892] upon Alamoth [05961]. God [0430] is our refuge [04268] and strength [05797], a very [03966] present [04672] help [05833] in trouble [06869].

⁹ And Moses [04872] wrote [03789] this law [08451], and delivered [05414] it unto the priests [03548] the sons [01121] of Levi [03878], which bare [05375] the ark [0727] of the covenant [01285] of the LORD [03068], and unto all the elders [02205] of Israel [03478].
¹⁰ And Moses [04872] commanded [06680] them, saying [0559], At the end [07093] of every seven [07651] years [08141], in the solemnity [04150] of the year [08141] of release [08059], in the feast [02282] of tabernacles [05521],
¹¹ When all Israel [03478] is come [0935] to appear [07200] before [06440] the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] in the place [04725] which he shall choose [0977], thou shalt read [07121] this law [08451] before all Israel [03478] in their hearing [0241].
¹² Gather [06950] the people [05971] together [06950], men [0582], and women [0802], and children [02945], and thy stranger [01616] that is within thy gates [08179], that they may hear [08085], and that they may learn [03925], and fear [03372] the LORD [03068] your God [0430], and observe [08104] to do [06213] all the words [01697] of this law [08451]:
¹³ And that their children [01121], which have not known [03045] any thing, may hear [08085], and learn [03925] to fear [03372] the LORD [03068] your God [0430], as long as [03117] ye live [02416] in the land [0127] whither ye go over [05674] Jordan [03383] to possess [03423] it.

¹¹ And that ye may teach [03384] the children [01121] of Israel [03478] all the statutes [02706] which the LORD [03068] hath spoken [01696] unto them by the hand [03027] of Moses [04872].

⁹ Who said [0559] unto his father [01] and to his mother [0517], I have not seen [07200] him; neither did he acknowledge [05234] his brethren [0251], nor knew [03045] his own children [01121]: for they have observed [08104] thy word [0565], and kept [05341] thy covenant [01285].
¹⁰ They shall teach [03384] Jacob [03290] thy judgments [04941], and Israel [03478] thy law [08451]: they shall put [07760] incense [06988] before [0639] thee, and whole burnt sacrifice [03632] upon thine altar [04196].

⁷ Cursed [0779] be their anger [0639], for it was fierce [05794]; and their wrath [05678], for it was cruel [07185]: I will divide [02505] them in Jacob [03290], and scatter [06327] them in Israel [03478].

⁸ And the cities [05892] which ye shall give [05414] shall be of the possession [0272] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: from them that have many [07227] ye shall give many [07235]; but from them that have few [04592] ye shall give few [04591]: every one [0376] shall give [05414] of his cities [05892] unto the Levites [03881] according [06310] to his inheritance [05159] which he inheriteth [05157].

⁵⁴ To many [07227] thou shalt give the more [07235] inheritance [05159], and to few [04592] thou shalt give the less [04591] inheritance [05159]: to every one [0376] shall his inheritance [05159] be given [05414] according [06310] to those that were numbered [06485] of him.

¹² And they shall be unto you cities [05892] for refuge [04733] from the avenger [01350]; that the manslayer [07523] die [04191] not, until he stand [05975] before [06440] the congregation [05712] in judgment [04941].