35:1 Moab A region east of the Dead Sea. See note on Num 21:11.

the Jordan across Jericho See note on 22:1.

35:2 the Israelites The other 11 tribes are all responsible for providing cities for the Levites, according to the size of each tribe (v. 8).

35:3 their pasturelands will be for their domestic animals While the Levites were not allotted land (18:23), they still needed places to live. They were allowed pasture land as well.

35:4 The pasturelands of The Hebrew word used here, migrash, refers to the pasture land, not farm land, on the outskirts of a settled area. The migrash was considered a part of the city; if people seeking refuge reached these lands outside the city walls, they were in safe territory (vv. 6, 26).

a thousand cubits The allotted land outside the city is roughly 500 yards from the wall all around the circumference of the city. A cubit is approximately 18 inches.

35:5 two thousand cubits Roughly 1,000 yards.

35:6 six cities of refuge These are explained further in vv. 9–34.

35:10 Canaan Canaan was the swath of land between the Mediterranean Sea and Jordan River that now consists of modern Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and, in some periods, Syria.

35:12 a redeemer The Hebrew word used here, go'el, refers to the nearest relative to whom fell the obligation to right a wrong on behalf of the family. One of the responsibilities was avenging the death of a family member. In the context of the cities of refuge and blood vengeance, the go'el ensures the execution of the offender. See note on Deut 19:6.

Go’el Word Study

stands before the community for judgment Describes a trial. If the judges deemed the homicide intentional, the go'el ensured the execution.

community The Hebrew word used here, edah, may denote a national panel of judges. According to Deut 19:11–12, the elders of the city of refuge would decide the case (compare Deut 16:18; 17:8). See note on Num 1:2.

35:13 six cities of refuge These would be shared with and maintained by the Levites, who were the primary residents of the six cities (v. 6).

35:14 across the Jordan The Transjordan, where the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh would later settle (ch. 32).

35:15 to the alien, and to the temporary resident The stranger (ger) and sojourner (toshav) were two types of temporary residents, although the distinction between the two terms is unclear from the biblical text.

anyone who unintentionally kills a person See vv. 22–23 for three examples of involuntary homicide.

35:19 when meeting him The avenger (go’el) was not to engage the accused until the sentence was pronounced, lest he kill the accused in anger before the sentence is determined.

35:25 will restore him to the city of Presumably, the accused fled to the nearest city of refuge, where he or she was protected, then returned to his or her hometown for trial. After the homicide was deemed accidental, the person was restored to the city of refuge—his or her new home.

until the death of the high priest When the court determined that the death was unintentional, offenders were returned to the city of refuge, where they stayed until the death of the high priest at the time of the event. As long as they did so, they remained safe from the avenger (go'el in Hebrew; see Num 35:12).

35:26 surely goes out of the territory of The six cites of refuge included the city proper, but also 2,000 cubits (1,000 yards) of pastureland in every direction (vv. 3–5). Although the manslayer was confined to his or her city, they were not under house arrest or limited to a particular set of residential or city walls.

35:27 he will not be guilty of blood If those protected by the law forfeit that protection, the avenger is free to act upon his right of vengeance. However, he is not required to do so.

35:30 someone cannot die on testimony of one person At least two witnesses were required to establish guilt in a capital case (compare Deut 17:6; 19:15).

35:31 you will not take a ransom payment Those who intentionally killed had to be killed through capital punishment; ransom for that person’s life was rejected.

35:32 the one that flees to the city of his refuge Residence in the city of refuge was the resolution of the matter.