Numbers 35
1 Yahweh told this to Moses/me [while the Israeli people were] on the plain in the Moab region near the Jordan [River], across from Jericho:
And the Lord spoke these things also to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, over against Jericho:
2 “Tell the Israeli people that from the land that they will receive, they must give to the descendants of Levi some cities in which they can live. They must also give them some land around these cities.
Command the children of Israel that they give to the Levites out of their possessions,
3 Those will be for the descendants of Levi to live in, and around the cities will be land for their cattle and flocks of sheep and goats and other animals.
Cities to dwell in, and their suburbs round about: that they may abide in the towns, and the suburbs may be for their cattle and beasts:
4 “The land that you give them for their animals must extend out for (1,500 feet/450 meters) from the walls of the cities.
Which suburbs shall reach from the walls of the cities outward, a thousand paces on every side:
5 Also measure (3,000 feet/900 meters) in each direction out from the walls of each city. That additional land will be land for their animals outside the walls of the cities.”
Toward the east shall be two thousand cubits: and toward the south in like manner shall be two thousand cubits: toward the sea also, which looketh to the west, shall be the same extent: and the north side shall be bounded with the like limits. And the cities shall be in the midst, and the suburbs without.
6 “Six of the cities that you give to the descendants of Levi will be cities to which people [can run] to be safe. If someone [accidentally] kills someone else, the one who killed that person may run to one of those cities to be safe.
And among the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, six shall be separated for refuge to fugitives, that he who hath shed blood may flee to them: and besides these there shall be other forty-two cities,
7 You must also give to the descendants of Levi 42 other cities and the land around those cities, for their animals,
That is, in all forty-eight with their suburbs.
8 The Israeli tribes that have the most people must give them more cities than the tribes that have fewer people give. Each tribe must give some of its cities to the descendants of Levi, but the tribes that have more land must give more cities, and the tribes that have less land will give fewer cities.”
And of these cities which shall be given out of the possessions of the children of Israel, from them that have more, more shall be taken: and from them that have less, fewer. Each shall give towns to the Levites according to the extent of their inheritance.
9 Yahweh also said to Moses/me,
The Lord said to Moses:
10 “Tell this to the Israeli people: When you cross the Jordan [River] and enter the Canaan [region],
Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: When you shall have passed over the Jordan into the land of Chanaan,
11 you must choose some cities to which people can run to be safe/protected. If someone kills another person (accidentally/without planning to do that), the one who killed that person may run to one of those cities and be safe.
Determine what cities shall be for the refuge of fugitives, who have shed blood against their will.
12 One of the relatives of the person who was killed may think he must avenge his relative’s death [by killing the murderer]. But in that city, the killer will be safe [because the people in that city would kill those relatives if they tried to get revenge there]. The man who killed someone accidentally [must] be put on trial in a court.
And when the fugitive shall be in them, the kinsman of him that is slain may not have power to kill him, until he stand before the multitude, and his cause be judged.
13 You must set apart six cities to be cities to which someone who killed another person accidentally may run and be safe.
And of those cities, that are separated for the refuge of fugitives,
14 There must be three of those cities on the east side of the Jordan [River] and three that will be [on the west side], in the Canaan region.
Three shall be beyond the Jordan, and three in the land of Chanaan,
15 Those six cities will be cities where Israeli people may run to and be safe, and where foreigners and other people who are living among you can also run to and be safe. Any of those people who accidentally kills someone may run to one of those cities [and be safe/protected there].
As well for the children of Israel as for strangers and sojourners, that he may flee to them, who hath shed blood against his will.
16 “But [you must consider that] anyone who kills another person with an iron weapon or with a big rock or with a piece of wood, is a murderer, and the one who killed the other person must be executed.
If any man strike with iron, and he die that was struck: he shall be guilty of murder, and he himself shall die.
If he throw a stone, and he that is struck die: he shall be punished in the same manner.
If he that is struck with wood die: he shall be revenged by the blood of him that struck him.
19 A relative of the person who was murdered must be the one who executes the murderer as soon as he finds him.
The kinsman of him that was slain, shall kill the murderer: as soon as he apprehendeth him, he shall kill him.
20 If someone shoves another person [over a cliff] or throws something at another person
If through hatred any one push a man, or fling any thing at him with ill design:
21 or hits that person with his hand/fist and causes that person to die, if he did it because he hated that person, then you must consider that he is a murderer, and must be executed. A relative of the person who was killed must be the one who executes the murderer as soon as he finds him.
Or being his enemy, strike; him with his hand, and he die: the striker shall be guilty of murder: the kinsman of him that was slain as soon as he findeth him, shall kill him.
22 “But someone might accidentally shove someone else, or accidentally throw something at another person and hit him, not because he hates that person.
But if by chance medley, and without hatred,
23 Or he might drop a rock on someone that he did not see. If the one who does that does not plan to hurt anyone and does not hate the person that was killed,
And enmity, he do any of these things,
24 the people of that city must decide whether the relative of the dead person [has the right to get revenge], or whether the one who killed the other person [truly did it (accidentally/without planning to do it)].
And this be proved in the hearing of the people, and the cause be debated between him that struck, and the next of kin:
25 [If they decide that the killer planned to kill the other person, they must not allow him to stay in their city. But if they decide that it was done accidentally], they must protect the killer from being killed by the dead person’s relative. They must send the killer to one of the cities where he will be safe/protected, and allow him to stay there until the Supreme Priest dies. [After that, the killer may go back to his home, because the dead person’s relative no longer has the right to get revenge].
The innocent shall be delivered from the hand of the revenger, and shall be brought back by sentence into the city, to which he had fled, and he shall abide there until the death of the high priest, that is anointed with the holy oil.
26 “But [while the Supreme Priest is still living], the person who is in that safe city must not leave that city.
If the murderer be found without the limits of the cities that are appointed for the banished,
27 If he goes outside the city, and if a relative of the dead person finds him, that relative is permitted to kill that person, [and people will not consider that the relative is guilty of murder.]
And be struck by him that is the avenger of blood: he shall not be guilty that killed him.
28 The killer must stay in that city where he will be safe/protected until the Supreme Priest dies. [He will be safe from revenge after that, because the death of the Supreme Priest will be considered to be a sacrifice to atone for that murder]. After that, the killer may return to his home.
For the fugitive ought to have stayed in the city until the death of the high priest: and after he is dead, then shall the manslayer return to his own country.
29 “You must always obey those regulations, wherever you live.
These things shall be perpetual, and for an ordinance in all your dwellings.
30 “If someone [is accused of] killing another person, the one who is accused may be executed only if there are people who saw him do it. There must be more than one witness; no one is permitted to be executed if there was only one (witness/person who saw him do it).
The murderer shall be punished by witnesses: none shall be condemned upon the evidence of one man.
31 “If there is a murderer who truly should be executed, do not [spare his life by] accepting (a ransom/money for him not to be killed). He must be executed.
You shall not take money of him that is guilty of blood, but he shall die forthwith.
32 “If someone has run to a city where he will be safe/protected, do not allow him to give you money in order that you will permit him to return to his home before the Supreme Priest dies.
The banished and fugitives before the death of the high priest may by no means return into their own cities.
33 “You must execute people who truly murder others. If you did not do that, you would be causing the people who live in the land to become unacceptable to me. Anyone who deliberately kills an innocent person must be executed.
Defile not the land of your habitation, which is stained with the blood of the innocent: neither can it otherwise be expiated, but by his blood that hath shed the blood of another.
34 I am Yahweh, and I live among you Israelis, so do not spoil/pollute the land by allowing people to murder others without being punished.”
And thus shall your possession he cleansed, myself abiding with you. For I am the Lord that dwell among the children of Israel.
