Numbers 35:11 - then you shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the man slayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.
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What does "Numbers 35:11" mean?
Numbers 35:11 is part of a set of instructions about setting up "cities of refuge" in the land promised to the Israelites. The verse specifically means:
"then you shall appoint for yourselves cities...": This is a command from God to the Israelites to designate certain cities within their territory for a specific purpose.
"...to be cities of refuge for you...": These designated cities were to serve as places of sanctuary, offering protection to certain individuals.
"...that the man slayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.": The key provision here is for someone who has killed another person accidentally or unintentionally ("unwittingly"). This person, the "man slayer," could flee to one of these cities of refuge to avoid the immediate vengeance of the victim's family.
In simpler terms:
God is instructing the Israelites to create safe havens – cities of refuge – where someone who accidentally kills another person can go to escape being killed by the victim's relatives. It's an early form of legal protection in cases of accidental death, recognizing a difference between intentional murder and unintentional manslaughter.
Important Context:
Blood Vengeance: In ancient cultures, including the ancient Near East, the victim's family had the right (and often the obligation) to seek revenge and kill the person who killed their relative. This was known as "blood vengeance."
Protection, Not Exoneration: The city of refuge offered temporary protection. The person was not automatically cleared of guilt. They would later be subject to a trial to determine if the killing was truly accidental.
Limited Term: Even if deemed accidental, the person was typically required to stay in the city of refuge until the death of the current high priest. After that, they were allowed to return to their home.
In summary, Numbers 35:11 establishes the concept of cities of refuge as a way to mitigate the harshness of blood vengeance in cases of accidental manslaughter, providing a legal process and a safe haven for the unintentional killer.
Numbers 35:11 - then you shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the man slayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.
What does "Numbers 35:11" mean?
Numbers 35:11 is part of a set of instructions about setting up "cities of refuge" in the land promised to the Israelites. The verse specifically means:
"then you shall appoint for yourselves cities...": This is a command from God to the Israelites to designate certain cities within their territory for a specific purpose.
"...to be cities of refuge for you...": These designated cities were to serve as places of sanctuary, offering protection to certain individuals.
"...that the man slayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.": The key provision here is for someone who has killed another person accidentally or unintentionally ("unwittingly"). This person, the "man slayer," could flee to one of these cities of refuge to avoid the immediate vengeance of the victim's family.
In simpler terms:
God is instructing the Israelites to create safe havens – cities of refuge – where someone who accidentally kills another person can go to escape being killed by the victim's relatives. It's an early form of legal protection in cases of accidental death, recognizing a difference between intentional murder and unintentional manslaughter.
Important Context:
Blood Vengeance: In ancient cultures, including the ancient Near East, the victim's family had the right (and often the obligation) to seek revenge and kill the person who killed their relative. This was known as "blood vengeance."
Protection, Not Exoneration: The city of refuge offered temporary protection. The person was not automatically cleared of guilt. They would later be subject to a trial to determine if the killing was truly accidental.
Limited Term: Even if deemed accidental, the person was typically required to stay in the city of refuge until the death of the current high priest. After that, they were allowed to return to their home.
In summary, Numbers 35:11 establishes the concept of cities of refuge as a way to mitigate the harshness of blood vengeance in cases of accidental manslaughter, providing a legal process and a safe haven for the unintentional killer.