Today’s passage instructed the Israelites to set aside six cities of refuge so that men who unintentionally killed another man would have a place to flee for protection. However, the cities were not to be a refuge for murderers. The language in this passage reminds us of the importance of having a biblical view of murder.
Opening:
In the quiet town of Cedar Falls, the local news carried a heavy story. A young man named Derek had been arrested for the murder of a convenience-store clerk during a robbery that went wrong. The evidence was clear. Derek had pulled the trigger.
At Grace Fellowship Church, a small group met on Wednesday night. Sarah, a soft-spoken nurse in her forties, spoke first. “Jesus told us to forgive seventy times seven. He showed mercy to the woman caught in adultery and to the thief on the cross. If we claim to follow Christ, how can we demand the harshest punishment? Derek needs rehabilitation, counseling, a second chance—not a lifetime behind bars or worse.”
Others nodded in agreement. They expressed compassion for Derek and spoke about how tragic it would be for a young man to spend years in jail. They decided to sign a petition calling for a reduced sentence and for Derek to be assigned to a restorative-justice program. They prayed for Derek’s repentance.
This is a common mentality in today’s society. However, it clashes with the Biblical view of murder. This view is clearly expressed in the 35th chapter of Numbers.
Biblical Background:
After Cain killed Abel, Yahweh told Cain that Abel’s blood was crying out to Him from the ground (see Genesis 4:10). After the flood, God decreed that whoever sheds man’s blood should be put to death (see Genesis 9:6). Shortly after Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt, He gave them the ten commandments, one of which was a prohibition against murder (see Exodus 20:13). The Mosaic Law called for murderers to be put to death (see Exodus 21:12 and Leviticus 24:17).
There was also a distinction in the law between intentionally murdering someone and accidentally killing a person (see Exodus 21:12-15). When Moses received the law at Mount Sinai, including the instructions about using the death penalty, Yahweh promised to provide a place where men who accidentally killed another man could flee and receive protection. Today’s passage spelled out how that protection was to be provided.
Num. 35:9 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num. 35:10 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
Num. 35:11 then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has struck down any person unintentionally may flee there.
Notice the word “unintentionally”. The cities of refuge were intended for those who accidentally killed another person.
Num. 35:12 And the cities shall be for you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
Num. 35:13 And the cities which you are to give shall be your six cities of refuge.
Num. 35:14 You shall give three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be cities of refuge.
There were to be three cities on the east side of the Jordan River and three on the west side of the Jordan River.
Num. 35:15 These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel and for the sojourner and for the foreign resident among them; that anyone who strikes a person down unintentionally may flee there.
Take note of the words “sons of Israel”, “sojourner” and “foreign”. These cities protected everyone, not just the Israelites.
Num. 35:16 ¶ ‘But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
Here we see the words “murderer” and “death”. There was to be no mercy for those who deliberately killed a man.
Num. 35:17 And if he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
Num. 35:18 Or if he struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
Num. 35:19 The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he shall put him to death when he meets him.
Num. 35:20 And if he pushed him of hatred or threw something at him lying in wait and as a result he died,
Look at the word “hatred”. When hatred was the cause of death, the murderer had to be put to death.
Num. 35:21 or if he struck him down with his hand in enmity, and as a result he died, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death; he is a murderer; the blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
Num. 35:22 ¶ ‘But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity or threw something at him without lying in wait,
Here we see the word “without”. When there was a death, and there was no enmity or no lying in wait, then it was not murder, and the death penalty was not required. In fact, in those situations it was prohibited.
Num. 35:23 or with any stone—by which one might die, yet without seeing—and it fell upon him, and he died, but he was not his enemy nor seeking his injury,
Num. 35:24 then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the blood avenger according to these legal judgments.
Look at the words “judge” and “legal judgments”. When a man fled to a city of refuge, the city of refuge was not to assume the man fleeing was being truthful. A trial was to be held to decide guilt or innocence.
Num. 35:25 And the congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he fled; and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
Num. 35:26 But if the manslayer at any time goes beyond the border of his city of refuge to which he may flee,
Num. 35:27 and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger kills the manslayer, he will not be guilty of blood
Num. 35:28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer shall return to the land of his possession.
Num. 35:29 ¶ ‘And these things shall be for a statutory judgment to you throughout your generations in all your places of habitation.
Num. 35:30 ¶ ‘If anyone strikes down a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the mouth of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
There was also a provision that one eyewitness was not enough. There had to be multiple eyewitnesses in order to justify putting a man to death.
Num. 35:31 Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death.
There were certain times the Israelites could ransom themselves. However, they could not ransom themselves if they committed murder. A murderer had to be put to death, no exceptions.
Num. 35:32 And you shall not take ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to live in the land before the death of the priest.
Num. 35:33 So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land, and no propitiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.
Notice the word “pollute”. Murder pollutes the land.
Look at the last phrase which begins with the word “except”. The only way to remove the pollution in the land was by the blood of the person who committed murder and polluted the land.
Num. 35:34 And you shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I Yahweh am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel.’”
Ponder the command to not defile the land. If the Israelites did not put murderers to death, they would defile the land.
Conclusion:
The Mosaic Law does not apply to 21st century Christians. However, Genesis 9:6 has never been rescinded. The command in Genesis 9:6 to put murderers to death was not given to a subset of humanity as was the Mosaic Law. Nor is there a verse later in the Bible which overrides Genesis 9:6.
Furthermore, the book of Romans calls government an avenger from God who brings wrath on those who do evil. Paul reminded the Romans that the government has a sword for a reason (see Romans 13:1-4). Government is authorized to carry out the death penalty on those who commit murder. Genesis 9:6 still applies today. When people intentionally murder another person, they should be put to death.
Closing:
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”