52: Levitical Cities and the Cities of Refuge (Num 35)

Now, two more chapters are to finish Numbers. Compared with Leviticus, which focuses on the priesthood and offerings, Numbers focuses on the Levitical codes and the inheritance of the land.

πŸ‘‰ Read Numbers 35:1 - 34

Each tribe will contribute some of its own towns to the Levites in proportion to its (              ). A total of (           ) towns will be given to the Levites.

 

It was OK to kill an intentional murderer without a court trial. (T or F)

Any accidental killer should flee to one of the cities of refuge and prove his innocence in court. (T or F)

He can return to his hometown after his innocence is proven. (T or F)

 

Until when the accident slayer should stay in the City of Refuge? And why? (28, 33)

 

Why does God want the land not to be defiled by blood? (34)

 

Answers and Meditations

Inheritance, 48

In this way, the Lord made the Levitical towns evenly spread throughout the land. The Levites should not live far away from anyone so that they could teach and guide the other Israelites in the Law.

 

True

Later, the person who punished the murderer should prove his act was proper. 

True

False

 

He must stay in the city of refuge he has fled until the high priest dies.

Why? The high priest’s death expiates the death of the innocent victim.

 

It was not to defile the land that the Lord resides.

The land of Canaan was chosen by God. And God’s residence among His people was there. That’s why they should live holy in the land where God reigned. The rule of the city of refuge portrays the rule of God's kingdom. 

  • God provides a way of living when you make unintentional mistakes. Run to the City of Refuge: Jesus Christ and the faith community.
  • Though the death was accidental, they lost their beloved one. This is not right. You are free from persecution but not from the burden of innocent death. Therefore, you cannot return to your hometown. 
  • The high priest’s death will expiate the death and release you from the burden of your mistake.
  • This shows the nature of the kingdom of God: God's protection and redemptive sacrifice. The land of Canaan was where God’s dominion came.

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