Numbers 35:6 (KJV)

What does Numbers 35:6 mean?

Numbers 35:6 explains that out of the cities given to the Levites, six are to be set aside as cities of refuge where someone who has killed another person unintentionally (a "manslayer") can flee for safety. In addition to these six, forty-two more cities are to be given to the Levites, making a total of forty-eight cities.

In this verse, God is instructing Moses to tell the Israelites how to distribute cities to the Levite tribe, who did not receive a specific territory of their own. The six cities of refuge are a special provision for justice and mercy, allowing someone accused of causing a death to escape immediate revenge and await a fair trial. This arrangement is part of a larger set of laws about land, justice, and the special role of the Levites among the tribes of Israel.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 35:6

• The word for "refuge" is מִקְלָט (miqlat), which means a place of shelter or protection. This highlights that these cities are meant to be safe havens, not just ordinary towns.
• The term for "manslayer" is רֹצֵחַ (rotseach), which refers specifically to someone who has killed another, often understood as unintentionally or without premeditation. This distinction is important because these cities were not meant for murderers, but for those involved in accidental deaths.
• The verb "flee" is נוּס (nus), meaning to escape or run away. This word emphasizes the urgency and need for safety for the person seeking refuge.

Why Numbers 35:6 matters

• Numbers 35:6 clarifies that the Levites, though landless, were given a significant presence throughout Israel with forty-eight cities, showing their important spiritual and social role.
• The verse introduces the concept of cities of refuge, which balances justice (protecting the accused from revenge) with the need for a fair legal process, a unique feature in ancient law.
• This verse sets up later explanations in Numbers 35 about how these cities function, connecting the Levites’ responsibilities with the broader themes of mercy, justice, and community in Israel.