May the mumbling commence!
In the last chapters of Numbers, there is a strong call to respect human life and care for the land. Chapter 35 speaks to the Levitical cities of refuge. Six cities were set aside to be cities of refuge. Three were on the east side of the Jordan, and three were to be in Canaan. The cities of refuge would protect someone who murders another accidentally from the avenger of blood.
The avenger of blood is not given much of a description, other than this person would seek out the murderer and kill him. If this act is done outside of a city of refuge, then the avenger of blood would not be guilty of murder. As verses 33 and 34 state at the end of chapter 35, the spilling of human blood pollutes the land. This idea harkens back to the murder of Abel by Cain. While Cain was doomed to wander the earth because the land would no longer produce for him, Cain was given a mark so that no one would avenge Abel’s death. These last two verses of Numbers 35 calls for the blood of the murderer to make atonement and cleanse the land from the pollution.
So, why would the Lord command Israel to have cities of refuge at all? It is because of the sanctity of human life. All people are made in the image of God – even those we think may be guilty of premeditated or intentional murder. Verse thirty clearly states that no one can be put to death on the witness of only one person. Here lies the thought of innocent until proven guilty by trial before the assembly (verse 12). And, this law was the one that gave the Jewish leadership fits when they were trying to give the death penalty to Jesus. They struggled to find two witnesses who could agree on a specific charge.
So, the murderer must flee to the nearest city of refuge and stand trial. The murderer must stay within the city limits, because the avenger of blood may kill him without being guilty of murder if the avenger finds him outside of the city of refuge. But if the person who murdered is found guilty of premeditation or intent to kill (as recorded in verses 16-21), then it seems to follow that the murderer would not be given refuge in the city. The murderer would be put to death.
But, even if the person is found devoid of premeditation or intent to kill (as recorded in verses 22-25), that person must remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Otherwise, the avenger of blood could kill the person without being guilty of murder. No ransoms would be accepted for either the murderer or the innocent who would leave the city of refuge (verses 31-32).
As we have seen elsewhere, these laws were not only for Israelite people. These laws were also to protect the aliens and the other people living among Israel. There is only one law – both for Israel and for all humanity. Wanton killing of people would defile the land where God dwelt with the people of Israel. To defile the land in this way was unacceptable. Remember: the land belongs to the Lord, its Creator. Let’s remember the sanctity of human life.
In the last chapter of Numbers, the case of Zelophehad’s daughters comes up again. Fair distribution of the Promised Land is also essential. Owning land is a form of wealth in most societies – that is why it is so important. The tribe of Manasseh came to Moses with a concern. What if Zelophehad’s daughters married outside of the tribe? Wouldn’t their possessions transfer to their husbands? Wouldn’t that mean that some of the allotment for Manasseh would become another tribe’s possession?
The Lord also saw the wisdom in this, and another precedent was set. Any daughter who receives her father’s inheritance of land must marry within the tribe of her father. No land was to pass permanently from one tribe to the other. So, Mahlah and Tirzah and Hoglah and Milcah and Noah all married within their father’s tribe at the command of the Lord through Moses.
As we think about the fair distribution of land, let’s remember the concept of Jubilee. Once again, all creation belongs to the great Creator. We only receive from God on loan from our children and grandchildren. And the whole Spirit of Jubilee is concerned with a fair distribution of wealth. Some may shout: “Communism!” But, the Lord commands that we be concerned not only for our own well being (Hebrew SHALOM) but also for the well being of all people. So, instead of scrambling for “my” stuff in a worldview of scarcity, let’s rejoice in the provision of God.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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