Setting - God tells Moses to potion some of the inherited land of each tribe to the Levites. God also lays out the rules for the city of refuge (for those who innocently killed someone and aliens) and the punishment for murder.
Content - God allocates six cities for refuge for the Levites as well as additional 42 cities. The cities were for sojourning aliens and individuals who have killed someone unintentionally. If the congregation does not convict the man who unintentionally killed someone, then he is to stay in the city of refuge until the high priest of that city dies. At which time, the individual may return to there land of possession.
For the murderer, if he is found guilty (more than one witness is required, v. 30) he will be put to death. God states that blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made except for the blood that shed it (v. 33).
Application - God makes provision for those in ministry (Levites). In addition, the people (Israel in this case) were to allocate some of their inheritance for the Levites. We need to support those who are in ministry. Since they dedicate their lives to serving the Lord we need to support their devotion.
God also states clearly that an intentional act of murder is to be punished by the death of the perpetrator. Interesting that God also requires the individual who unintentionally killed someone to remain in the city refuge until the death of the high priest of that city. God doesn’t just dismiss the offense (by letting the individual return to the land of possession), but allows the individual to live but with confinement to the city of refuge. If the individual leaves the city of refuge and the blood avenger kills him, then the blood avenger isn’t guilty (v. 27).
We see that God takes seriously the death of an individual. Even under innocent circumstances there is still restrictions put upon the manslayer.
Content - God allocates six cities for refuge for the Levites as well as additional 42 cities. The cities were for sojourning aliens and individuals who have killed someone unintentionally. If the congregation does not convict the man who unintentionally killed someone, then he is to stay in the city of refuge until the high priest of that city dies. At which time, the individual may return to there land of possession.
For the murderer, if he is found guilty (more than one witness is required, v. 30) he will be put to death. God states that blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made except for the blood that shed it (v. 33).
Application - God makes provision for those in ministry (Levites). In addition, the people (Israel in this case) were to allocate some of their inheritance for the Levites. We need to support those who are in ministry. Since they dedicate their lives to serving the Lord we need to support their devotion.
God also states clearly that an intentional act of murder is to be punished by the death of the perpetrator. Interesting that God also requires the individual who unintentionally killed someone to remain in the city refuge until the death of the high priest of that city. God doesn’t just dismiss the offense (by letting the individual return to the land of possession), but allows the individual to live but with confinement to the city of refuge. If the individual leaves the city of refuge and the blood avenger kills him, then the blood avenger isn’t guilty (v. 27).
We see that God takes seriously the death of an individual. Even under innocent circumstances there is still restrictions put upon the manslayer.
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