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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 35:14 Select three cities across the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan as cities of refuge.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/35-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/04_Num_35_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 35:14 - Six Cities of Refuge" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Select three cities across the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan as cities of refuge." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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they are to be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/35.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216You shall give three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/35.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘You shall give three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/35.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />You shall give three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/35.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />You shall provide three cities on this [east] side of the Jordan [River], and three [more] cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be the cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/35.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Select three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan to be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/35.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Select three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan to be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/35.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Ye shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/35.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />three on each side of the Jordan River. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/35.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Ye shall give three cities beyond Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/35.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />three on the east side of the Jordan River and three in Canaan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/35.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />three east of the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/35.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Appoint three towns this side of the Jordan River and three towns in the land of Canaan to serve as the towns of refuge, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/35.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Select three cities across the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan as cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/35.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"You must give three towns on this side of the Jordan, and you must give three towns in the land of Canaan; they must be towns of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/35.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and you shall give three cities in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/35.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall give three cities on this side of Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/35.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and you shall give three cities in the land of Canaan. They shall be cities of refuge. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/35.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />three of the cities you give from beyond the Jordan, and three of the cities you give in the land of Canaan; they are cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/35.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> the three of the cities ye give beyond the Jordan, and the three of the cities ye give in the land of Canaan; cities of refuge they are.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/35.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Three cities shall ye give from beyond Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; cities of refuge shall they be.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/35.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Three shall be beyond the Jordan, and three in the land of Chanaan, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/35.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />three shall be across the Jordan, and three in the land of Canaan,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/35.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />you will designate three cities beyond the Jordan, and you will designate three cities in the land of Canaan. These will be cities of asylum.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/35.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />you shall designate three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/35.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You shall give three cities on this side of the Jordan, and three cities you shall give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/35.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Give three cities at the crossing of Jordan and give three cities in the land of Canaan; the cities of the place of refuge shall be.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/35.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Ye shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/35.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall assign three cities on the other side of Jordan, and ye shall assign three cities in the land of Chanaan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/35-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=10822" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/35.htm">Six Cities of Refuge</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">13</span>The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge. <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’êṯ (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7969.htm" title="7969: šə·lōš (Number-fsc) -- A three, triad. Or shalosh; masculine shlowshah; or shloshah; a primitive number; three; occasionally third, or Thrice.">Select three</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: he·‘ā·rîm (Art:: N-fp) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">cities</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: tit·tə·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5676.htm" title="5676: mê·‘ê·ḇer (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- Region across or beyond, side. From abar; properly, a region across; but used only adverbially on the opposite side.">across</a> <a href="/hebrew/3383.htm" title="3383: lay·yar·dên (Prep-l, Art:: N-proper-fs) -- The principal river of Pal. From yarad; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine.">the Jordan</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’êṯ (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7969.htm" title="7969: šə·lōš (Number-fsc) -- A three, triad. Or shalosh; masculine shlowshah; or shloshah; a primitive number; three; occasionally third, or Thrice.">and three</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: he·‘ā·rîm (Art:: N-fp) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: tit·tə·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application."></a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: bə·’e·reṣ (Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">in the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/3667.htm" title="3667: kə·nā·‘an (N-proper-ms) -- From kana'; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him.">of Canaan</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: tih·ye·nāh (V-Qal-Imperf-3fp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">as</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: ‘ā·rê (N-fpc) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">cities</a> <a href="/hebrew/4733.htm" title="4733: miq·lāṭ (N-ms) -- Refuge, asylum. From qalat in the sense of taking in; an asylum.">of refuge.</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/20-2.htm">Joshua 20:2-9</a></span><br />“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, / so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood. / When someone flees to one of these cities, stands at the entrance of the city gate, and states his case before its elders, they are to bring him into the city and give him a place to live among them. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-41.htm">Deuteronomy 4:41-43</a></span><br />Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east / to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities: / Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/19-1.htm">Deuteronomy 19:1-13</a></span><br />When the LORD your God has cut off the nations whose land He is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their cities and houses, / then you are to set apart for yourselves three cities within the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess. / You are to build roads for yourselves and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that any manslayer can flee to these cities. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/21-13.htm">Exodus 21:13</a></span><br />If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/21-13.htm">Joshua 21:13-38</a></span><br />So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah, / Jattir, Eshtemoa, / Holon, Debir, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/2-28.htm">1 Kings 2:28-34</a></span><br />When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!” / And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/3-27.htm">2 Samuel 3:27</a></span><br />When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/14-14.htm">2 Samuel 14:14</a></span><br />For we will surely die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life, but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/6-18.htm">Hebrews 6:18</a></span><br />Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-29.htm">Acts 7:29</a></span><br />At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/22-16.htm">Acts 22:16</a></span><br />And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-21.htm">Matthew 5:21-22</a></span><br />You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-19.htm">Romans 12:19</a></span><br />Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-28.htm">Galatians 3:28</a></span><br />There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/2-14.htm">Ephesians 2:14</a></span><br />For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall you give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.</p><p class="hdg">three cities</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/4-41.htm">Deuteronomy 4:41-43</a></b></br> Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/19-8.htm">Deuteronomy 19:8-10</a></b></br> And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/20-7.htm">Joshua 20:7-9</a></b></br> And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which <i>is</i> Hebron, in the mountain of Judah… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/35-10.htm">Canaan</a> <a href="/numbers/35-12.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/numbers/35-10.htm">Jordan</a> <a href="/numbers/35-13.htm">Places</a> <a href="/numbers/35-13.htm">Refuge</a> <a href="/numbers/35-13.htm">Safe</a> <a href="/numbers/35-5.htm">Side</a> <a href="/numbers/35-5.htm">Three</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/32-49.htm">Canaan</a> <a href="/numbers/35-15.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/numbers/36-13.htm">Jordan</a> <a href="/numbers/35-15.htm">Places</a> <a href="/numbers/35-15.htm">Refuge</a> <a href="/numbers/35-15.htm">Safe</a> <a href="/numbers/36-11.htm">Side</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-41.htm">Three</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 35</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/35-1.htm">Forty-eight cities for the Levites, with their suburbs, and measure thereof</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/35-6.htm">Six of them are to be cities of refuge</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/35-9.htm">The laws of murder and manslaughter</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/35-31.htm">No satisfaction for murder</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/35.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/35.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Select three cities across the Jordan</b><br>This phrase refers to the allocation of cities of refuge on the eastern side of the Jordan River. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh settled in this region (<a href="/numbers/32-33.htm">Numbers 32:33</a>). These cities were strategically placed to ensure accessibility for those seeking asylum. The concept of cities of refuge is rooted in the need for justice and mercy, providing a place for those who committed unintentional manslaughter to escape the avenger of blood until a fair trial could be conducted (<a href="/joshua/20-2.htm">Joshua 20:2-9</a>). This reflects God's concern for justice and the protection of human life.<p><b>and three in the land of Canaan</b><br>The land of Canaan refers to the territory west of the Jordan River, which was the main area of settlement for the Israelites. The cities of refuge in Canaan were distributed among the tribes to ensure that they were within reach for all people. This distribution underscores the importance of equal access to justice and mercy, a principle that is echoed in the New Testament with the universality of salvation through Christ (<a href="/galatians/3-28.htm">Galatians 3:28</a>). The cities in Canaan were Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron, each with historical and spiritual significance in Israel's history.<p><b>as cities of refuge</b><br>The cities of refuge served a dual purpose: they were a place of protection and a symbol of God's justice and mercy. Theologically, they prefigure Christ, who is our refuge and advocate (<a href="/hebrews/6-18.htm">Hebrews 6:18</a>). Just as these cities provided safety from the avenger of blood, Jesus offers spiritual refuge from the consequences of sin. The establishment of these cities highlights the balance between justice and mercy in God's law, ensuring that those who accidentally caused harm could find protection while awaiting judgment. This system reflects the broader biblical theme of redemption and the provision of a way to restore broken relationships.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/c/cities_of_refuge.htm">Cities of Refuge</a></b><br>These were designated places where individuals who had accidentally committed manslaughter could seek asylum. They provided protection from the avenger of blood until a fair trial could be conducted.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_jordan_river.htm">The Jordan River</a></b><br>A significant geographical landmark in Israel, dividing the land. Three cities of refuge were to be established on each side of the Jordan, ensuring accessibility for all Israelites.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_land_of_canaan.htm">The Land of Canaan</a></b><br>The Promised Land given to the Israelites, where three of the cities of refuge were to be located. This highlights the importance of justice and mercy within the land God provided.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/a/avenger_of_blood.htm">Avenger of Blood</a></b><br>A family member of a slain person who had the cultural duty to avenge the death. The cities of refuge provided a legal and safe alternative to this cycle of vengeance.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/manslaughter.htm">Manslaughter</a></b><br>The unintentional killing of a person, distinct from murder. The cities of refuge were specifically for those who committed manslaughter, emphasizing the need for discernment in justice.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/j/justice_and_mercy.htm">Justice and Mercy</a></b><br>The cities of refuge illustrate God's balance of justice and mercy. While justice demands accountability, mercy provides a means of protection and fair trial.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/accessibility_and_fairness.htm">Accessibility and Fairness</a></b><br>The distribution of cities on both sides of the Jordan emphasizes God's desire for justice to be accessible to all, regardless of location.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_provision_for_safety.htm">God's Provision for Safety</a></b><br>Just as God provided physical safety through the cities of refuge, He provides spiritual safety through faith in Christ, our ultimate refuge.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_responsibility.htm">Community Responsibility</a></b><br>The establishment of these cities required community involvement and responsibility, reminding us of our role in upholding justice and mercy in our communities today.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_intent.htm">The Role of Intent</a></b><br>The distinction between murder and manslaughter highlights the importance of intent in God's justice system, encouraging us to consider the heart behind actions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_35.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 35</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/purpose_of_biblical_cities_of_refuge.htm">What were the biblical Cities of Refuge for?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_evidence_for_refuge_cities.htm">Why is there no conclusive archaeological evidence for the six cities of refuge (Numbers 35:9-15) if they were central to Israelite legal practice?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_a_38_vs._40-year_timeline_issue.htm">Deuteronomy 2:14 notes a 38-year delay, yet the Bible elsewhere often references 40 years; is there a timeline inconsistency?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_levites'_lands_align_biblically.htm">In Joshua 14:3-4, how does the Levites' lack of a territorial inheritance align with other biblical passages that mention Levitical cities and lands?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/numbers/35.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) <span class= "bld">Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan.</span>--The meaning of the Hebrew word which is here rendered "on this side" is determined by the words "in the land of Canaan," which describe the position of the three cities on the west of the Jordan. Otherwise the Hebrew word is applicable equally to the cities on the east and to those on the west of the Jordan. Moses himself appointed the three cities on the east of the Jordan--viz., Bezer, in the country of the Reubenites; Ramoth in Gilead, in the country of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, in the country of the Manassites (<a href="/deuteronomy/4-43.htm" title="Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.">Deuteronomy 4:43</a>). The three cities on the west of the Jordan were not appointed until the land had been allotted amongst the nine tribes and a half (<a href="/joshua/20-7.htm" title="And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.">Joshua 20:7</a>), when the original appointment of Moses in regard to the three cities on the east of the Jordan was confirmed (<a href="/joshua/20-8.htm" title="And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.">Joshua 20:8</a>). It is supposed that the six cities were so selected that no one should be above thirty miles from the nearest city of refuge.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/35.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan.</span> According to <a href="/deuteronomy/4-41.htm">Deuteronomy 4:41-43</a>. Moses himself severed these three cities, Bezer of the Reubenites, Ramoth of the Gadites, and Golan of the Manassites. Those verses, however, seem to be an evident interpolation where they stand, and are hardly consistent with previous statements if taken literally. It is tolerably clear that the two tribes had only formed temporally settlements hitherto, and that their boundaries were not defined as yet; also that the Levitical cities (to which the cities of refuge were to belong) were not separated until after the conquest. It is likely that <a href="/deuteronomy/4-41.htm">Deuteronomy 4:41-43</a> is a fragment, the real meaning el which is that Moses ordered the severance of three cities on that side Jordan as cities of refuge, for which purposes the three cities mentioned were afterwards selected. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/35-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Select three</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁלֹ֣שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(šə·lōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7969.htm">Strong's 7969: </a> </span><span class="str2">Three, third, thrice</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cities</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶעָרִ֗ים</span> <span class="translit">(he·‘ā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">across</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵעֵ֣בֶר</span> <span class="translit">(mê·‘ê·ḇer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5676.htm">Strong's 5676: </a> </span><span class="str2">A region across, on the opposite side</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the Jordan</span><br /><span class="heb">לַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן</span> <span class="translit">(lay·yar·dên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3383.htm">Strong's 3383: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and three</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁלֹ֣שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(šə·lōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7969.htm">Strong's 7969: </a> </span><span class="str2">Three, third, thrice</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the land</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּאֶ֣רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(bə·’e·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Canaan</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּנָ֑עַן</span> <span class="translit">(kə·nā·‘an)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3667.htm">Strong's 3667: </a> </span><span class="str2">Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordan</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּהְיֶֽינָה׃</span> <span class="translit">(tih·ye·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cities</span><br /><span class="heb">עָרֵ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of refuge.</span><br /><span class="heb">מִקְלָ֖ט</span> <span class="translit">(miq·lāṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4733.htm">Strong's 4733: </a> </span><span class="str2">Refuge, asylum</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/35-14.htm">Numbers 35:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/35-14.htm">Numbers 35:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/35-14.htm">Numbers 35:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/35-14.htm">Numbers 35:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/35-14.htm">Numbers 35:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/35-14.htm">Numbers 35:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/35-14.htm">Numbers 35:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/35-14.htm">Numbers 35:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/35-14.htm">Numbers 35:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/35-14.htm">Numbers 35:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/35-14.htm">OT Law: Numbers 35:14 You shall give three cities beyond (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/35-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 35:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 35:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/35-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 35:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 35:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>