“Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.”
Cross references: : Josh. 21:2 Because they had no inheritance assigned them in the land of Canaan. God would have them scattered through all the land, because the people might be preserved by them in the obedience of God and his Law.
“And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.”
So that in all were three thousand, and in the compass of these two thousand, they might plant and sow.
“And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. to them: Heb. above them ye shall give”
Deut. 4:41 ; Josh. 20:2 ; Josh. 21:3
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;”
Exod. 21:13 ; Deut. 19:2 ; Josh. 10:2
“And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.”
Meaning, from the next of the kindred, who ought to pursue the cause.
“Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.”
Among the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, Deut. 4:41 . Josh. 20:7
“And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.”
Exod. 21:14 Wittingly, and willingly.
“And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. with: Heb. with a stone of the hand”
That is, with a big and dangerous stone: in Hebrew, with a stone of his hand.
“But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,”
Exod. 21:13 Or, suddenly. Hebrew, instrument .
“And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.”
Under this figure is declared, that our sins could not be remitted, but by the death of the high Priest Jesus Christ.
“So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.”
A law to judge murders done either of purpose, or unadvisedly.
“Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.”
Matt. 18:16 ; 2 Cor. 13:1 Deut. 17:6 ; Deut. 9:15
“Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. guilty: Heb. faulty to die”
Which purposely hath committed murder.
“So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. the land cannot: Heb. there can be no expiation for the land”
So God is mindful of the blood wrongfully shed, that he maketh his dumb creatures to demand vengeance thereof. Or, murder.