Seder 132: Numbers 35---The Cities of Refuge and the Death of the High Priest

In Numbers 33-35, five divine speeches are recorded that convey instructions to Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land:

• Numbers 33:50-56---Drive the Canaanites out of the land and destroy all traces of their religion.
• 34:1-12---Boundaries of the land Israel would inherit west of the Jordan River.
• 34:16-29---Ten tribal leaders appointed to help with distribution of the land.
• 35:1-8---Levitical cities to be set up throughout the land, including six cities of refuge..
• 35:9-34---Cities of refuge and cases of murder and manslaughter.

Commentator Michael Morales notes some patterns in the structure of this section of Numbers.  The first and fifth speeches are concerned with avoiding pollution of the land by idolatry or bloodshed.  The second and fourth speeches deal with the land to be distributed to the twelve tribes and the Levites.  The third appoints ten leaders of the new generation to make up for the damage done by the ten scouts who had brought an evil report 38 years before. 

There is also a pattern similar to that in the early chapters of Numbers.  Numbers 1-2 deals with the twelve tribes of the outer camp, and Numbers 3-4 with the Levites, followed by a section on the purity of the wilderness camp in chapters 5-6.  In Numbers 33-35 the first three speeches concern the twelve tribes of the outer camp, the fourth and fifth deal with the Levites, and there is an overall concern with maintaining the purity of the land once the Israelites arrive.

Numbers 35 highlights a tension present throughout the Bible.  Because we are created in God's image, human life is precious.  On the other hand, because human life is precious, those who deliberately take it are subject to the ultimate penalty.  

We first see this tension in Genesis 9:5-6, and Numbers 35 gives some elaboration.  Because of the seriousness of first-degree murder, the convicted murderer can't just get off with a fine (Num 35:31), as presumably could be done for other capital crimes.  On the other hand, there had better be clear evidence of the defendant's guilt to avoid more needless bloodshed. Multiple witnesses were required (verse 30).  

The case of manslaughter receives much attention in Numbers 35.  One who accidentally killed another had shed blood, polluting the land.  Atonement needed to be made for the killing (verse 33).  On the other hand, the killer did not deserve death.  The solution laid out in Numbers 35 is that one convicted of manslaughter was sentenced to live in a city of refuge until the death of the high priest.  It is the high priest's death that would atone for the killing (verse 28). 

This role for the high priest is consistent with other responsibilities of the high priest.  The high priest was to bear guilt for any Israelite violations involving the sanctuary and holy items (Ex 28:38; Lev 10:17).  

The symbolism of the high priest atoning for sin is significant for Christians.  The high priest is a type of the suffering servant upon whom God laid "the iniquity of us all'' (Isa 53:6).