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Day 165 – Refuge Numbers 35:1 JEHOVAH spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, saying, 2 “Command the children of Israel that they give the Levites cities to dwell in from the inheritance of their possession, and you will also give the Levites common land around the cities. 3 They will have the cities to dwell in; and their common land will be for their cattle, for their herds, and for all their animals. 4 The common land of the cities which you will give the Levites will extend from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all around. 5 You will measure outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, on the south side two thousand cubits, on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits. The city will be in the middle. This will belong to them as common land for the cities. 6 “Now among the cities which you will give to the Levites you will appoint six cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. To these you will add forty-two cities. 7 You will give to the Levites forty-eight cities; these you will give with their common land. 8 The cities which you will give will be from the possession of the children of Israel; from the larger tribe you will give many, from the smaller you will give few. Each will give some of its cities to the Levites, in proportion to the inheritance that each receives.” 9 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 then you will appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills a person accidentally may flee there. 12 They will be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment. 13 Of the cities which you give, you will have six cities of refuge. 14 You will appoint three cities on this side of the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, which will be cities of refuge. 15 These six cities will be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills a person accidentally may flee there. 16 However, if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; you will put the murderer to death. 17 If he strikes him with a stone in the hand, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; you will put the murderer to death. 18 Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand weapon, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; you will put the murderer to death. 19 The avenger of blood himself will put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he will put him to death. 20 If he pushes him out of hatred or, while lying in wait, hurls something at him so that he dies, 21 or in enmity he strikes him with his hand so that he dies, the one who struck him will die. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood will put the murderer to death when he meets him. 22 However, if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything at him without lying in wait, 23 or uses a stone, by which a man could die, throwing it at him without seeing him, so that he dies, while he was not his enemy or seeking his harm, 24 then the congregation will judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments. 25 The congregation will deliver the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation will return him to the city of refuge where he had fled, and he will remain there until the death of the high priest anointed with the holy oil. 26 However, if the manslayer at any time goes outside the limits of the city of refuge where he fled, 27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he will not be guilty of blood, 28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. After the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. 29 ‘These things will be a statute of judgment to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 30 Whoever kills a person, the murderer will die on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty. 31 Moreover, you will take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he will die. 32 You will take no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest. 33 You will not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. 34 Therefore, do not defile the land which you inhabit, amid which I dwell; for I JEHOVAH dwell among the children of Israel.’” God’s names: JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal Yeshuwa – Jesus Iesous – Jesus Christos – Anointed One, Messiah Theos – Supreme Divinity God’s character: Judge Executioner Refuge Redeemer Atonement Ransom When you appear before a judge for a crime you either did or did not do, he will sentence you according to the evidence of the crime committed. You will go to prison, or he will set you free on the pronouncement of the verdict. JEHOVAH told Moses to set aside cities of refuge for people who killed another unintentionally. They were to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest when they could return home. However, if they left before the death of the high priest, the avenger could kill him without consequences to himself. However, if the person intended to kill another, he died without going to a city of refuge. When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, He became your refuge from every sin you committed while you were dead in trespasses and sin. Ephesians 2:1 You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 Theos, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christos (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christos Iesous, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christos Iesous. Yeshuwa became your refuge when He died on the cross. He became your ransom so you would not suffer eternal separation from Him. Theos sentenced His Son to death to give you life. Yeshuwa’s blood broke the curse over the land when He poured His blood onto it and brought you salvation. He declared you not guilty by taking your guilt onto Himself and freed you with His blood. You can stand before Theos, free from guilt and shame because Yeshuwa’s blood covers you. When you sin, you can go to Yeshuwa for refuge. Confess your sin and stand cleansed because His blood set you free. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for providing a refuge for me to flee to when I sin against You. Thank you for sending Your Son, as my atoning sacrifice, so I am not separated from You for eternity. I praise You, Father for everything You did for me in providing the perfect sacrifice for my life. Let my praise and thanksgiving come before You as I rejoice in my salvation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 1 July 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.