1 Again the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho:
2 “Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities.
3 The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock.
4 The pasturelands around the cities you are to give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits from the wall on every side.
5 You are also to measure two thousand cubits outside the city on the east, two thousand on the south, two thousand on the west, and two thousand on the north, with the city in the center. These areas will serve as larger pasturelands for the cities.
6 Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities.
7 The total number of cities you give the Levites will be forty-eight, with their corresponding pasturelands.
8 The cities that you apportion from the territory of the Israelites should be given to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one.”
9 Then the LORD said to Moses,
10 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
11 designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there.
12 You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.
13 The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge.
14 Select three cities across the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan as cities of refuge.
15 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.
16 If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
17 Or if anyone has in his hand a stone of deadly size, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
18 If anyone has in his hand a deadly object of wood, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
19 The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him.
20 Likewise, if anyone maliciously pushes another or intentionally throws an object at him and kills him,
21 or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.
22 But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally,
23 or without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him, but he was not an enemy and did not intend to harm him,
24 then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.
25 The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
26 But if the manslayer ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which he fled
27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside of his city of refuge and kills him, then the avenger will not be guilty of bloodshed
28 because the manslayer must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest may he return to the land he owns.
29 This will be a statutory ordinance for you for the generations to come, wherever you live.
30 If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.
31 You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death.
32 Nor should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to a city of refuge and allow him to return and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.
33 Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
34 Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.”
Numbers 35 Cross References - BSB
Numbers 22:1
1 Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
Numbers 26:63
63 These were the ones numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.
Numbers 31:12
12 They brought the captives, spoils, and plunder to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of Israel at the camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.
Numbers 33:50
50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the LORD said to Moses,
Numbers 36:13
13 These are the commandments and ordinances that the LORD gave the Israelites through Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.
Leviticus 25:32-34
32 As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the cities they possess.
33 So whatever belongs to the Levites may be redeemed—a house sold in a city they possess—and must be released in the Jubilee, because the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the Israelites.
34 But the open pastureland around their cities may not be sold, for this is their permanent possession.
Joshua 14:3-4
3 For Moses had given the inheritance east of the Jordan to the other two and a half tribes. But he granted no inheritance among them to the Levites.
4 The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion of the land was given to the Levites, except for cities in which to live, along with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.
Joshua 21:2-42
2 at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said to them, “The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given cities in which to live, together with pasturelands for our livestock.”
3 So by the command of the LORD, the Israelites gave the Levites these cities and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance:
4 The first lot came out for the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
5 The remaining descendants of Kohath received ten cities by lot from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
6 The descendants of Gershon received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
7 And the descendants of Merari received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
8 So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these cities, together with their pasturelands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
9 From the tribes of Judah and Simeon, they designated these cities by name
10 to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them:
11 They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pasturelands, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.)
12 But they had given the fields and villages around the city to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.
13 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,
14 Jattir, Eshtemoa,
15 Holon, Debir,
16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh—nine cities from these two tribes, together with their pasturelands.
17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba,
18 Anathoth, and Almon—four cities, together with their pasturelands.
19 In all, thirteen cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
20 The remaining Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted these cities: From the tribe of Ephraim
21 they were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Gezer,
22 Kibzaim, and Beth-horon—four cities, together with their pasturelands.
23 From the tribe of Dan they were given Elteke, Gibbethon,
24 Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon—four cities, together with their pasturelands.
25 And from the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Taanach and Gath-rimmon—two cities, together with their pasturelands.
26 In all, ten cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.
27 This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: From the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah—two cities, together with their pasturelands.
28 From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kishion, Daberath,
29 Jarmuth, and En-gannim—four cities, together with their pasturelands.
30 From the tribe of Asher they were given Mishal, Abdon,
31 Helkath, and Rehob—four cities, together with their pasturelands.
32 And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan—three cities, together with their pasturelands.
33 In all, thirteen cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the Gershonite clans.
34 This is what the Merarite clan (the rest of the Levites) were given: From the tribe of Zebulun they were given Jokneam, Kartah,
35 Dimnah, and Nahalal—four cities, together with their pasturelands.
36 From the tribe of Reuben they were given Bezer, Jahaz,
37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath—four cities, together with their pasturelands.
38 And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim,
39 Heshbon, and Jazer—four cities in all, together with their pasturelands.
40 In all, twelve cities were allotted to the clans of Merari, the remaining Levite clans.
41 For the Levites, then, there were forty-eight cities in all, together with their pasturelands, within the territory of the Israelites.
42 Each of these cities had its own surrounding pasturelands; this was true for all the cities.
Ezekiel 45:1-8
1 “When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance, you are to set aside a portion for the LORD, a holy portion of the land 25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide. This entire tract of land will be holy.
2 Within this area there is to be a section for the sanctuary 500 cubits square, with 50 cubits around it for open land.
3 From this holy portion, you are to measure off a length of 25,000 cubits and a width of 10,000 cubits, and in it will be the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.
4 It will be a holy portion of the land to be used by the priests who minister in the sanctuary, who draw near to minister before the LORD. It will be a place for their houses, as well as a holy area for the sanctuary.
5 An adjacent area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide shall belong to the Levites who minister in the temple; it will be their possession for towns in which to live.
6 As the property of the city, you are to set aside an area 5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long, adjacent to the holy district. It will belong to the whole house of Israel.
7 Now the prince will have the area bordering each side of the area formed by the holy district and the property of the city, extending westward from the western side and eastward from the eastern side, running lengthwise from the western boundary to the eastern boundary and parallel to one of the tribal portions.
8 This land will be his possession in Israel. And My princes will no longer oppress My people, but will give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.
Ezekiel 48:8
8 Bordering the territory of Judah, from east to west, will be the portion you are to set apart. It will be 25,000 cubits wide, and the length of a tribal portion from east to west. In the center will be the sanctuary.
Ezekiel 48:22
22 So the Levitical property and the city property will lie in the center of the area belonging to the prince—the area between the borders of Judah and Benjamin.
1 Corinthians 9:10-14
10 Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.
11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?
12 If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?
14 In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
Joshua 21:11
11 They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pasturelands, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.)
2 Chronicles 11:14
14 For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD.
Ezekiel 45:2
2 Within this area there is to be a section for the sanctuary 500 cubits square, with 50 cubits around it for open land.
Numbers 35:13-14
Deuteronomy 4:41-43
41 Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east
42 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:
43 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.
Joshua 20:2-9
2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,
3 so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 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.
5 Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, because that man killed his neighbor accidentally without prior malice.
6 He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.”
7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
8 And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.
9 These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.
Joshua 21:3
3 So by the command of the LORD, the Israelites gave the Levites these cities and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance:
Joshua 21:13
13 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,
Joshua 21:21
21 they were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Gezer,
Joshua 21:27
27 This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: From the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah—two cities, together with their pasturelands.
Joshua 21:32
32 And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan—three cities, together with their pasturelands.
Joshua 21:36
36 From the tribe of Reuben they were given Bezer, Jahaz,
Joshua 21:38
38 And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim,
Psalms 9:9
9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Psalms 62:7-8
Psalms 142:4-5
Isaiah 4:6
6 a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain.
Matthew 11:28
28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Hebrews 6:18
18 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.
1 Chronicles 6:54-81
54 Now these were the territories assigned to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clan for their settlements, because the first lot fell to them:
55 They were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands.
56 But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.
57 So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,
58 Hilen, Debir,
59 Ashan, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh, together with their pasturelands.
60 And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. So they had thirteen cities in all among their families.
61 To the rest of the Kohathites, ten cities were allotted from the half-tribe of Manasseh.
62 The Gershomites, according to their clans, were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh in Bashan.
63 The Merarites, according to their families, were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
64 So the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands.
65 They assigned by lot the cities named above from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
66 And some of the clans of the Kohathites were given cities from the tribe of Ephraim for their territory:
67 They were given Shechem (a city of refuge) with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, and Gezer,
68 Jokmeam, Beth-horon,
69 Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon, together with their pasturelands.
70 And from the half-tribe of Manasseh the remaining clans of the Kohathites were given Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands.
71 The Gershomites received the following: From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands.
72 From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kedesh, Daberath,
73 Ramoth, and Anem, together with their pasturelands.
74 From the tribe of Asher they were given Mashal, Abdon,
75 Hukok, and Rehob, together with their pasturelands.
76 And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.
77 The Merarites (the rest of the Levites) received the following: From the tribe of Zebulun they were given Rimmono and Tabor, together with their pasturelands.
78 From the tribe of Reuben east of the Jordan opposite Jericho they were given Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah,
79 Kedemoth, and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands.
80 And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,
81 Heshbon, and Jazer, together with their pasturelands.
Genesis 49:7
7 Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
Exodus 16:18
18 When they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall. Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat.
Exodus 32:28-29
Numbers 26:54
54 Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered.
Numbers 33:54
54 And you are to divide the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one by lot will be his. You will receive an inheritance according to the tribes of your fathers.
Deuteronomy 33:8-11
8 Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.
9 He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant.
10 He will teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your law to Israel; he will set incense before You and whole burnt offerings on Your altar.
11 Bless his substance, O LORD, and accept the work of his hands. Smash the loins of those who rise against him, and of his foes so they can rise no more.”
Joshua 21:1-42
1 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribes of Israel
2 Corinthians 8:13-14
Leviticus 14:34
34 “When you enter the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your possession, and I put a contamination of mildew into a house in that land,
Leviticus 25:2
2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land itself must observe a Sabbath to the LORD.
Numbers 34:2
2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries:
Deuteronomy 12:9
9 For you have not yet come to the resting place and the inheritance that the LORD your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 19:1-2
Joshua 20:2-6
2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,
3 so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 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.
5 Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, because that man killed his neighbor accidentally without prior malice.
6 He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.”
Exodus 21:13
13 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.
Numbers 35:6
6 Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities.
Numbers 35:22-25
22 But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally,
23 or without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him, but he was not an enemy and did not intend to harm him,
24 then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.
25 The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
Deuteronomy 4:42
42 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:
Deuteronomy 19:1-13
1 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,
2 then you are to set apart for yourselves three cities within the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
3 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.
4 Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him:
5 If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.
6 Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm.
7 This is why I am commanding you to set apart for yourselves three cities.
8 And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your fathers, and gives you all the land He promised them,
9 and if you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you today, loving the LORD your God and walking in His ways at all times, then you are to add three more cities to these three.
10 Thus innocent blood will not be shed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.
11 If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities,
12 the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die.
13 You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you.
Joshua 20:2
2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,
Numbers 35:19
19 The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him.
Numbers 35:24-27
24 then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.
25 The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
26 But if the manslayer ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which he fled
27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside of his city of refuge and kills him, then the avenger will not be guilty of bloodshed
Deuteronomy 19:6
6 Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm.
Deuteronomy 19:11-12
Joshua 20:9
9 These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.
2 Samuel 14:7
7 Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”
Deuteronomy 19:8-10
8 And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your fathers, and gives you all the land He promised them,
9 and if you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you today, loving the LORD your God and walking in His ways at all times, then you are to add three more cities to these three.
10 Thus innocent blood will not be shed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.
Exodus 12:49
49 The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you.”
Leviticus 24:22
22 You are to have the same standard of law for the foreign resident and the native; for I am the LORD your God.’”
Numbers 15:16
16 The same law and the same ordinance will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing with you.”
Romans 3:29
29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
Galatians 3:28
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Genesis 9:5-6
Exodus 21:12-14
12 Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death.
13 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.
14 But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.
Leviticus 24:17
17 And if a man takes the life of anyone else, he must surely be put to death.
Numbers 35:22-24
22 But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally,
23 or without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him, but he was not an enemy and did not intend to harm him,
24 then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.
Numbers 35:30-33
30 If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.
31 You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death.
32 Nor should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to a city of refuge and allow him to return and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.
33 Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
Exodus 21:18
18 If men are quarreling and one strikes the other with a stone or a fist, and he does not die but is confined to bed,
Numbers 35:12
12 You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.
Numbers 35:21
21 or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.
Numbers 35:24
24 then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.
Numbers 35:27
27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside of his city of refuge and kills him, then the avenger will not be guilty of bloodshed
Deuteronomy 19:12
12 the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die.
Joshua 20:3
3 so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
Joshua 20:5
5 Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, because that man killed his neighbor accidentally without prior malice.
Genesis 4:5
5 but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
Genesis 4:8
8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
Exodus 21:14
14 But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.
Deuteronomy 19:11
11 If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities,
1 Samuel 18:10-11
1 Samuel 18:25
25 Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.
1 Samuel 19:9-12
9 But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp,
10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But the spear struck the wall and David eluded him, ran away, and escaped that night.
11 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”
12 So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped.
1 Samuel 20:1
1 Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”
1 Samuel 23:7-9
7 When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”
8 Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
9 When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
1 Samuel 24:11
11 See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
2 Samuel 3:27
27 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.
2 Samuel 13:22
22 And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar.
2 Samuel 13:28-29
28 Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”
29 So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.
2 Samuel 20:10
10 Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.
1 Kings 2:5-6
5 Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.
6 So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
1 Kings 2:31-33
31 And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed.
32 The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.
33 Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”
Psalms 10:7-10
7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net.
10 They are crushed and beaten down; the hapless fall prey to his strength.
Psalms 11:2
2 For behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrow on the string to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
Psalms 35:7-8
Psalms 57:4-6
4 My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts—with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory cover all the earth.
6 They spread a net for my feet; my soul was despondent. They dug a pit before me, but they themselves have fallen into it! Selah
Proverbs 1:18-19
Proverbs 26:24
24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
Proverbs 28:17
17 A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.
Mark 6:19
19 So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,
Mark 6:24-26
24 Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.”
25 At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”
26 The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.
Luke 4:29
29 They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff.
Acts 20:3
3 where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
Acts 23:21
21 Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
Numbers 35:11
11 designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there.
Deuteronomy 19:5
5 If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.
Joshua 20:6
6 He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.”
Exodus 29:7
7 Then take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.
Leviticus 4:3
3 If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without blemish as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.
Leviticus 8:12
12 He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.
Leviticus 21:10
10 The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments.
Numbers 35:28
28 because the manslayer must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest may he return to the land he owns.
Romans 3:24-26
24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
25 God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
26 He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Ephesians 2:16-18
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 7:25-28
25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Hebrews 9:12-15
12 He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
15 Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews 10:19-22
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
20 by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Exodus 22:2
2 If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
Deuteronomy 19:10
10 Thus innocent blood will not be shed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.
John 15:4-6
4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Acts 11:23
23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
Acts 27:31
31 But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.”
Hebrews 3:14
14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.
Hebrews 6:4-8
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age—
6 and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.
7 For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.
8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.
Hebrews 9:11-12
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation.
12 He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:15-17
15 Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,
17 because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.
Hebrews 10:26-30
26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.
28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
Hebrews 10:39
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Numbers 27:1
1 Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached
Numbers 27:11
11 And if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the next of kin from his clan, that he may take possession of it. This is to be a statutory ordinance for the Israelites, as the LORD has commanded Moses.’”
Numbers 35:16
16 If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
Deuteronomy 17:6-7
Deuteronomy 19:15
15 A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Matthew 18:16
16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
John 7:51
51 “Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”
John 8:17-18
2 Corinthians 13:1
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
1 Timothy 5:19
19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Hebrews 10:28
28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Revelation 11:3
3 And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
2 Samuel 12:13
13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.
1 Kings 2:28-34
28 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.
29 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!”
30 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.”
31 And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed.
32 The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.
33 Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”
34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness.
Psalms 51:14
14 Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.
Acts 4:12
12 Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Galatians 2:21
21 I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.
Galatians 3:10-13
10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
12 The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
Galatians 3:22
22 But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
Revelation 5:9
9 And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Genesis 9:6
6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.
Leviticus 18:25
25 Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants.
Deuteronomy 21:1-8
1 If one is found slain, lying in a field in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who killed him,
2 your elders and judges must come out and measure the distance from the victim to the neighboring cities.
3 Then the elders of the city nearest the victim shall take a heifer that has never been yoked or used for work,
4 bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.
5 And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every dispute and case of assault.
6 Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken,
7 and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it.
8 Accept this atonement, O LORD, for Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, and do not hold the shedding of innocent blood against them.” And the bloodshed will be atoned for.
Deuteronomy 21:23
23 you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
2 Kings 23:26
26 Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the fury of His burning anger, which was kindled against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke Him to anger.
2 Kings 24:4
4 and also for the innocent blood he had shed. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was unwilling to forgive.
Psalms 106:28
28 They yoked themselves to Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods.
Psalms 106:38
38 They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.
Isaiah 26:21
21 For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.
Ezekiel 22:24-27
24 “Son of man, say to her, ‘In the day of indignation, you are a land that has not been cleansed, upon which no rain has fallen.’
25 The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her.
26 Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.
Hosea 4:2-3
Micah 4:11
11 But now many nations have assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”
Matthew 23:31-35
31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.
32 Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your fathers.
33 You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?
34 Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute in town after town.
35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Luke 11:50-51
50 As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,
51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.
Exodus 25:8
8 And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.
Exodus 29:45-46
Leviticus 18:24-25
Leviticus 20:24-26
24 But I have told you that you will inherit their land, since I will give it to you as an inheritance—a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the peoples.
25 You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and birds. Do not become contaminated by any animal or bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you.
26 You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.
Numbers 5:3
3 You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.”
1 Kings 6:13
13 And I will dwell among the Israelites and will not abandon My people Israel.”
Psalms 132:14
14 “This is My resting place forever and ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired this home.
Psalms 135:21
21 Blessed be the LORD from Zion—He who dwells in Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
Isaiah 8:12
12 “Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.
Isaiah 57:15
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.
Hosea 9:3
3 They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.
2 Corinthians 6:16-17
16 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
17 “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
Revelation 21:3
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.
Revelation 21:27
27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.