Numbers 35 Cross References - ISV

¹ Levitical CitiesThe LORD told Moses in the wilderness of Moab, beside the Jordan River near Jericho, ² “Instruct the Israelis to set aside a portion of their inheritance for the descendants of Levi to live in, along with grazing land surrounding their towns. ³ The towns are to be reserved for their dwelling places and the grazing lands are to be reserved for their cattle, livestock, and all their animals. ⁴ The grazing lands that you are to reserve for use by the descendants of Levi are to extend 1,000 cubits from the walls of the town. ⁵ You are to measure from outside the wall of the town on the east side 2,000 cubits, on the south side 2,000 cubits, on the west side 2,000 cubits, and on the north side 2,000 cubits, with the town placed at the center. This reserved area is to serve as grazing land for their towns. ⁶ You are to set aside six towns of refuge from the towns that you will be giving to the descendants of Levi, where someone who kills a human being may run for shelter. In addition, give them 42 other towns. ⁷ The total number of towns that you are to give to the descendants of Levi is to be 48 towns, including grazing lands surrounding these towns. ⁸ You are to apportion the towns that you will be giving the Israelis according to the relative size of the tribe. Take a larger portion from those larger in number and a lesser portion from those fewer in number. Each is to set aside towns for the descendants of Levi proportional to the size of their inheritance that they receive.”
⁹ Appointment of Cities of RefugeThen the LORD told Moses, ¹⁰ “Tell the Israelis that when they have crossed the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, ¹¹ they are to designate some towns of refuge so that anyone who kills someone inadvertently may flee there. ¹² They are to serve as cities of refuge from a blood avenger in order to keep the inadvertent killer from dying until he has stood trial in the presence of the community. ¹³ You are to set aside six towns of refuge. ¹⁴ Appoint three towns this side of the Jordan River and three towns in the land of Canaan to serve as the towns of refuge, ¹⁵ that is, places of refuge for the Israelis, the resident alien, and any travelers among them. Anyone who kills a person inadvertently may flee there.”
¹⁶ Exceptions to Eligibility“Whoever uses an iron implement to kill someone is to be adjudged a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death. ¹⁷ Furthermore, whoever uses a stone implement to kill someone is to be adjudged a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death. ¹⁸ Also, whoever uses a wooden implement to kill someone with it is to be adjudged a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death. ¹⁹ The blood avenger himself is to execute the murderer. When he meets him, the blood avenger is to put him to death. ²⁰ If the killer shoved his victim out of hatred, or hurled something at him while waiting in ambush so that he died, ²¹ or if he struck him with his hand out of hatred so that he died, then the killer is certainly to be put to death for murder. The avenger of blood is to put him to death when he meets him.”
²² Case Examples for Eligibility“But if he pushed him suddenly without hatred, or if he hurled something in his direction without waiting in ambush, ²³ or if he hit him with a stone carelessly so that he was fatally injured, though he isn’t his enemy and he wasn’t seeking to commit evil against him, ²⁴ then the community is to judge between the inadvertent killer and the blood avenger, following these ordinances. ²⁵ The community is to release the inadvertent killer from the blood avenger and return him to the town of refuge where he had fled. He is to live there until the High Priest dies, who will have anointed him with holy oil. ²⁶ But if the inadvertent killer leaves the town of refuge where he had fled ²⁷ and the blood avenger finds him outside the town of refuge where he had fled and kills him, the blood avenger is not to be found guilty of murder. ²⁸ The inadvertent killer is to live in the town of refuge until the High Priest dies. After the death of the High Priest, the inadvertent killer is to return to the land of his inheritance. ²⁹ These are to be the statutes and ordinances for you throughout all your generations, regardless of where you live.”
³⁰ Capital Cases Require Multiple Witnesses“Every murderer of a human being is to be executed only according to testimony given by multiple witnesses. A single witness is not to result in a death sentence. ³¹ You are to receive no ransom for the life of a killer who is guilty of murder; instead, he is to die. ³² You are not to receive payment of a ransom for someone who had fled to a town of refuge but then left to live in his homeland before the death of the high priest. ³³ You are not to pollute the land where you live, because blood defiles the land, and the land cannot atone for blood that has been spilled on it, except through the blood of the one who spilled it. ³⁴ You are not to defile the land where you will be living, because I’m living among you. I am the LORD, who lives in Israel.”

¹ Balak Summons BalaamThe Israelis continued their travels, eventually encamping on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River opposite Jericho.

⁶³ So this has been a list of those who were registered by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they numbered the Israelis in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

¹² Then they brought the captives, booty, and plunder to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the entire community of Israel at the camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan River in Jericho.

⁵⁰ Then the LORD told Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River, across from Jericho,

¹³ These were the commands and the ordinances that the LORD issued to the Israelis through Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River in Jericho.

³² Nevertheless, the cities that belong to the descendants of Levi—that is, the houses in the cities that belong to them—are to belong to the descendants of Levi perpetually as part of their right of redemption. ³³ If someone from the descendants of Levi redeems the houses in the cities that they own, they are to be returned in the jubilee, because the houses of the cities of the descendants of Levi are to remain their property among the Israelis. ³⁴ Also, the open land of their cities is not to be sold, because it is to remain their perpetual inheritance.”

³ since Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe across the Jordan River. However, he did not give an inheritance to the descendants of Levi who lived among them, ⁴ since the descendants of Joseph constituted two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim. They did not allot a portion to the descendants of Levi in the land, since they were given cities to live in, along with pastures for their livestock and property.

² It was at Shiloh in the land of Canaan that they told them, “The LORD ordered through Moses that we be given cities in which to live, along with their pasture lands for our livestock.”
³ Allocation for the Descendants of Kohath and Descendants of GershonSo, just as the Lord had said, the Israelis set aside cities for the descendants of Levi from a portion of their own inheritances, along with their grazing lands. ⁴ The lottery went to the families of the descendants of Kohath. So the descendants of Aaron the priest, who were descendants of Levi, received thirteen cities by random lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. ⁵ The rest of the descendants of Kohath received ten cities by random lot from the families of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
⁶ The descendants of Gershon received thirteen cities by random lot from the families of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh located in Bashan. ⁷ The descendants of Merari, allocated according to their families, received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
⁸ The Israelis apportioned these cities, along with their pasture lands, to the descendants of Levi by random lot, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
⁹ From the tribes of the descendants of Judah and Simeon, they gave these cities, delineated by name: ¹⁰ for the descendants of Aaron, one of the families of the descendants of Kohath, of the descendants of Levi, since the lot fell in their favor first. ¹¹ They gave them Kiriath-arba, also known as Hebron, (Arba was named after the ancestor of Anak), in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding pasture lands. ¹² But the fields adjoining the city and its surrounding villages were given to Jephunneh’s son Caleb.
¹³ So they gave Hebron to the descendants of Aaron the priest to serve as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, Libnah with its pasture lands, ¹⁴ Jattir with its pasture lands, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands, ¹⁵ Holon with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands, ¹⁶ Ain with its pasture lands, Juttah with its pasture lands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands, for a total of nine cities from these two tribes.
¹⁷ From the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its pasture lands, Geba with its pasture lands, ¹⁸ Anathoth with its pasture lands, and Almon with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities. ¹⁹ All of the cities allocated to the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, numbered thirteen, along with their pasture lands.
²⁰ Cities from the tribe of Ephraim were also allotted to the families of the descendants of Kohath, that is, to the rest of the descendants of Kohath, who were descendants of Levi. ²¹ Shechem was allocated to them as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, in the mountainous region of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasture lands, ²² Kibzaim with its pasture lands, and Beth-horon with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
²³ From the tribe of Dan were allocated Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, ²⁴ Aijalon with its pasture lands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
²⁵ From the half-tribe of Manasseh were allocated Taanach with its pasture lands and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands, for a total of two cities. ²⁶ All the cities with their pasture lands for the families of the rest of the descendants of Kohath numbered ten.
²⁷ To the descendants of Gershon (one of the Levitical families) from the half-tribe of Manasseh were allocated Golan in Bashan as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, and Beeshterah with its pasture lands, for a total of two cities.
²⁸ From the tribe of Issachar were allocated Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, ²⁹ Jarmuth with its pasture lands, and En-gannim with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
³⁰ From the tribe of Asher were allocated Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, ³¹ Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
³² From the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands were allocated as a city of refuge for the unintentional killer, Hammoth-dor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands, for a total of three cities.
³³ All the cities of the descendants of Gershon according to their families totaled thirteen, including their pasture lands.
³⁴ Allocation for the Descendants of MerariFrom the tribe of Zebulun were allocated to the descendants of Merari (that is, the rest of the descendants of Levi) Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands, ³⁵ Dimnah with its pasture lands, and Nahalal with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
³⁶ From the tribe of Reuben were allocated Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahaz with its pasture lands, ³⁷ Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.
³⁸ From the tribe of Gad were allocated Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, to serve as a city of refuge for the unintentional killer, Mahanaim with its pasture lands, ³⁹ Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities in all.
⁴⁰ So the entire allocation to the descendants of Merari (that is, the rest of the families of the descendants of Levi) according to their families totaled twelve cities.
⁴¹ Summary of Allocations to the Descendants of LeviAll of the cities of the descendants of Levi that had been set apart among the territorial possession of the Israelis totaled 48, along with their pasture lands. ⁴² These cities were each surrounded by pasture lands, as was the case with all of these cities.

¹ Israel’s Future Temple Park“When you divide the land for an inheritance, you are to present a Terumah to the LORD, a consecrated portion of the land 25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide. Everything within this area is to be treated as holy. ² A Holy Place is to be dedicated from this area in the form of a square measuring 500 by 500 cubits, with a 50 cubit buffer zone surrounding it. ³ From this area a measure is to be made 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide, which is to contain the sanctuary, the holiest of holy objects. ⁴ It is to be a holy portion of the land, set aside for the priests who serve the sanctuary, who approach the LORD to serve him. It is to be a place for their houses, as well as the Holy Place of the sanctuary. ⁵ An area 25,000 cubits long by 10,000 cubits wide is to be set aside for use by the Levite servants of the Temple, 20 parcels for their residential properties. ⁶ The land allocation for the city is to be set at 5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long, adjacent to the sanctuary district, reserved for the entire house of Israel.”
⁷ The Portion for the Regent Prince“The Regent Prince is to have a portion on both sides of the consecrated allotment for the sanctuary and the city’s land allotment, adjacent to both on the west and the east sides, comparable in length to one of the portions from the west border to the east border. ⁸ This property in Israel is to belong to the Regent Prince, so my regent princes will no longer mistreat my nation. The remaining portion of the land is to be allotted to the house of Israel, that is, to its tribes.”

⁸ Israel’s National Temple Allotment“Running along the border of the tribe of Judah from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter you are to set apart the Terumah, 25,000 units wide, with its east-west length equal to one of the other apportionments, from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, with the Temple in the middle of it.

²² Except for what belongs to the descendants of Levi and the city property, which will stand in the middle of what belongs to the Regent Prince, whatever is between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin is to belong to the Regent Prince.”

¹⁰ Isn’t he really speaking for our benefit? Yes, this was written for our benefit, because the one who plows should plow in hope, and the one who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. ¹¹ If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? ¹² If others enjoy this right over you, don’t we have a stronger claim? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we tolerate everything in order not to put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of the Messiah.
¹³ You know that those who work in the Temple get their food from the Temple and that those who serve at the altar get their share of its offerings, don’t you? ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has ordered that those who proclaim the gospel should make their living from the gospel.

¹¹ They gave them Kiriath-arba, also known as Hebron, (Arba was named after the ancestor of Anak), in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding pasture lands.

¹⁴ because the descendants of Levi left their pasture lands and their property to live in Judah and Jerusalem, since Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from participating in priestly services to the LORD.

² A Holy Place is to be dedicated from this area in the form of a square measuring 500 by 500 cubits, with a 50 cubit buffer zone surrounding it.

¹³ You are to set aside six towns of refuge. ¹⁴ Appoint three towns this side of the Jordan River and three towns in the land of Canaan to serve as the towns of refuge,

⁴¹ Cities of RefugeThen Moses designated three cities on the east side of the Jordan, ⁴² where a person who accidentally killed someone could flee, if he killed his neighbor without having enmity toward him in the past. He may flee to one of these cities and live: ⁴³ Bezer in the desert plain for the descendants of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead for the descendants of Gad, and Golan in Bashan for the descendants of Manasseh.

² “Tell the people of Israel to set apart cities of refuge about which I spoke to you through Moses, ³ so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally and without premeditation may run there and be protected from closely related avengers. ⁴ He may run to one of those cities, stand at the entrance to the city gate, and tell his side of the story to the elders of the city. They are to bring him inside the city with them and provide him a place to live among them. ⁵ Now if the closely related avenger pursues him, then they are not to hand the killer over to him, because he killed his neighbor without premeditation and without hating him beforehand. ⁶ He is to live in that city until he stands trial before the community, until the death of the one who is high priest at that time. Then the killer may return to his own city and to his own home, that is, to 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 (also known as Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. ⁸ East of Jericho beyond the Jordan River, they reserved Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. ⁹ These were appointed to be cities for all the Israelis and for the foreigner who lives among them, so that whoever kills anyone unintentionally may run there and not die at the hands of a closely related avenger until he stands for trial before the community.

³ Allocation for the Descendants of Kohath and Descendants of GershonSo, just as the Lord had said, the Israelis set aside cities for the descendants of Levi from a portion of their own inheritances, along with their grazing lands.

¹³ So they gave Hebron to the descendants of Aaron the priest to serve as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, Libnah with its pasture lands,

²¹ Shechem was allocated to them as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, in the mountainous region of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasture lands,

²⁷ To the descendants of Gershon (one of the Levitical families) from the half-tribe of Manasseh were allocated Golan in Bashan as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, and Beeshterah with its pasture lands, for a total of two cities.

³² From the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands were allocated as a city of refuge for the unintentional killer, Hammoth-dor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands, for a total of three cities.

³⁶ From the tribe of Reuben were allocated Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahaz with its pasture lands,

³⁸ From the tribe of Gad were allocated Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, to serve as a city of refuge for the unintentional killer, Mahanaim with its pasture lands,

⁹ The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of distress.

⁷ I rely on God who is my deliverance and my glory; he is my strong rock, and my refuge is in God. ⁸ People, in every situation put your trust in God; pour out your heart before him; for God is a refuge for us. Interlude

⁴ I look to my right and observe— no one is concerned about me. There is nowhere I can go for refuge, and no one cares for me. ⁵ So I cry to you, Lord, declaring, “You are my refuge, my only possession while I am on this earth.”

⁶ and also to serve as a refuge and shelter from storms and rain.”

²⁸ “Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest.

¹⁸ so that by these two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to prove false, we who have taken refuge in him might be encouraged to seize the hope set before us.

⁵⁴ Levitical Settlements
These are the settlement locations allotted within their borders to Aaron’s descendants in the Kohathite clan since the lot was cast in their favor first. ⁵⁵ Hebron in the territory of Judah was allotted to them, along with its surrounding suburbs. ⁵⁶ The fields adjacent to the city and its villages were allotted to Jephunneh’s son Caleb. ⁵⁷ They allotted these cities of refuge to the descendants of Aaron: Hebron, Libnah with its surrounding suburbs, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its surrounding suburbs, ⁵⁸ Hilen with its surrounding suburbs, Debir with its surrounding suburbs, ⁵⁹ Ashan with its surrounding suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with its surrounding suburbs. ⁶⁰ From the tribe of Benjamin were allotted Geba with its surrounding suburbs, Alemeth with its surrounding suburbs, and Anathoth with its surrounding suburbs. All their towns allotted to their families totaled thirteen.
⁶¹ Ten towns were allocated to the rest of the descendants of Kohath by lot out of the family of the tribe, that is, the half-tribe of Manasseh. ⁶² To the descendants of Gershom according to their families were allotted 13 towns in Bashan from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh. ⁶³ The descendants of Merari were allotted 12 towns according to their families from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. ⁶⁴ So the people of Israel gave the descendants of Levi the towns with their surrounding suburbs, ⁶⁵ allocating these towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
⁶⁶ A few of the families of Kohath’s descendants had towns of their territory allotted from the tribe of Ephraim. ⁶⁷ They were given these cities of refuge: Shechem with its surrounding suburbs in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its surrounding suburbs, ⁶⁸ Jokmeam with its surrounding suburbs, Beth-horon with its surrounding suburbs, ⁶⁹ Aijalon with its surrounding suburbs, Gath-rimmon with its surrounding suburbs, ⁷⁰ and (from of the half-tribe of Manasseh), Aner with its surrounding suburbs, and Bileam with its surrounding suburbs for the rest of the Kohathite families.
⁷¹ From the half-tribe of Manasseh the descendants of Gershom were allotted Golan in Bashan with its surrounding suburbs and Ashtaroth with its surrounding suburbs. ⁷² From the tribe of Issachar were allotted Kedesh with its surrounding suburbs, Daberath with its surrounding suburbs, ⁷³ Ramoth with its surrounding suburbs, and Anem with its surrounding suburbs. ⁷⁴ From of the tribe of Asher were allotted Mashal with its surrounding suburbs, Abdon with its surrounding suburbs, ⁷⁵ Hukok with its surrounding suburbs, and Rehob with its surrounding suburbs. ⁷⁶ From the tribe of Naphtali were allotted Kedesh in Galilee with its surrounding suburbs, Hammon with its surrounding suburbs, and Kiriathaim with its surrounding suburbs. ⁷⁷ From the tribe of Zebulun the rest of the descendants of Merari were allotted Rimmono with its surrounding suburbs, and Tabor with its surrounding suburbs, ⁷⁸ across the Jordan from Jericho, that is, on the east side of the Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben were allotted Bezer in the steppe with its surrounding suburbs, Jahzah with its surrounding suburbs, ⁷⁹ Kedemoth with its surrounding suburbs, and Mephaath with its surrounding suburbs. ⁸⁰ From the tribe of Gad were allotted Ramoth in Gilead with its surrounding suburbs, Mahanaim with its surrounding suburbs, ⁸¹ Heshbon with its surrounding suburbs, and Jazer with its surrounding suburbs.

⁷ Their anger is cursed, because it is so fierce, as is their vehemence, because it is so cruel. I will separate them throughout Jacob’s territory and disperse them throughout Israel.”

¹⁸ When they measured it with a vessel the capacity of which was one omer, the one who gathered much did not have an excess, while the one who gathered little did not lack. They gathered exactly what each needed to eat.

²⁸ The descendants of Levi did just as Moses told them, and about 3,000 people died that day. ²⁹ Moses said, “You have been ordained to serve the LORD today, and you have brought a blessing on yourselves today because every man opposed his son or brother.”

⁵⁴ The more there are in number, you are to increase their inheritance, and the less there are in number, you are to decrease their inheritance. You are to provide an inheritance to each based on the size of their family,

⁵⁴ You are to divide the land among yourselves by lot according to your families. The larger the families are in number, the larger their inheritance is to be. The fewer the families are in number, the lesser their inheritance is to be. To whomever the lot falls, that inheritance goes to him. Divide it according to your ancestral tribes.

⁸ LeviAbout Levi he said: “Let your Thummim and Urim be with the man to whom you showed gracious love, whom you tested at Massah and with whom you struggled at the waters of Meribah, ⁹ the one who told his mother and father, ‘I don’t know them,’ and who would neither acknowledge his brothers nor know his own children. For they kept your word and guarded your covenant. ¹⁰ They will teach your ordinances to Jacob, and your Law to Israel. They will offer incense as a pleasant aroma to you and a whole burnt offering upon your altar. ¹¹ LORD, bless his substance and approve the work that he undertakes. Shatter the legs of those who oppose against him; may those who hate him stand no more.”

¹ Reservation of the Levitical CitiesThen the family leaders of the descendants of Levi approached Eleazar the priest and Nun’s son Joshua, along with the family leaders of the people of Israel.

¹³ Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness. ¹⁴ At the present time, your surplus fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair.

³⁴ “When you enter the land of Canaan that I’m about to give you as your own possession, and if I put a contagion in a house in the land that you possess,

² “Tell the Israelis that when you enter the land that I’m about to give you, you are to let the land observe a Sabbath to the LORD.

² “Issue these orders to the Israelis: ‘You’re about to enter the land of Canaan. This territory has been apportioned to you as your inheritance: the entire land of Canaan, all the way to its borders.’”

⁹ for you haven’t arrived yet to your allotted place that the LORD your God is about to give you.

¹ Cities of Refuge“When the LORD your God destroys those nations whose lands he is about to give you, you must dispossess them and live in their cities and houses. ² You must reserve three cities within the land that the LORD your God is about to give you to possess.

² “Tell the people of Israel to set apart cities of refuge about which I spoke to you through Moses, ³ so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally and without premeditation may run there and be protected from closely related avengers. ⁴ He may run to one of those cities, stand at the entrance to the city gate, and tell his side of the story to the elders of the city. They are to bring him inside the city with them and provide him a place to live among them. ⁵ Now if the closely related avenger pursues him, then they are not to hand the killer over to him, because he killed his neighbor without premeditation and without hating him beforehand. ⁶ He is to live in that city until he stands trial before the community, until the death of the one who is high priest at that time. Then the killer may return to his own city and to his own home, that is, to the city from which he fled.”

¹³ If he didn’t lie in wait, but God let him fall into his reach, then I’ll appoint for you a place to which he may flee.

⁶ You are to set aside six towns of refuge from the towns that you will be giving to the descendants of Levi, where someone who kills a human being may run for shelter. In addition, give them 42 other towns.

²² Case Examples for Eligibility“But if he pushed him suddenly without hatred, or if he hurled something in his direction without waiting in ambush, ²³ or if he hit him with a stone carelessly so that he was fatally injured, though he isn’t his enemy and he wasn’t seeking to commit evil against him, ²⁴ then the community is to judge between the inadvertent killer and the blood avenger, following these ordinances. ²⁵ The community is to release the inadvertent killer from the blood avenger and return him to the town of refuge where he had fled. He is to live there until the High Priest dies, who will have anointed him with holy oil.

⁴² where a person who accidentally killed someone could flee, if he killed his neighbor without having enmity toward him in the past. He may flee to one of these cities and live:

¹ Cities of Refuge“When the LORD your God destroys those nations whose lands he is about to give you, you must dispossess them and live in their cities and houses. ² You must reserve three cities within the land that the LORD your God is about to give you to possess. ³ Build roads throughout the land that the LORD your God is providing as an inheritance, and then divide it into three districts so that any killer may flee there.
⁴ “Now this is the situation for any killer who flees there to live: suppose he strikes his friend unwittingly, not having hated him previously. ⁵ For instance, he may have accompanied his friend to go to a forest to cut trees. Then he swung his axe to cut some wood, but the ax head flew off the handle and hit his friend, so that he died. The killer may flee to one of these cities to live. ⁶ While the distance may be great and the angry avenger pursues the killer, he may overtake him and kill him, in which case there will be no justice in his death, because he did not hate his friend previously. ⁷ Therefore I am commanding you to reserve three cities.”
⁸ Increase the Cities of Refuge“Now if the LORD enlarges your territories just as he promised your ancestors and gives you all the land that he promised, ⁹ and if you are careful to observe all these commands that I am commanding you today—to love the LORD your God and to walk daily in his ways—then add three more cities in addition to these three cities. ¹⁰ You must not shed innocent blood on your land that the LORD your God is about to give you as an inheritance. Otherwise, you’ll be guilty of murder.”
¹¹ Refuse Cold-Blooded Murderers“However, if a person hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises up against him, and attacks him so that he dies, and then he flees to one of those cities, ¹² then the elders of his own city shall send for him, remove him from there, and deliver him to the related avenger for execution. ¹³ Have no pity on him, but totally purge the shedding of innocent blood from Israel so that life may go well with you.”

² “Tell the people of Israel to set apart cities of refuge about which I spoke to you through Moses,

¹⁹ The blood avenger himself is to execute the murderer. When he meets him, the blood avenger is to put him to death.

²⁴ then the community is to judge between the inadvertent killer and the blood avenger, following these ordinances. ²⁵ The community is to release the inadvertent killer from the blood avenger and return him to the town of refuge where he had fled. He is to live there until the High Priest dies, who will have anointed him with holy oil. ²⁶ But if the inadvertent killer leaves the town of refuge where he had fled ²⁷ and the blood avenger finds him outside the town of refuge where he had fled and kills him, the blood avenger is not to be found guilty of murder.

⁶ While the distance may be great and the angry avenger pursues the killer, he may overtake him and kill him, in which case there will be no justice in his death, because he did not hate his friend previously.

¹¹ Refuse Cold-Blooded Murderers“However, if a person hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises up against him, and attacks him so that he dies, and then he flees to one of those cities, ¹² then the elders of his own city shall send for him, remove him from there, and deliver him to the related avenger for execution.

⁹ These were appointed to be cities for all the Israelis and for the foreigner who lives among them, so that whoever kills anyone unintentionally may run there and not die at the hands of a closely related avenger until he stands for trial before the community.

⁷ Now please pay attention closely! My whole family is attacking your humble servant! They’re saying, ‘Turn over the one who attacked his brother and we’ll put him to death in retribution for his brother, whose life he took. That way, we’ll kill the heir also!’ They’re going to extinguish the only light left in my family, leaving my late husband neither an ongoing name nor a survivor on the face of the earth!”

⁸ Increase the Cities of Refuge“Now if the LORD enlarges your territories just as he promised your ancestors and gives you all the land that he promised, ⁹ and if you are careful to observe all these commands that I am commanding you today—to love the LORD your God and to walk daily in his ways—then add three more cities in addition to these three cities. ¹⁰ You must not shed innocent blood on your land that the LORD your God is about to give you as an inheritance. Otherwise, you’ll be guilty of murder.”

⁴⁹ A single law exists for the native and the alien who resides among you.”

²² You are to have for yourselves consistent procedures in deciding a case. As it is for the resident alien, so it is for the native born. I am the LORD your God.”

¹⁶ There is to be one law and one ordinance for you and for the resident alien who lives with you.”

²⁹ Is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the gentiles, too? Yes, of the gentiles, too,

²⁸ Because all of you are one in the Messiah Jesus, a person is no longer a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a male or a female.

⁵ Also, I will certainly demand an accounting regarding bloodshed, from every animal and from every human being. I’ll demand an accounting from every human being for the life of another human being. ⁶ “Whoever sheds human blood, by a human his own blood is to be shed; because God made human beings in his own image.

¹² Laws Concerning Personal Injury and Homicide“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies is certainly to be put to death. ¹³ If he didn’t lie in wait, but God let him fall into his reach, then I’ll appoint for you a place to which he may flee. ¹⁴ If a man acts deliberately against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you are to take him to die even if he’s at my altar.

¹⁷ “If a man beats a human being to death, he is certainly to be executed,

²² Case Examples for Eligibility“But if he pushed him suddenly without hatred, or if he hurled something in his direction without waiting in ambush, ²³ or if he hit him with a stone carelessly so that he was fatally injured, though he isn’t his enemy and he wasn’t seeking to commit evil against him, ²⁴ then the community is to judge between the inadvertent killer and the blood avenger, following these ordinances.

³⁰ Capital Cases Require Multiple Witnesses“Every murderer of a human being is to be executed only according to testimony given by multiple witnesses. A single witness is not to result in a death sentence. ³¹ You are to receive no ransom for the life of a killer who is guilty of murder; instead, he is to die. ³² You are not to receive payment of a ransom for someone who had fled to a town of refuge but then left to live in his homeland before the death of the high priest. ³³ You are not to pollute the land where you live, because blood defiles the land, and the land cannot atone for blood that has been spilled on it, except through the blood of the one who spilled it.

¹⁸ “If people quarrel and one strikes the other with a rock or his fist, and he does not die but ends up in bed,

¹² They are to serve as cities of refuge from a blood avenger in order to keep the inadvertent killer from dying until he has stood trial in the presence of the community.

²¹ or if he struck him with his hand out of hatred so that he died, then the killer is certainly to be put to death for murder. The avenger of blood is to put him to death when he meets him.”

²⁴ then the community is to judge between the inadvertent killer and the blood avenger, following these ordinances.

²⁷ and the blood avenger finds him outside the town of refuge where he had fled and kills him, the blood avenger is not to be found guilty of murder.

¹² then the elders of his own city shall send for him, remove him from there, and deliver him to the related avenger for execution.

³ so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally and without premeditation may run there and be protected from closely related avengers.

⁵ Now if the closely related avenger pursues him, then they are not to hand the killer over to him, because he killed his neighbor without premeditation and without hating him beforehand.

⁵ but he did not look favorably upon Cain and his offering.
When Cain became very upset and depressed,

⁸ Instead, Cain told his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the wilderness.” When they were outside in the fields, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

¹⁴ If a man acts deliberately against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you are to take him to die even if he’s at my altar.

¹¹ Refuse Cold-Blooded Murderers“However, if a person hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises up against him, and attacks him so that he dies, and then he flees to one of those cities,

¹⁰ The next day, while David was playing the lyre as he had before, the evil spirit from the LORD attacked Saul, and he began to rave inside the house with a spear in his hand. ¹¹ Saul hurled it, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from him twice.

²⁵ Saul said, “This is what you are to tell David, ‘The king desires no bride price except 100 Philistine foreskins to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought he would cause David to die at the hand of the Philistines.

⁹ The evil spirit from the LORD attacked Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand and David was playing the lyre. ¹⁰ Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he jumped away from Saul and the spear stuck in the wall. That night David escaped and fled.
¹¹ Michal Helps David EscapeSaul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him so they could kill him in the morning. David’s wife, Michal, told him, “If you don’t escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be put to death.” ¹² So Michal let David down through the window, and he escaped and fled.

¹ David and Jonathan’s DiscussionDavid fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and said, “What have I done? What is my crime, and how have I wronged your father so that he’s determined to kill me?

⁷ It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, and Saul said, “The LORD has delivered him into my hand because he has shut himself in by going into a town with double gates and bars.” ⁸ Saul summoned for battle all his forces to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
⁹ David knew that Saul was devising evil plans against him, and so he told Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

¹¹ Looke, my father, look! The corner of your robe is in my hand. Indeed, by my cutting off the corner of your robe and not killing you, you may know and understand that I have no evil intent or transgression—I haven’t wronged you, even though you are hunting me to take my life.

²⁷ When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab brought him aside within the gateway to talk to him alone and then stabbed him in the abdomen. So he died for shedding the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

²² But Absalom never said a word, either good or bad, to Amnon. Nevertheless, he hated Amnon because he had humiliated his sister Tamar.

²⁸ Then Absalom instructed his young men, “Please keep watching Amnon until he’s drunk. Then I’ll tell you, ‘Attack Amnon!’ As soon as I do, kill him and don’t be afraid! You have your orders, so be strong and brave!” ²⁹ So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as they had been ordered, but the rest of David’s sons jumped up, mounted their mules, and escaped.

¹⁰ Amasa did not notice the sword that Joab was holding in his hand. Joab stabbed him in the abdomen, spilling his intestines to the ground in a single stroke and killing him. After this, Joab and his brother pursued Bichri’s son Sheba.

⁵ “Furthermore, you’re aware of what Zeruiah’s son Joab did to me and to those two commanders of the armies of Israel, Ner’s son Abner and Jether’s son Amasa, whom he killed, and how he shed the blood of wartime during times of peace, staining the very belt he wears around his waist and the sandals he wears on his feet. ⁶ So act consistently with your wisdom, and don’t let him die as a peaceful old man.

³¹ The king replied to him, “Do just what he asked. Kill him and bury him so that you may remove from me and from my father’s household the guilt that Joab shed needlessly. ³² The LORD will repay him for his bloodshed because, without my father David’s consent he attacked and murdered two men more righteous and better than he, Ner’s son Abner, the commander of Israel’s army and Jether’s son Amasa, commander of Judah’s army. ³³ May their blood be repaid to Joab and to his descendants forever, and may there be peace shown from the LORD forever to David, to his descendants, to his household, and to his throne.”

⁷ Their mouth is full of curses, lies, and oppression, their tongues spread trouble and iniquity. ⁸ They wait in ambush in the villages, they kill the innocent in secret. ⁹ Their eyes secretly watch the helpless, lying in wait like a lion in his den. They lie in wait to catch the afflicted. They catch the afflicted when they pull him into their net. ¹⁰ The victim is crushed, and he sinks down; the helpless fall by their might.

² Look, the wicked have bent their bow and placed their arrow on the string, to shoot from the darkness at the upright in heart.

⁷ Without justification they laid a snare for me; without justification they dug a pit to trap me. ⁸ Let destruction come upon them unawares, and let the net that he hid catch him; let him fall into destruction.

⁴ I am surrounded by lions. I lie down with those who burn with fire— that is, with people whose teeth are like spears and arrows— whose tongues are like sharp swords. ⁵ Be exalted above the heavens, God! May your glory cover the earth! ⁶ They have set a snare for my feet, which makes me depressed. They dug a pit in front of me, but they are the ones who fell into it! Interlude

¹⁸ but these people lie in wait for their own blood. They ambush only themselves. ¹⁹ Such is the way of all those who seek illicit gain— it takes away the lives of those who possess it.

²⁴ Someone who hates hides behind his words, harboring deceit within himself.

¹⁷ A guilty man tormented by bloodshed will be a lifelong fugitive; let no one support him.

¹⁹ So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she couldn’t do it

²⁴ So she went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”
Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
²⁵ Immediately the girl hurried back to the king with her request, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
²⁶ The king was deeply saddened, yet because of his oaths and his guests he was reluctant to refuse her.

²⁹ They got up, forced Jesus out of the city, and led him to the edge of the hill on which their city was built, intending to throw him off.

³ and stayed there for three months. When he was about to sail for Syria, a plot was initiated against him by the Jews, so he decided to go back through Macedonia.

²¹ Don’t believe them, because more than 40 of them are planning to ambush him. They’ve taken an oath not to eat or drink before they’ve killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.”

¹¹ they are to designate some towns of refuge so that anyone who kills someone inadvertently may flee there.

⁵ For instance, he may have accompanied his friend to go to a forest to cut trees. Then he swung his axe to cut some wood, but the ax head flew off the handle and hit his friend, so that he died. The killer may flee to one of these cities to live.

⁶ He is to live in that city until he stands trial before the community, until the death of the one who is high priest at that time. Then the killer may return to his own city and to his own home, that is, to the city from which he fled.”

⁷ You are to take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him.

³ or if the anointed priest sins, thereby bringing guilt on the people, let him bring a young bull without defect as a sin offering to the LORD for his sin that he had committed.

¹² After doing this, he poured the oil of anointing on Aaron’s head to anoint and consecrate him.

¹⁰ “The high priest among his relatives—whose head has been anointed with oil and who has been consecrated to put on the priestly clothing—is not to let his hair hang loose or to tear his clothes.

²⁸ The inadvertent killer is to live in the town of refuge until the High Priest dies. After the death of the High Priest, the inadvertent killer is to return to the land of his inheritance.

²⁴ By his grace they are justified freely through the redemption that is in the Messiah Jesus, ²⁵ whom God offered as a place where atonement by the Messiah’s blood would occur through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because he had waited patiently to deal with sins committed in the past. ²⁶ He wanted to demonstrate at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies anyone who has the faithfulness of Jesus.

¹⁶ and reconciling both groups to God in one body through the cross, on which he eliminated the hostility. ¹⁷ He came and proclaimed peace for you who were far away and for you who were near. ¹⁸ For through him, both of us have access to the Father by one Spirit.

¹⁴ Our Compassionate High PriestTherefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us live our lives consistent with our confession of faith. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Instead, we have one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet he never sinned. ¹⁶ So let us keep on coming boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

²⁵ Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.
²⁶ We need such a high priest—one who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ He has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he sacrificed himself. ²⁸ For the Law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promised oath, which came after the Law, results in a Son who is eternally perfect.

¹² Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he went into the Most Holy Place once for all and secured our eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are unclean purifies them physically, ¹⁴ how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead actions so that we may serve the living God!
¹⁵ The Messiah is the Mediator of a New CovenantThis is why the Messiah is the mediator of a new covenant; so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance promised them, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the offenses committed under the first covenant.

¹⁹ How We Should LiveTherefore, my brothers, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), ²¹ and since we have a great high priest over the household of God, ²² let us continue to come near with sincere hearts in the full assurance that faith provides, because our hearts have been sprinkled clean from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

² “If a thief is found while breaking into a house, and is struck down and dies, it is not a capital crime in that case,

¹⁰ You must not shed innocent blood on your land that the LORD your God is about to give you as an inheritance. Otherwise, you’ll be guilty of murder.”

⁴ “Abide in me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Unless a person abides in me, he is thrown away like a pruned branch and dries up. People gather such branches, throw them into a fire, and they are burned up.

²³ When he arrived, he rejoiced to see what the grace of God had done, and with hearty determination he kept encouraging all of them to remain faithful to the Lord,

³¹ Paul told the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain onboard, you cannot be saved.”

¹⁴ because we are the Messiah’s partners only if we hold on to our original confidence to the end.

⁴ For it is impossible to keep on restoring to repentance time and again people who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have become partners with the Holy Spirit, ⁵ who have tasted the goodness of God’s word and the powers of the coming age, ⁶ and who have fallen away, as long as they continue to crucify the Son of God to their own detriment by exposing him to public ridicule. ⁷ For when the ground soaks up rain that often falls on it and continues producing vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated, it receives a blessing from God. ⁸ However, if it continues to produce thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed, and in the end will be burned.

¹¹ The Messiah Has Offered a Superior SacrificeBut when the Messiah came as a high priest of the good things that have come, he went through the greater and more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not a part of this creation. ¹² Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he went into the Most Holy Place once for all and secured our eternal redemption.

¹⁵ The Messiah is the Mediator of a New CovenantThis is why the Messiah is the mediator of a new covenant; so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance promised them, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the offenses committed under the first covenant. ¹⁶ For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For a will is in force only when somebody has died, since it never takes effect as long as the one who made it is alive.

²⁶ For if we choose to go on sinning after we have learned the full truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who violates the Law of Moses dies without mercy “on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” ²⁹ How much more severe a punishment do you think that person deserves who tramples on God’s Son, treats as common the blood of the covenant by which it was sanctified, and insults the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know the one who said, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will pay them back,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

³⁹ Now, we do not belong to those who turn back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

¹ Zelophehad’s Daughters
Now the daughters of Hepher’s son Zelophehad, Gilead’s grandson, who had been fathered by Machir, who had been fathered by Manasseh, from the tribe of Manasseh, the direct son of Joseph, were named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached

¹¹ If his father doesn’t have brothers, then give his inheritance to a relative who is nearest to him from the family and he’ll take possession of it. This is to be a permanent ordinance for the Israelis, just as the LORD commanded Moses.”

¹⁶ Exceptions to Eligibility“Whoever uses an iron implement to kill someone is to be adjudged a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death.

⁶ Based on the testimony of two or three witnesses, they must surely die. But they are not to die based on the testimony of one person. ⁷ Let the witnesses be the first to begin executing them, then the rest of the people shall follow. By doing this you will purge evil from among you.”

¹⁵ Laws about Witnesses“The testimony of one person alone is not to suffice to convict anyone of any iniquity, sin, or guilt. But the matter will stand on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

¹⁶ But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two others with you so that ‘every word may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

⁵¹ “Surely our Law does not condemn a person without first hearing from him and finding out what he is doing, does it?”

¹⁷ In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two people is valid. ¹⁸ I’m testifying about myself, and the Father who sent me is testifying about me.”

¹ Final WarningsThis will be the third time I am coming to you. “Every accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses.”

¹⁹ Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported “by two or three witnesses.”

²⁸ Anyone who violates the Law of Moses dies without mercy “on the testimony of two or three witnesses.”

³ I will give my two witnesses who wear sackcloth the authority to prophesy for 1,260 days.”

¹³ At this point, David told Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Nathan responded to David, “There’s one other thing: the LORD has forgiven your sin. You won’t die.

²⁸ Joab is ExecutedWhen Joab learned what had happened, he ran to the LORD’s tent and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar, since Joab had supported Adonijah (though he had not supported Absalom). ²⁹ Somebody informed King Solomon, “Joab just ran to the LORD’s tent and now he’s standing beside the altar!”
But Solomon ordered Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, “Go kill him!”
³⁰ So Benaiah went into the LORD’s tent and told Joab, “The king orders you to come out!”
“No,” Joab said, “I’d rather die here!”
So Benaiah went and informed the king, “This is how Joab answered me.”
³¹ The king replied to him, “Do just what he asked. Kill him and bury him so that you may remove from me and from my father’s household the guilt that Joab shed needlessly. ³² The LORD will repay him for his bloodshed because, without my father David’s consent he attacked and murdered two men more righteous and better than he, Ner’s son Abner, the commander of Israel’s army and Jether’s son Amasa, commander of Judah’s army. ³³ May their blood be repaid to Joab and to his descendants forever, and may there be peace shown from the LORD forever to David, to his descendants, to his household, and to his throne.”
³⁴ Jehoiada’s son Benaiah then approached Joab, attacked him, killed him, and had him buried at Joab’s home in the wilderness.

¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of shedding blood, God, God of my salvation. Then my tongue will sing about your righteousness.

¹² There is no salvation by anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”

²¹ I do not misapply God’s grace, for if righteousness comes about by doing what the Law requires, then the Messiah died for nothing.

¹⁰ No One is Justified by the LawCertainly all who depend on the actions of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, “A curse on everyone who does not obey everything that is written in the Book of the Law!” ¹¹ Now it is obvious that no one is justified in the sight of God by the Law, because “The righteous will live by faith.” ¹² But the Law has nothing to do with faith. Instead, “The person who keeps the commandments will have life in them.” ¹³ The Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written, “A curse on everyone who is hung on a tree!”

²² But the Scripture has captured everything by means of sin’s net, so that what was promised by the faithfulness of the Messiah might be granted to those who believe.

⁹ They sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered. With your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

⁶ “Whoever sheds human blood, by a human his own blood is to be shed; because God made human beings in his own image.

²⁵ The land has been defiled, so I brought the punishment of its iniquity to it. As a result, the land is vomiting out its inhabitants.

¹ Atonement for Unsolved Murder“If a murder victim is found fallen in the open country of the land that the LORD your God is about to give you to possess, and it is not known who killed him, ² then let your elders and judges go out and measure the distance from the dead body to the neighboring cities. ³ Then the elders of the city nearest the body are to take a heifer that hasn’t been put to work or hasn’t pulled a yoke ⁴ and are to lead the heifer to a flowing stream in a valley that has never been tilled or planted. They are to break the heifer’s neck there. ⁵ Then the priests of the sons of Levi are to step forward, because the LORD your God chose them to serve and pronounce blessings in his name. Every case of dispute and assault is to be subject to their ruling. ⁶ All the elders of the city nearest the dead body are to wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley, ⁷ and they are to make this declaration: ‘Our hands didn’t shed this blood, nor were we witnesses to the crime. ⁸ Make atonement for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, LORD, and don’t charge the blood of an innocent man against them.’ Then the blood shed will be atoned for.

²³ his body must not remain overnight on the tree. You must bury him that same day, because cursed of God is the one who has been hanged on a tree. Don’t defile your land that the LORD is about to give you as your inheritance.”

²⁶ Even so, the LORD did not turn away from his fierce and great anger that burned against Judah because of everything with which Manasseh had provoked him.

⁴ as well as for the innocent blood that he had shed. He had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD would not forgive them.

²⁸ For they adopted the worship of Baal Peor and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.

³⁸ They shed innocent blood— the blood of their sons and daughters— whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, thereby polluting the land with blood.

²¹ For see, the LORD is coming from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their sins; the earth will reveal the blood that has been shed on it, and will no longer conceal its slain.”

²⁴ “Son of Man, tell her, ‘You’re a land that hasn’t been purified, one that hasn’t been rained on in the day of indignation. ²⁵ There’s a conspiracy of prophets within her, and like a roaring lion tearing its prey, they’ve devoured people, and confiscated treasures, and taken precious things. They’ve added to the population of widows within her. ²⁶ Her priests have violated my Law and profaned my sacred things. They didn’t differentiate between what’s sacred and what’s common. They didn’t instruct others to discern clean from unclean things. They refused to keep my Sabbaths.
“‘I’m constantly being profaned among them. ²⁷ Her princes within her are like wolves tearing their prey apart. They shed blood, destroying souls, and make unjust gain.

² Swearing, lying, murder, theft, and adultery are rampant, and blood mingles with blood. ³ Therefore the land will mourn, and all who live there will languish, along with the wild animals of the field and the birds of the air. Even the fish in the sea will disappear.

¹¹ The Nations Despise Zion“Now many nations have gathered against you, saying, ‘Let her be defiled,’ and ‘Let’s look down on Zion.’

³¹ Therefore, you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Then finish what your ancestors started! ³³ You snakes, you children of serpents! How can you escape being condemned to hell?
³⁴ “That is why I am sending you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from town to town. ³⁵ As a result, you will be held accountable for all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Berechiah’s son Zechariah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

⁵⁰ so those living today will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that was shed since the foundation of the world, ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who died between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation!

⁸ Let them make a sanctuary for me so I may live among them.

⁴⁵ I’ll live among the Israelis, and I’ll be their God. ⁴⁶ They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of Egypt so that I may live among them. I am the LORD your God.”

²⁴ “You are not to defile yourselves by doing any of these things, since all of these nations that I’m casting out before you have defiled themselves this way. ²⁵ The land has been defiled, so I brought the punishment of its iniquity to it. As a result, the land is vomiting out its inhabitants.

²⁴ But I’ve promised you that you’ll inherit the land that I’m about to give you as your permanent possession—a land flowing with milk and honey.
“I am your God. I’ve separated you from the people. ²⁵ You are to differentiate between the clean animal and the unclean and between the unclean bird and the clean. You are not to make yourselves detestable on account of any animal, bird, or any creeping creature of the ground that I’ve separated for you as unclean.
²⁶ “You are to be holy toward me, because I, the LORD, am holy. I’ve separated you from among the people to be mine.

³ Whether male or female, send them outside the camp so that they won’t defile their camp, because I live among them.”

¹³ I will reside among the Israelis and will never abandon my people Israel.”

¹⁴ “This is my resting place forever. Here I will live, because I desire to do so.

²¹ Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who lives in Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

¹² “Don’t call conspiracy everything that this people calls conspiracy, and don’t fear what they fear, or live in terror.

¹⁵ “For this is what the high and lofty One says, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “He lives in the height and in holiness, and also with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

³ They will not live in the LORD’s land— Ephraim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Assyria.

¹⁶ What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” ¹⁷ Therefore, “Get away from them and separate yourselves from them,” declares the Lord, “and don’t touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.

³ I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See, the tent of God is among humans! He will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God.

²⁷ Nothing unclean, or anyone who does anything detestable, and no one who tells lies will ever enter it. Only those whose names are written in the lamb’s Book of Life will enter it.