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利未人的城

35 耶和華在耶利哥對面,約旦河邊的摩押平原,對摩西說: “你要吩咐以色列人,叫他們從所得為業的地中,把一些城給利未人居住,也把這些城周圍的郊區給利未人。 這些城要歸他們居住,城的郊區可以牧放他們的牛羊和一切牲畜,也可以存放他們的財物。

“你們給利未人的城郊,要從城牆起,周圍向外量四百五十公尺。 你們又要從城外,向東面量九百公尺,向南面量九百公尺,向西面量九百公尺,向北面量九百公尺,城在中間;這要歸給他們作城外的郊區。 你們分給利未人的城,其中要有六座避難城,讓誤殺人的可以逃到那裡去,此外還要給他們四十二座城。 這樣,你們所要給利未人的城,共為四十八座,連城帶城郊都要給他們。 從以色列人所得的地業中,你們要把一些城給利未人,人多的就要多給,人少的就要少給;每個支派要照著自己承受的產業,把城分給利未人。”

避難城(A)

耶和華對摩西說: 10 “你要吩咐以色列人說:‘你們過約旦河,進到迦南地的時候, 11 就要選擇幾座城,給你們作避難城,讓誤殺人的,就是無心殺死人的,可以逃到那裡。 12 它們可以作你們逃避報仇者的避難城,使誤殺人的不至於死,直到他站在會眾面前受審判。 13 你們指定的城,要給你們作六座避難城。 14 在約旦河東面,你們要分出三座城;在迦南地,你們也要分出三座城,都要作避難城。 15 這六座城要給以色列人和外族人,以及他們中間居住的人作避難城,使無心殺人的人,都可以逃到那裡去。

16 “‘如果人用鐵器打人,以致把人打死,他就是故意殺人的;故意殺人的必被處死。 17 如果人手裡拿著可以打死人的石頭打人,以致把人打死,他就是故意殺人的;故意殺人的必被處死。 18 如果人手裡拿著可以打死人的木器打人,以致把人打死,他就是故意殺人的;故意殺人的必被處死。 19 報血仇的,要親自把那故意殺人的殺死;一遇見他,就可以殺死他。 20 如果人因懷恨把人推倒,或是埋伏著向人扔東西,以致把人打死; 21 或者因仇恨用手打人,以致把人打死;那打人的,必被處死,因為他是故意殺人的;報血仇的一遇見兇手,就可以殺死他。

22 “‘但是,如果人沒有仇恨,忽然把人推倒,或是無意向人投擲甚麼器皿, 23 或是因為沒有看見,用任何可以打死人的石頭,扔在人身上,以致把人打死,他本來與他無仇,也無意害他; 24 這樣,會眾就要照著典章,在打死人的和報血仇的人中間施行裁判。 25 會眾要把誤殺人的,從報血仇的人手中救出來;把他送回他所逃到的避難城去,他要住在那裡,直到受聖膏的大祭司死了。 26 但誤殺人的,若是出了他逃進的避難城的境界, 27 報血仇的在避難城境外遇著他,把他殺了,報血仇的就沒有犯流人血的罪。 28 因為那誤殺人的應該住在避難城中,直到大祭司死了;大祭司死了以後,那誤殺人的才可以回到他自己地業去。

29 “‘這在你們一切居住的地方,要作你們世世代代的律例典章。 30 殺人的,要憑著幾個見證人的口供,才可以把他處死;如果只有一個見證人,就不能指證把人處死。 31 犯了死罪,故意殺人的,你們不可收取贖價代他贖命,因為他必被處死。 32 逃到避難城的人,你們也不可收取他的贖價,使他在大祭司未死以前回到本地居住。 33 這樣,你們就沒有玷污你們所在之地,因為血能玷污地;在地上如果有流人血的,除非流那故意殺人者的血,那地的血就不能得贖。 34 你們不可玷污你所住的地,就是我居住的地,因為我耶和華是居住在以色列人中間的。’”

Herencia de los levitas

35 El Señor se dirigió a Moisés en las llanuras de Moab, junto al Jordán, frente a Jericó, y le dijo:

«Ordena a los israelitas que, del territorio que les corresponde, den a los levitas ciudades para que vivan, y que les den también los campos de pastoreo que rodean las ciudades. Los levitas vivirán en esas ciudades, y en los campos tendrán su ganado y demás animales. Los campos de pastoreo que deben darles se extenderán alrededor de la ciudad, cuatrocientos cincuenta metros hacia afuera de la muralla. Todo el terreno formará un cuadrado de novecientos metros por lado, es decir, que medirá lo mismo por el este y por el oeste, por el norte y por el sur. La ciudad quedará en medio, con los campos de pastoreo alrededor.

»De las ciudades que les den a los levitas, seis serán ciudades de refugio, donde pueda buscar protección la persona que haya matado a alguien. Aparte de estas seis ciudades, les darán ustedes otras cuarenta y dos; en total, deben dar a los levitas cuarenta y ocho ciudades con sus campos de pastoreo. Cuando del territorio propio de los israelitas den las ciudades para los levitas, cada tribu deberá dar en proporción a lo que le haya tocado: de los territorios más grandes se tomarán más ciudades, y de los más pequeños, menos ciudades.»

Ciudades de refugio(A)

El Señor se dirigió a Moisés y le dijo:

10 «Di a los israelitas lo siguiente: Cuando ustedes crucen el río Jordán para entrar en Canaán, 11 deberán escoger algunas ciudades como ciudades de refugio, donde pueda buscar refugio la persona que sin intención haya matado a otra. 12 Allí quedará a salvo del pariente del muerto que quiera vengarlo, y no morirá hasta que se haya presentado ante el pueblo para ser juzgado. 13 De las ciudades dadas, seis serán para refugio: 14 tres al oriente del Jordán y tres en Canaán. 15 Estas seis ciudades serán ciudades de refugio, tanto para los israelitas como para los extranjeros que vivan o estén de paso entre ustedes. Allí podrá refugiarse todo el que sin intención haya matado a otra persona.

16 »Si alguien hiere a otro con un objeto de hierro, y el herido muere, se trata de un asesinato, y el asesino será condenado a muerte.

17 »Si alguien golpea a otro con una piedra que pueda causar la muerte, y el golpeado muere, se trata de un asesinato, y el asesino será condenado a muerte.

18 »Si alguien golpea a otro con un palo que pueda causar la muerte, y el golpeado muere, se trata de un asesinato, y el asesino será condenado a muerte. 19 El pariente más cercano del muerto se encargará de dar muerte al asesino cuando lo encuentre.

20 »Si alguien empuja a otro por odio, o si le lanza alguna cosa con malas intenciones, 21 o si por enemistad lo golpea con las manos, y el otro muere, el culpable será condenado a muerte porque es un asesino. El pariente más cercano del muerto se encargará de dar muerte al asesino cuando lo encuentre.

22 »Pero si alguien empuja a otro accidentalmente, no por enemistad, o si le lanza alguna cosa sin mala intención, 23 o sin fijarse lanza una piedra que pueda causar la muerte, y la piedra le cae encima y lo mata no siendo ellos enemigos ni queriendo él hacerle daño, 24 entonces el pueblo actuará como juez entre el que causó la muerte y el pariente que quiera vengar a la víctima, según estas reglas. 25 El pueblo deberá proteger de la venganza del pariente al que causó la muerte, y deberá hacer que vuelva a la ciudad de refugio donde había buscado refugio. El que mató deberá quedarse allí hasta que muera el sumo sacerdote debidamente consagrado. 26 Pero si sale del territorio de la ciudad de refugio, 27 el pariente de la víctima no cometerá ningún crimen si lo encuentra fuera y lo mata. 28 El que mató deberá quedarse en la ciudad de refugio hasta la muerte del sumo sacerdote. Después podrá volver a su tierra.

29 »Estas disposiciones serán para ustedes una ley que pasará de padres a hijos, dondequiera que ustedes vivan.

Leyes sobre testimonios y rescates

30 »Sólo por el testimonio de varios testigos podrá ser condenado a muerte un asesino. Un solo testigo no basta para condenar a muerte a nadie.

31 »No se podrá aceptar dinero como rescate por la vida de un asesino condenado a muerte; ese hombre deberá morir.

32 »No se podrá aceptar dinero por permitir que un asesino que ha buscado refugio en una de las ciudades señaladas pueda regresar a su tierra antes de la muerte del sumo sacerdote.

33 »No profanen con asesinatos el país en que van a vivir, pues el asesinato profana el país, y no hay más rescate por un asesinato que la muerte del que lo cometió.

34 »No profanen la tierra en que van a vivir y en la que yo también viviré, pues yo, el Señor, vivo entre los israelitas.»

35 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, “Command the children of Israel to give to the Levites cities to dwell in out of their inheritance. You shall give pasture lands for the cities around them to the Levites. They shall have the cities to dwell in. Their pasture lands shall be for their livestock, and for their possessions, and for all their animals.

“The pasture lands of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, shall be from the wall of the city and outward one thousand cubits[a] around it. You shall measure outside of the city for the east side two thousand cubits, and for the south side two thousand cubits, and for the west side two thousand cubits, and for the north side two thousand cubits, the city being in the middle. This shall be the pasture lands of their cities.

“The cities which you shall give to the Levites, they shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the man slayer to flee to. Besides them you shall give forty-two cities. All the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities together with their pasture lands. Concerning the cities which you shall give of the possession of the children of Israel, from the many you shall take many, and from the few you shall take few. Everyone according to his inheritance which he inherits shall give some of his cities to the Levites.” Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 then you shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the man slayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there. 12 The cities shall be for your refuge from the avenger, that the man slayer not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. 13 The cities which you shall give shall be for you six cities of refuge. 14 You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and you shall give three cities in the land of Canaan. They shall be cities of refuge. 15 These six cities shall be refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the foreigner living among them, that everyone who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.

16 “‘But if he struck him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. 17 If he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. 18 Or if he struck him with a weapon of wood in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death. When he meets him, he shall put him to death. 20 If he shoved him out of hatred, or hurled something at him while lying in wait, so that he died, 21 or in hostility struck him with his hand, so that he died, he who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

22 “‘But if he shoved him suddenly without hostility, or hurled on him anything without lying in wait, 23 or with any stone, by which a man may die, not seeing him, and cast it on him so that he died, and he was not his enemy and not seeking his harm, 24 then the congregation shall judge between the striker and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. 25 The congregation shall deliver the man slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, where he had fled. He shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

26 “‘But if the man slayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge where he flees, 27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside of the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the man slayer, he shall not be guilty of blood, 28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest, the man slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

29 “‘These things shall be for a statute and ordinance to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

30 “‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain based on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify alone against any person so that he dies.

31 “‘Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death. He shall surely be put to death.

32 “‘You shall take no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may come again to dwell in the land before the death of the priest.

33 “‘So you shall not pollute the land where you live; for blood pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it. 34 You shall not defile the land which you inhabit, where I dwell; for I, Yahweh, dwell among the children of Israel.’”

Footnotes

  1. 35:4 A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters.

Towns for the Levites

35 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho,(A) the Lord said to Moses, “Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in(B) from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands(C) around the towns. Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals.(D)

“The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits[a] from the town wall. Outside the town, measure two thousand cubits[b](E) on the east side, two thousand on the south side, two thousand on the west and two thousand on the north, with the town in the center. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns.(F)

Cities of Refuge(G)

“Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee.(H) In addition, give them forty-two other towns. In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.”(I)

Then the Lord said to Moses: 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan,(J) 11 select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone(K) accidentally(L) may flee. 12 They will be places of refuge from the avenger,(M) so that anyone accused of murder(N) may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.(O) 13 These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge.(P) 14 Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge. 15 These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.

16 “‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.(Q) 17 Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. 18 Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood(R) shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death.(S) 20 If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally(T) so that they die 21 or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death;(U) that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood(V) shall put the murderer to death when they meet.

22 “‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally(W) 23 or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, 24 the assembly(X) must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. 25 The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest,(Y) who was anointed(Z) with the holy oil.(AA)

26 “‘But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled 27 and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. 28 The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property.

29 “‘This is to have the force of law(AB) for you throughout the generations to come,(AC) wherever you live.(AD)

30 “‘Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.(AE)

31 “‘Do not accept a ransom(AF) for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death.

32 “‘Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest.

33 “‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land,(AG) and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34 Do not defile the land(AH) where you live and where I dwell,(AI) for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites.’”

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 35:4 That is, about 1,500 feet or about 450 meters
  2. Numbers 35:5 That is, about 3,000 feet or about 900 meters