利未人分到的城邑

35 在耶利哥對面、約旦河邊的摩押平原,耶和華對摩西說: 「你告訴以色列人,要從分得的產業中把一些城邑及其周圍的草場分給利未人。 城邑供他們居住,草場供他們牧放牛羊等牲畜。 劃分給利未人的草場是從城牆往外延伸四百五十米[a] 要以城為中心,東南西北四郊每邊向外量九百米作利未人的草場。 要分給利未人四十二座城邑,另外再加六座供誤殺人者躲避的避難城, 共四十八座城邑,包括城周圍的草場。 以色列各支派要從自己承受的產業中分一些城邑給利未人,人多的支派多給,人少的支派少給。」

避難城

耶和華對摩西說: 10 「告訴以色列人,『你們過了約旦河進入迦南以後, 11 要選一些城邑作為避難城,供誤殺人者逃去避難, 12 躲避復仇的人,以免誤殺人者未在會眾面前受審便被殺死。 13 你們要選六座城作為避難城, 14 三座在約旦河東岸,三座在迦南。 15 凡誤殺人的,無論是以色列人還是寄居的外族人,都可以逃到這些城避難。

16 「『倘若有人用鐵器打人致死,他就是故意殺人,必須被處死。 17 倘若有人用足以致命的石頭打人致死,他就是故意殺人,必須被處死。 18 倘若有人用足以致命的木器打人致死,他就是故意殺人,必須被處死。 19 報仇的人要親自處死故意殺人者,一找到他就要處死他。 20 倘若有人因怨恨把人推倒致死,或故意扔東西砸人致死, 21 或因仇恨徒手傷人致死,他就是故意殺人,必須被處死,報仇的人一找到他就要處死他。

22 「『倘若有人並非懷恨而是偶然推倒人致死,或無意間扔東西砸人致死, 23 或因沒有看見而扔石頭砸人致死,鑒於他與對方並非仇人,只是誤殺, 24 會眾就要照這些律例在誤殺人者與復仇者之間做出判決。 25 會眾要把誤殺人者從復仇者手裡救出來,讓他回到他原先逃往的避難城。他要住在那裡,一直住到受聖油膏立的大祭司逝世。 26 但倘若誤殺人者離開避難城, 27 復仇者在城外找到他,將他殺死也不用擔血債。 28 因為誤殺人者必須留在避難城內,等到大祭司逝世之後,才可返回家園。 29 這是你們世世代代無論住在哪裡都要遵守的律例。

30 「『倘若有人被控謀殺,必須有幾個人作證才可以處死他,不可憑一個人的證詞處死他。 31 犯了死罪的殺人兇手必須償命,不可讓他付贖金免死。 32 不可收逃進避難城之人的贖金,讓他在大祭司逝世前返回家園。 33 這樣,你們就不致玷污你們所居住的土地,因為血會玷污土地。除非用兇手的血作抵償,否則被血玷污的土地無法得到潔淨。 34 不可玷污你們所居住的土地,因為這是我居住的地方,我耶和華住在以色列人中間。』」

Footnotes

  1. 35·4 四百五十米」七十士譯本為「九百一十米」。

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

Cities for the Levites

35 (A)Now Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying, “Command the sons of Israel that they give to the Levites from the inheritance of their possession cities to live in; and you shall give to the Levites pasture lands around the cities. And the cities shall be theirs to live in; and their pasture lands shall be for their cattle and for their herds and for all their beasts.

“And the pasture lands of the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city [a]outward [b]one thousand cubits around. You shall also measure outside the city on the east side [c]two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits, with the city in the center. This shall become theirs as pasture lands for the cities.

Cities of Refuge

And the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be the (B)six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee to; and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities. All the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be (C)forty-eight cities, [d]together with their pasture lands. (D)Now as for the cities which you shall give from the possession of the sons of Israel, you shall take more from the larger, and you shall take less from the smaller; each shall give some of his cities to the Levites in proportion to his possession which he inherits.”

Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 10 (E)Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 (F)then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your (G)cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has struck down any person (H)unintentionally may flee there. 12 (I)And the cities shall be for you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. 13 And the cities which you are to give shall be your six cities of refuge. 14 You (J)shall give three cities across the Jordan and three cities [e]in the land of Canaan; they are to be cities of refuge. 15 These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel and for the sojourner and for the foreign resident among them; that anyone who strikes a person down (K)unintentionally may flee there.

16 (L)But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. 17 And if he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer (M)shall surely be put to death. 18 Or if he struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. 19 The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he shall put him to death when he meets him. 20 (N)And if he pushed him of hatred or threw something at him (O)lying in wait and as a result he died, 21 or if he struck him down with his hand in enmity, and as a result he died, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death; he is a murderer; the blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

22 (P)But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity or threw something at him without lying in wait, 23 or with any stone—by which one might die, yet without seeing—and it fell upon him, and he died, but he was not his enemy nor seeking his injury, 24 then (Q)the congregation shall judge between the [f]slayer and the blood avenger according to these legal judgments. 25 And the congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he fled; and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the manslayer at any time goes beyond the border of his city of refuge to which he may flee, 27 and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger kills the manslayer, he will not be guilty of blood 28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer shall return to the land of his possession.

29 ‘And these things shall be for a (R)statutory judgment to you throughout your generations in all your places of habitation.

30 (S)If anyone strikes down a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the mouth of witnesses, but (T)no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. 31 Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. 32 And you shall not take ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to live in the land [g]before the death of the priest. 33 (U)So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land, and no propitiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except (V)by the blood of him who shed it. 34 And you shall not (W)defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which (X)I dwell; for I Yahweh am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel.’”

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 35:4 Lit and outward
  2. Numbers 35:4 Approx. 500 yd. or 450 m
  3. Numbers 35:5 Approx. 1000 yd. or 900 m
  4. Numbers 35:7 Lit them
  5. Numbers 35:14 Lit you shall give in
  6. Numbers 35:24 Or one who strikes down, cf. 35:21
  7. Numbers 35:32 Or until

Herencia de los levitas

35 Habló Jehová a Moisés en los campos de Moab, junto al Jordán frente a Jericó, diciendo: Manda a los hijos de Israel que den a los levitas, de la posesión de su heredad, ciudades en que habiten; también daréis a los levitas los ejidos de esas ciudades alrededor de ellas. Y tendrán ellos las ciudades para habitar, y los ejidos de ellas serán para sus animales, para sus ganados y para todas sus bestias. Y los ejidos de las ciudades que daréis a los levitas serán mil codos alrededor, desde el muro de la ciudad para afuera. Luego mediréis fuera de la ciudad al lado del oriente dos mil codos, al lado del sur dos mil codos, al lado del occidente dos mil codos, y al lado del norte dos mil codos, y la ciudad estará en medio; esto tendrán por los ejidos de las ciudades. Y de las ciudades que daréis a los levitas, seis ciudades serán de refugio, las cuales daréis para que el homicida se refugie allá; y además de estas daréis cuarenta y dos ciudades. Todas las ciudades que daréis a los levitas serán cuarenta y ocho ciudades con sus ejidos. Y en cuanto a las ciudades que diereis de la heredad de los hijos de Israel, del que tiene mucho tomaréis mucho, y del que tiene poco tomaréis poco; cada uno dará de sus ciudades a los levitas según la posesión que heredará.(A)

Ciudades de refugio

(Dt. 19.1-13)

Habló Jehová a Moisés, diciendo: 10 Habla a los hijos de Israel, y diles: Cuando hayáis pasado al otro lado del Jordán a la tierra de Canaán, 11 os señalaréis ciudades, ciudades de refugio(B) tendréis, donde huya el homicida que hiriere a alguno de muerte sin intención. 12 Y os serán aquellas ciudades para refugiarse del vengador, y no morirá el homicida hasta que entre en juicio delante de la congregación. 13 De las ciudades, pues, que daréis, tendréis seis ciudades de refugio. 14 Tres ciudades daréis a este lado del Jordán, y tres ciudades daréis en la tierra de Canaán, las cuales serán ciudades de refugio. 15 Estas seis ciudades serán de refugio para los hijos de Israel, y para el extranjero y el que more entre ellos, para que huya allá cualquiera que hiriere de muerte a otro sin intención.

16 Si con instrumento de hierro lo hiriere y muriere, homicida es; el homicida morirá. 17 Y si con piedra en la mano, que pueda dar muerte, lo hiriere y muriere, homicida es; el homicida morirá. 18 Y si con instrumento de palo en la mano, que pueda dar muerte, lo hiriere y muriere, homicida es; el homicida morirá. 19 El vengador de la sangre, él dará muerte al homicida; cuando lo encontrare, él lo matará. 20 Y si por odio lo empujó, o echó sobre él alguna cosa por asechanzas, y muere; 21 o por enemistad lo hirió con su mano, y murió, el heridor morirá; es homicida; el vengador de la sangre matará al homicida cuando lo encontrare.

22 Mas si casualmente lo empujó sin enemistades, o echó sobre él cualquier instrumento sin asechanzas, 23 o bien, sin verlo hizo caer sobre él alguna piedra que pudo matarlo, y muriere, y él no era su enemigo, ni procuraba su mal; 24 entonces la congregación juzgará entre el que causó la muerte y el vengador de la sangre conforme a estas leyes; 25 y la congregación librará al homicida de mano del vengador de la sangre, y la congregación lo hará volver a su ciudad de refugio, en la cual se había refugiado; y morará en ella hasta que muera el sumo sacerdote, el cual fue ungido con el aceite santo. 26 Mas si el homicida saliere fuera de los límites de su ciudad de refugio, en la cual se refugió, 27 y el vengador de la sangre le hallare fuera del límite de la ciudad de su refugio, y el vengador de la sangre matare al homicida, no se le culpará por ello; 28 pues en su ciudad de refugio deberá aquel habitar hasta que muera el sumo sacerdote; y después que haya muerto el sumo sacerdote, el homicida volverá a la tierra de su posesión.

Ley sobre los testigos y sobre el rescate

29 Estas cosas os serán por ordenanza de derecho por vuestras edades, en todas vuestras habitaciones. 30 Cualquiera que diere muerte a alguno, por dicho de testigos morirá el homicida; mas un solo testigo no hará fe contra una persona para que muera.(C) 31 Y no tomaréis precio por la vida del homicida, porque está condenado a muerte; indefectiblemente morirá. 32 Ni tampoco tomaréis precio del que huyó a su ciudad de refugio, para que vuelva a vivir en su tierra, hasta que muera el sumo sacerdote. 33 Y no contaminaréis la tierra donde estuviereis; porque esta sangre amancillará la tierra, y la tierra no será expiada de la sangre que fue derramada en ella, sino por la sangre del que la derramó. 34 No contaminéis, pues, la tierra donde habitáis, en medio de la cual yo habito; porque yo Jehová habito en medio de los hijos de Israel.