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For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, shall these six cities be for refuge; that everyone who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.

Verse Takeaways

1

A Refuge for All People

Commentators emphasize that the cities of refuge were not just for native Israelites. The law explicitly extended this protection to foreigners—both temporary residents ('strangers') and those more permanently settled ('sojourners'). This demonstrates God's provision of mercy and justice for all people within the community, regardless of their ethnic origin.

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Commentaries

3

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Numbers 35:15

19th Century

Bishop

For the stranger, and for the sojourner ... — The word ger, “stranger,” properly denotes a foreigner who took up a tempor…

John Gill

John Gill

On Numbers 35:15

17th Century

Pastor

These six cities shall be a refuge both for the children of
Israel and for the stranger

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Numbers 35:9–34

17th Century

Minister

To show plainly the abhorrence of murder, and to provide more effectively for the punishment of the murderer, the nearest relation of the deceased,…