Nombres - Caput 35

Nombres 35.1 haec quoque locutus est Dominus ad Mosen in campestribus Moab super Iordanem contra Hiericho Nombres 35.2 praecipe filiis Israhel ut dent Levitis de possessionibus suis Nombres 35.3 urbes ad habitandum et suburbana earum per circuitum ut ipsi in oppidis maneant et suburbana sint pecoribus ac iumentis Nombres 35.4 quae a muris civitatum forinsecus per circuitum mille passuum spatio tendentur Nombres 35.5 contra orientem duo milia erunt cubiti et contra meridiem similiter duo milia ad mare quoque quod respicit occidentem eadem mensura erit et septentrionalis plaga aequali termino finietur eruntque urbes in medio et foris suburbana Nombres 35.6 de ipsis autem oppidis quae Levitis dabitis sex erunt in fugitivorum auxilia separata ut fugiat ad ea qui fuderit sanguinem exceptis his alia quadraginta duo oppida Nombres 35.7 id est simul quadraginta octo cum suburbanis suis Nombres 35.8 ipsaeque urbes quae dabuntur de possessionibus filiorum Israhel ab his qui plus habent plures auferentur et qui minus pauciores singuli iuxta mensuram hereditatis suae dabunt oppida Levitis Nombres 35.9 ait Dominus ad Mosen Nombres 35.10 loquere filiis Israhel et dices ad eos quando transgressi fueritis Iordanem in terram Chanaan Nombres 35.11 decernite quae urbes esse debeant in praesidia fugitivorum qui nolentes sanguinem fuderint Nombres 35.12 in quibus cum fuerit profugus cognatus occisi eum non poterit occidere donec stet in conspectu multitudinis et causa illius iudicetur Nombres 35.13 de ipsis autem urbibus quae ad fugitivorum subsidia separantur Nombres 35.14 tres erunt trans Iordanem et tres in terra Chanaan Nombres 35.15 tam filiis Israhel quam advenis atque peregrinis ut confugiat ad eas qui nolens sanguinem fuderit Nombres 35.16 si quis ferro percusserit et mortuus fuerit qui percussus est reus erit homicidii et ipse morietur Nombres 35.17 si lapidem iecerit et ictus occubuerit similiter punietur Nombres 35.18 si ligno percussus interierit percussoris sanguine vindicabitur Nombres 35.19 propinquus occisi homicidam interficiet statim ut adprehenderit eum percutiet Nombres 35.20 si per odium quis hominem inpulerit vel iecerit quippiam in eum per insidias Nombres 35.21 aut cum esset inimicus manu percusserit et ille mortuus fuerit percussor homicidii reus erit cognatus occisi statim ut invenerit eum iugulabit Nombres 35.22 quod si fortuito et absque odio Nombres 35.23 et inimicitiis quicquam horum fecerit Nombres 35.24 et hoc audiente populo fuerit conprobatum atque inter percussorem et propinquum sanguinis quaestio ventilata Nombres 35.25 liberabitur innocens de ultoris manu et reducetur per sententiam in urbem ad quam confugerat manebitque ibi donec sacerdos magnus qui oleo sancto unctus est moriatur Nombres 35.26 si interfector extra fines urbium quae exulibus deputatae sunt Nombres 35.27 fuerit inventus et percussus ab eo qui ultor est sanguinis absque noxa erit qui eum occiderit Nombres 35.28 debuerat enim profugus usque ad mortem pontificis in urbe residere postquam autem ille obierit homicida revertetur in terram suam Nombres 35.29 haec sempiterna erunt et legitima in cunctis habitationibus vestris Nombres 35.30 homicida sub testibus punietur ad unius testimonium nullus condemnabitur Nombres 35.31 non accipietis pretium ab eo qui reus est sanguinis statim et ipse morietur Nombres 35.32 exules et profugi ante mortem pontificis nullo modo in urbes suas reverti poterunt Nombres 35.33 ne polluatis terram habitationis vestrae quae insontium cruore maculatur nec aliter expiari potest nisi per eius sanguinem qui alterius sanguinem fuderit Nombres 35.34 atque ita emundabitur vestra possessio me commorante vobiscum ego enim sum Dominus qui habito inter filios Israhel

Nombres : Caput 35

Numbers 35: The Levitical Cities and the Cities of Refuge Numbers 35 establishes the Levitical cities and the cities of refuge, thus answering a vital question: How does divine law promote justice and mercy? This crucial text details the provision of cities to the Levites, while also establishing cities of refuge to protect those accused of manslaughter. Themes of Justice and Forgiveness This chapter addresses fundamental themes such as justice, forgiveness, and the sanctity of human life. Numbers 35 thus reveals the divine balance between justice and mercy, a balance that is essential in man's relationship with God.

Five Enlightening Bible Passages

Let us now consider five biblical passages that shed light on the legal principles of this revelatory chapter:

Joshua 20:2

"Tell the Israelites to appoint cities of refuge, as I commanded them by the hand of Moses." This verse directly refers to the cities of refuge established in Numbers 35, emphasizing the importance of protection for those seeking refuge.

Deuteronomy 19:3

"Prepare the way for them and divide the territory of the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance into three parts, so that anyone who commits murder may flee there." Moses here reiterates the instructions regarding cities of refuge, reinforcing their role in preserving justice.

Hebrews 6:18

"God did this so that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who take refuge in him may be greatly encouraged to take hold of the hope set before us." The author of Hebrews uses the idea of ​​refuge, which has its origins in the cities of refuge of Numbers 35, as a spiritual metaphor for our relationship with God.

1 Kings 2:28

"When this news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah, but not with Absalom, he fled to the tabernacle of the Lord and clung to the horns of the altar." This incident demonstrates the practice of seeking refuge in a sacred place, reflecting the concept of cities of refuge in Numbers 35.

Psalms 46:1

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in adversity." This psalm evokes the idea of ​​God as refuge, resonating deeply with the concept of cities of refuge established in Numbers 35. Meditating on these verses and their meaning, we are called to reflect on how justice and mercy coexist in our life of faith, and how we, in turn, can be instruments of this divine justice.