Valuing Life

A high standard for the death penalty in the Book of Numbers

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don’t know anything about it, and without consulting experts on what it “really” means.. Let’s see where this takes us!

Today we close out the Book of Numbers. I’m reading Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Numbers 34

Of note here is that the YLT speaks of “princes” from the various tribes, whereas the NRSV says “leaders.” I wonder what kind of authority these leaders had, and if the role was inherited.

Numbers 35

My understanding is that the Levites are given towns throughout all the tribal lands so that no one is far from a priest to whom he can make sacrifices.

The “city of refuge” concept is interesting and suggests a kind of prison in which the “inmates” are protected more than society is protected from them. The killer must still pay a price even when the killing was unintentional. If he leaves his city of refuge, that’s a sign that he has no remorse, and vengeance can then be visited on him.