民数记生命读经 · 第47篇

争战（十六）

Fighting (16)

1读经：民数记三十五章一至三十四节。在本篇信息中，我们要来看给利未人的城与逃城。

1Scripture Reading: Num. 35:1-34 In this message we will consider the cities given to the Levites and the cities of refuge

四给利未人的城与逃城

D. The Cities Given to the Levites and the Cities of Refuge

１给利未人的城

1. The Cities Given to the Levites

2利未人不是直接作祭司的，他们是祭司职任中服事的人。这就是说，他们服事祭司体系。在祭司体系，或在祭司的服事中，有许多事务都需要利未人的服事。所以，利未人是为这些事务分别出来的支派。利未人既是这样分别出来的支派，就没有得到美地的一分。然而，神定规要把城邑和城邑四围的效野都给他们住。

2The Levites were not priests directly but were the serving ones of the priesthood. This means that they served the priesthood. In the priesthood, or in the ministry of the priests, there were many business affairs that required the service of the Levites. The Levites, therefore, were a tribe separated to these business affairs. As such a separated tribe, the Levites were not given a portion of the good land. However, God ordained that cities with their suburbs should be given to them

ａ四十八座城给利未人

a. Forty-eight Cities Given to the Levites

3从以色列人所得的产业中，要把四十八座城给利未人居住。（民三十五7，2上。）四十八是个有意义的数字。按属灵的意义，这数字有两种组成方式。第一种方式是六乘八。六这数字指人，人是神在第六日造的。神花了六日来创造旧造，人是神创造的完成。八这数字表征复活。第八日，安息日后的那一天，是新一周的开始。在第六日所造的人堕落了。然而，人在复活里得救，且进入了复活。给利未人的这四十八座城表征堕落、天然的人，藉利未人的事奉，被带到复活里。利未人的事奉乃是服事祭司职任;而祭司职任的目标，是要在复活里将堕落的人带回归神。因此，给利未人城邑的数目，表征利未人事奉的目的。

3Forty-eight cities from the inheritance of the possession of the sons of Israel were to be given to the Levites for them to dwell in (vv. 7, 2a). Forty-eight is a meaningful number. According to its spiritual significance, this number can be composed in two ways. The first way is six multiplied by eight. The number six denotes man, who was created by God on the sixth day. God spent six days in creating the old creation, and man was the completion of God’s creation. The number eight signifies resurrection. The eighth day, the day after the Sabbath, was the beginning of a new week. The man who was created on the sixth day became fallen. However, man has been saved in resurrection and into resurrection. The forty-eight cities given to the Levites signify the natural man, who became fallen, being brought into resurrection through the Levitical service. The Levitical service was a service to the priesthood, and the goal of the priesthood was to bring fallen man back to God in resurrection. The number of cities given to the Levites thus signifies the purpose of the Levitical service

4四十八这数字也是由四乘十二组成的。像六这数字一样，四也表征神的造物，人。十二是神永远行政里，完全并完整的数字。因此，由四乘十二所组成的四十八这数字，指明神所创造的人，要在神永远的行政里得著完全与完整。

4The number forty - eight is also composed of four multiplied by twelve. Like the number six, the number four also signifies man as God’s creature. Twelve is the number of perfection and completion in God’s eternal administration. Hence, the number forty - eight as composed of four multiplied by twelve indicates that man, created by God, will be perfected and completed in the eternal administration of God.

ｂ给利未人的郊野

b. The Pasture Lands Given to the Levites

5从每座城的城墙往外量三千肘的郊野，也要给利未人，可以为著他们的牲口、家畜、和动物。（民三五下～5。）这是相当大的一块地，指明神的赐给不是吝啬的。神的赐给总是丰富的。

5Pasture lands of three thousand cubits from the wall of the city outward all around each city were also to be given to the Levites for their cattle, livestock, and animals (vv. 2b - 5). This was a rather large piece of2 land, and it indicates that God’s giving is without scarcity. God’s gift is always plentiful.

ｃ人多的支派就多给，人少的支派就少给

c. The Large Tribes Giving More and the Smaller Tribes Giving Fewer

6给利未人的四十八座城，人多的支派就多给，人少的支派就少给。（民三五8。）这是正确且公平的，乃是按照神所赐的丰富。我们能给多少、该给多少，在于神给我们的有多少。神若给得多，我们就该多给。祂给得少，我们就可以少给。

6For the forty-eight cities given to the Levites, the large tribes were to give more and the smaller tribes fewer (v. 8). This was right and fair, and it was according to the riches given by God. How much we can give and should give depends upon how much God has given us. If God gives us a large amount, we should give more. If He has given us a smaller amount, we may give less

ｄ给利未人的四十八座城，要分散在以色列中

d. The Forty-eight Cities Given to the Levites to Be Scattered among Israel

7给利未人的四十八座城要分散在以色列中;这将雅各在创世记四十九章七节对利未的咒诅变为祝福。按照圣经，聚合的是祝福，分散的是咒诅。当雅各祝福他十二个儿子的时候，因著利未的残忍，他咒诅利未要散居。在民数记三十五章里，四十八座城也散布在以色列中。藉此，利未身上的咒诅就变成祝福。

7The forty-eight cities given to the Levites were to be scattered among Israel, changing Jacob’s curse on Levi in Genesis 49:7 into a blessing. According to the Bible, it is a blessing to be gathered but a curse to be scattered. As Jacob was blessing his twelve sons, he pronounced a curse on Levi, saying that because of his cruelty he would be scattered. In Numbers 35 the forty- eight cities were also to be scattered among Israel. In this way the curse on Levi was changed into a blessing

ｅ要有六座逃城

e. Six Cities to Be the Cities of Refuge

8给利未人的四十八座城，其中要有六座作逃城。（民三五6。）

8Out of the forty-eight cities given to the Levites, six were to be the cities of refuge (v. 6

２逃城

2. The Cities of Refuge

9民数记三十五章九至三十四节说到逃城。

9Numbers 35:9-34 speaks of the cities of refuge

ａ要在以色列人过约但河，进了迦南地以后选出

a. To Be Selected after the Sons of Israel Crossed the Jordan into the Land of Canaan

10逃城要在以色列人过约但河，进了迦南地以后选出。（民三五10～11上。）这指明约但河东不是迦南地的一部分。

10The cities of refuge were to be selected after the sons of Israel had crossed the Jordan into the good land (vv. 10-11a). This indicates that the land east of the Jordan was not a part of the land of Canaan.

ｂ使误杀人的可以逃到逃城

b. The Manslayer Who Killed Any Person without an Intent Fleeing to One of the Cities of Refuge

11美地上有逃城，使误杀人的可以逃到那里。（民三五11下。）十二节说，『这些城可以作你们逃避报仇人的城，使杀人的不至于死，等他站在会众前受审判。』这样，杀人的便可以脱离报仇的人。

11The cities of refuge were provided so that the manslayer who killed any person without an intent might flee there (v. 11b). Verse 12 says, ‘‘The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the assembly for judgment.’’ In this way, a manslayer could be protected from the avenger

ｃ逃城要有六座

c. The Cities of Refuge to Be Six

12逃城要有六座，三座在约但河那一边，三座在迦南地。（民三五13～14。）

12The cities of refuge were to be six, three beyond the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan (vv. 13-14

（一）六这数字的意义

1) The Significance of the Number Six

13六这数字表征神在第六日所造的人，（创一26～27，31，）犯了错误。

13The number six signifies man, who was created by God on the sixth day (Gen. 1:26-27, 31), making mistakes

（二）三这数字的意义

2) The Significance of the Number Three

14三这数字表征给犯错的人作避难所的三一神。神看我们是犯错的人，祂为我们定规了一处可以逃入的避难所。

14The number three signifies the Triune God as the refuge for the man who makes mistakes. God regards us as those who make mistakes, and He has ordained that there be a refuge into which we may flee

（三）二这数字的意义

3) The Significance of the Number Two

15二（来自两组逃城）这数字，表征立在宇宙中的见证。

15The number two (the two sets of three cities each) signifies a testimony standing in the universe

ｄ逃城不仅为著以色列人，也为著在他们中间的外人和寄居的

d. The Cities of Refuge Being Not Only for the Sons of Israel but Also for the Strangers and Sojourners among Them

16逃城不仅为著以色列人，也为著在他们中间的外人和寄居的。（民三五15。）这表征给犯错的人作避难所的三一神，乃是为著全人类。今天我们，包括犹太人和外邦人，都在三一神里有一避难所，一个受保护的地方。

16The cities of refuge were to be not only for the sons of Israel but also for the strangers and sojourners among them (Num. 35:15). This signifies that the Triune God as the refuge for the mistake-making man is for all mankind. Today we all, both Jews and Gentiles alike, have a refuge, a place of protection, in the Triune God

ｅ逃城不是为著故意杀人的

e. The Cities of Refuge Not Being for Those Who Killed with an Intent

17逃城不是为著故意杀人的。（民三五16～21。）亚当不是故意犯罪的，我们这些亚当的后裔也是无意犯罪的。今天我们犯罪也是愚昧、无知的。所以在神的眼中，我们都是误犯的人，祂把我们的罪看为误犯的罪。

17The cities of refuge were not for those who killed with an intent (vv. 16-21). Adam sinned without intent, and we, the descendents of Adam, have sinned in the same way. Our sinning today is foolish and nonsensical. Therefore, in the sight of God, we are those who sin without intent, and He considers our sinning as being without intent.

ｆ逃城只为著误杀人的

f. The Cities of Refuge Being Only for the One Who Killed a Man without an Intent

18逃城只为著误杀人的，使他可以脱离报血仇之人的手，受会众的审判。（民三五22～25上。）这就是说，逃到逃城的人可以不立刻受审判。会众里有一班人要判定那逃到逃城里的是否合法。

18The cities of refuge were only for the one who killed a man without an intent, that he might be free from the hand of the avenger of blood, under the judgment of the assembly (vv. 22-25a). This means that the one who fled to a city of refuge was not judged immediately. Rather, the assembly, the congregation, was to have a group to judge whether or not one’s fleeing to the city of refuge was legitimate

ｇ得救的杀人者要留在逃城，住在其中，直到受膏的大祭司死了

g. The Rescued Killer Remaining in the City of Refuge and Living in It until the Death of the High Priest

19得救的杀人者要留在逃城，住在其中，直到受膏的大祭司死了，以后杀人的才可以回到他所得为业之地。（民三五25下～29。）这里的大祭司表征基督，祂为我们的罪死了。就属灵的意义说，旧约的圣徒如亚伯拉罕、大卫、以赛亚等，都留在逃城里，直到基督死了。这是直接的救恩来到之前的避难所。我们的大祭司基督既已死了，祂就是我们的避难所，这不是就著旧约的意义，乃是就著新约的意义说的。这避难所乃是直接的救恩。基督已经死而复活了，现今我们在祂里面，祂对我们不仅是旧约里的逃城，更是我们直接的救恩。基督既是逃城，又是直接的救恩。在祂受死以前，祂是旧约圣徒的避逃所;现今在祂受死以后，祂是我们直接旳救恩。

19The rescued killer was to remain in the city of refuge and live in it until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil, and after the death of the high priest he could return to the land of his possession (vv. 25b-29). The high priest here signifies Christ, who died for our sins. The Old Testament saints like Abraham, David, and Isaiah remained, spiritually speaking, in the city of refuge until Christ died. This was a refuge prior to direct salvation. Since Christ, our High Priest, has died, He is our refuge, not in the Old Testament sense but in the New Testament sense. This refuge is a matter of direct salvation. Christ has died and has resurrected, and now we are in Him, not merely as a refuge in the Old Testament sense but as our direct salvation. Christ is both the refuge and the direct salvation. Before His death, He was the refuge for the Old Testament saints. But now, after His death, He is our direct salvation

ｈ故意杀人的，必须凭几个见证人的口，治死那人

h. The One Who Murdered with an Intent to Be Put to Death at the Mouth of Witnesses

20故意杀人的，必须凭几个见证人的口，治死那人；不可只凭一个见证人的作证就治死他。(民三五30)

20The one who murdered with intent was to be put to death at the mouth of witnesses; however, no one was to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness (v. 30

ｉ故意杀人的，不可收赎价顶替他的性命

i. No Ransom to Be Accepted for the Life of a Murderer

21故意杀人，犯了死罪的，不可收赎价顶替他的性命，他必被治死。

21No ransom was to be accepted for the life of a murderer, who was guilty of death and who was to be put to death (v. 31

ｊ那逃到逃城的，不可为他收赎价

22三十二节说，『那逃到逃城的，你们不可为他收赎价，使他在大祭司死前，回来住在本地。』倘若他家属的一个想要为他付赎价，那赎价不可接受。因为不可收赎价，那逃到逃城里的，必须留在那里，直到大祭司死了。按属灵的意义，对旧约的圣徒来说，逃城就像约翰十章里的羊圈。那些圣徒必须留在这避难所，羊圈里，直到大祭司基督死了。在基督死以前，没有赎价可以释放他们。

ｋ美地不至被未得平息的血污秽并玷污

j. No Ransom to Be Accepted for Him Who Had Fled to His City of Refuge

23『这样，你们就不至污秽你们所在之地；因为血是污秽地的；地上若有流人血旳，非流那杀人者的血，那地就不得平息。你们不可玷污所住之地，就是我住在其中之地；因为我耶和华住在以色列人中间。』（民三五33～34。）耶和华住在其中的地，不可被所流未平息的血所污秽并玷污。百姓若遵从逃城的定规，就不用为那未得平息之地流血。这样，整个地在神的眼中就是洁净的。

24在人类的历史中，除了以色列国以外，没有一个国家能找到一种条例，像民数记三十五章这样。这些条例包括：把四十八座城给事奉神的人，从这些城中设定六座逃城，并要求那些合法逃到这些城的人，必须留在那里直到大祭司死了。这章里的条例带有神圣的意义，启示出神的怜悯、恩典、智慧、和主宰权柄。正如民数记这卷书所启示的，在迦南地这块狭长的地上，神运用了祂的怜悯、恩典、智慧、和主宰的权柄。这本书当然是神所默示的!若没有神，绝不可能写出这样一本书来。只有藉著神的怜悯、恩典、智慧、和主宰权柄，我们才能明白民数记这卷书。

24Verse 32 says, ‘‘You shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest.’’ If a member of his family tried to ransom him, that ransom would not be accepted. Since no ransom was to be accepted, the one who fled to a refuge city had to remain there until the death of the high priest. Spiritually speaking, for the Old Testament saints, the refuge city was like the fold in John 10. Those saints had to remain in this refuge, in this fold, until Christ, the High Priest, had died. No ransom could have released them before the time of Christ’s death.

见证

25弟兄：利未人没有与神的子民一同被数点，也没有得著一分美地。但他们得著四十八座城。我珍赏

26四十八这数字是由六乘八所组成的这个意义。六表征已堕落天然的人；

26k. The Good Land Not to Be Polluted and Defiled by the Blood for Which No Propitiation Had Been Made

27八表征复活；给利未人的四十八座城，表征天然的人藉著利未人的服事被带进复活里。所以，我觉得给利未人的分不是为著他们自己，乃是为著整体的以色列人。这也许就是利未人散居在以色列人中间的原因。今天，我们需要有利未人散居在主恢复的各处，好叫所有人都能领受祝福。

28弟兄：给利未人的四十八座城中，有六座要作逃城。这指明散居的利未人不仅把人带给神，也把神的逃难所带给有罪的人。我们今天若是真利未人，那么无论我们在那里，基督都在那里，作人的逃城。我们所在之处就成为罪人可以逃进去得神救恩的逃城。

29弟兄：那些误杀人的可以逃到其中一座逃城。按我的观念，我的罪都是故意犯的，所以我无分于逃城。现在我看见，我不是故意犯罪的。事实上，我所有的罪都是误犯的。这由主在约翰八章的话，和保罗在罗马书七章的话得著证明。主对那因犯奸淫被捉拿的妇人说，『我也不定你的罪;去罢，从今以后不要再犯罪了。』（约八11。）主是她的逃城。过不久在同章，主说，『凡犯罪的，就是罪的奴仆。』（约八

29Thus, 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 in it, except by the blood of him who shed it. And you shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I Jehovah dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel’’ (vv. 33-34). The land in the midst of which the Lord dwelt was not to be polluted or defiled by the shedding of blood for which no propitiation had been made. If the people followed the regulations concerning the cities of refuge, there would be no blood shed for which there was no propitiation. Then the entire land would be clean in the sight of God

3034。）这话帮助我们了解，为甚么

31我们的罪是误犯的。我们犯罪，乃因我们是罪的奴仆。我们不想犯罪，却犯罪了。我们没有自由。在罗马

32七章二十节，保罗说，『若我去作所不愿意的，就不是我行出来的，乃是住在我里面的罪行出来的。』保罗所愿意的善，他行不出来，他所不愿意犯的罪，却不得不行。他不是故意犯罪的。我们的罪既是误犯的，我们就彀资格逃到逃城里。我们能逃到基督里，祂是我们直接的救恩。

33弟兄：在民数记三十五章，我们看见一幅美丽的图画，满了神的怜悯、恩典、智慧、和主宰权柄。我对其中一点印象特别深刻，就是得救的杀人者要留在逃城里，直到大祭司死了。那些误杀人的可以逃到逃城里，但他们必须等到大祭司死了。这大祭司豫表基督，祂已经为我们的罪死了。阿利路亚，基督不仅是我们的逃城，也是我们的大祭司！祂是我们直接的救恩，我们不像旧约的圣徒，他们必须在逃城里等待，我们却可以直接进入神的救恩。按照约翰十章九节的注节，基督是门，不仅为著旧约时代神的选民，如摩西、大卫、以赛亚等，在基督来到以前，进入律法的看管；祂也是给神的子民从律法的圈走出来的门。我们藉著祂进入神直接的救恩，现今我们正享受这美妙的救恩。

33In human history, other than the nation of Israel, there has never been a country with the kind of regulations found in chapter thirty-five of Numbers. These regulations include giving forty-eight cities to God’s serving ones, designating six of these cities as cities of refuge, and requiring that the one who legitimately fled to one of these cities had to remain there until the death of the high priest. The regulations in this chapter bear a divine significance and reveal God’s mercy, grace, wisdom, and sovereignty. As the book of Numbers reveals, in that narrow strip of land, the land of Canaan, God exercised His mercy, grace, wisdom, and sovereignty. Surely this book was inspired by God! If there were no God, such a book could never have been written. Only through God’s mercy, grace, wisdom, and sovereignty can we understand the book of Numbers