Numbers 35

City of Refuge

And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. Numbers 35:6–15

Someone who had killed by accident could run to a city of refuge and be safe from the avenger. The Savior is our refuge: we flee to Him and are protected, and the refuge was open to Israelite and stranger alike.

How we know: a traditional type, cited

• alluded to by Hebrews 6:18 — We 'have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.'
• fulfilled by Joshua 20:2-3 — Israel appoints the cities of refuge in the land.

High Priest

Anointed — the meaning of 'Messiah' and 'Christ'

And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. Numbers 35:25–28

The slayer went free only when the anointed high priest died (repeated in v32). That points to Jesus Christ, the Anointed One and great High Priest, whose death sets us free to return to our inheritance.

How we know: a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in Hebrews 9:11-12 — Christ, the high priest of good things to come, obtains eternal redemption by His own blood.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the self-existent, covenant God; the premortal Christ

Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel. Numbers 35:34

Jehovah declares that He dwells among His people, so their land must be kept clean. The same Lord later came to dwell among men in the flesh as Jesus Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him

• interpreted by 3 Nephi 15:5 — The risen Christ identifies Himself as the God who gave Israel the law.