Reference: BLOOD-AVENGER
American
The sacredness of human life, and the justice of punishing a murderer by death, are grounded on the fact that man was made in the image of God, Ge 9:6. With justice, the passion for revenge often conspired to secure the death of the criminal. Among the Arabs, the nearest male relative of a murdered person was to pursue the homicide until by force or craft he put him to death. The law of Moses expressly forbade the acceptance of any ransom for a life thus forfeited, Nu 35:31; but it interfered between an accused person and his pursuer, by providing a sanctuary-at the altar of God and in the cities of refuge-where the accused might be safe until it was proved that he had committed the act, willfully or accidentally, Jos 20:6,9. In the former case, he was at once given up to his pursuer for death, Ex 1:14; 1Ki 2:29,34. In the latter case, he might dwell with safety in the city of refuge; but should he go elsewhere before the death of the high priest, he was liable to be slain by the avenger of blood, Nu 35:25-28.