Reference: Cities of Refuge
Fausets
(See BLOOD, AVENGING OF.) Kedesh ("holy," so Jesus our city of refuge, Heb 6:18; 7:26), now Kedes, 20 miles E.S.E. from Tyre. Shechem ("shoulder," upon Jesus' shoulder the government is, Isa 9:6), now Nablous. Hebron ("fellowship," so Christ to us, 1Co 1:9), now El-Khalil. Bezer, perhaps Bozor in the Book of Maccabees ("fortress," so is Jesus, Isa 32:2; 26:1,4). Ramoth Gilead, on the site of Ez-Szalt (Ramoth ("high"), so is Jesus to us, Ac 5:31). Golan, Jaulan ("joy"; Jesus is our joy, Ro 5:11). All the 48 cities of Levi had the right of asylum. But the six of refuge were bound to entertain the involuntary manslayer gratuitously. The cities on each side of the Jordan were nearly opposite one another (De 19:2; Nu 35:6,13,15; Jos 20:2,7,9).
If manslayers had been driven out of the country as among the Greeks, they would have been exposed to the temptation of worshipping strange gods (1Sa 26:19). The Levitical cities were to have a space of 1,000 cubits (583 yards) beyond the city walls for pasture and other purposes (Nu 35:4-5). The 2,000 cubits also specified mean probably the sum of the two single thousands on opposite sides of the city, exclusive of the city itself; as here shown. Clermont-Ganneau has discovered a bilingual inscription, Greek and Hebrew, "limit of Gezer" (now Tel-el-Jezer), on a horizontal slab E. of that royal Canaanite city; also a second similarly inscribed stone 1,696 yards due N.W. of the first. This proves that the sacred boundary was a square, having its four angles at the four cardinal points (Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement, Oct. 1874).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
"The pasture lands of the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits around.
"The pasture lands of the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits around. "You shall also measure outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits, with the city in the center. This shall become theirs as pasture lands for the cities.
"You shall also measure outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits, with the city in the center. This shall become theirs as pasture lands for the cities. "The cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee to; and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities.
"The cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee to; and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities.
'These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel, and for the alien and for the sojourner among them; that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.
'These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel, and for the alien and for the sojourner among them; that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.
you shall set aside three cities for yourself in the midst of your land, which the LORD your God gives you to possess.
you shall set aside three cities for yourself in the midst of your land, which the LORD your God gives you to possess.
"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,
"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,
So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally may flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation.
These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally may flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation.
"Now therefore, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering; but if it is men, cursed are they before the LORD, for they have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'
"Now therefore, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering; but if it is men, cursed are they before the LORD, for they have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security.
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security.
"Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.
"Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.
Each will be like a refuge from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like streams of water in a dry country, Like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land.
Each will be like a refuge from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like streams of water in a dry country, Like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land.
"He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
"He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.
so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.
For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;
For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;
Morish
See REFUGE.
Smith
Cities of refuge,
six Levitical cities specially chosen for refuge to the involuntary homicide until released from banishment by the death of the high priest.
There were three on each side of Jordan.
1. KEDESH, in Naphtali.
See Kedesh
2. SHECHEM, in Mount Ephraim.
See Shechem
3. HEBRON, in Judah.
See Hebron
Jos 21:13; 2Sa 5:5; 1Ch 6:55; 29:27; 2Ch 11:10
4. On the east side of Jordan - BEZER, in the tribe of Reuben, in the plains of Moab.
See Bezer in the wilderness
1Macc. 5:26.
5. RAMOTH-GILEAD, in the tribe of Gad.
See Ramothgilead
6. GOLAN, in Bashan, in the half-tribe of Manasseh.
See Golan
See Verses Found in Dictionary
"The cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee to; and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities.
'These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel, and for the alien and for the sojourner among them; that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.
Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau for the Reubenites, and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau for the Reubenites, and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau for the Reubenites, and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,
So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. read more. These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally may flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation.
So to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, and Libnah with its pasture lands,
They gave them Shechem, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, in the hill country of Ephraim, and Gezer with its pasture lands,
To the sons of Gershon, one of the families of the Levites, from the half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands, and Be-eshterah with its pasture lands; two cities.
From the tribe of Reuben, they gave Bezer with its pasture lands and Jahaz with its pasture lands,
From the tribe of Gad, they gave Ramoth in Gilead, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasture lands and Mahanaim with its pasture lands,
and from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Hammon with its pasture lands and Kiriathaim with its pasture lands.
Watsons
CITIES OF REFUGE. See REFUGE.