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
And the suburbs of the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city outward, a thousand cubits round about.
And the suburbs of the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city outward, a thousand cubits round about. And ye shall measure without the city, and make the utmost border of the east side: two thousand cubits. And the utmost border of the south side: two thousand cubits. And the utmost border of the west side: two thousand cubits. And the utmost border of the north side: two thousand cubits also. And the city shall be in the midst. And these shall be the suburbs of their cities.
And ye shall measure without the city, and make the utmost border of the east side: two thousand cubits. And the utmost border of the south side: two thousand cubits. And the utmost border of the west side: two thousand cubits. And the utmost border of the north side: two thousand cubits also. And the city shall be in the midst. And these shall be the suburbs of their cities. "And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, there shall be six cities of franchise which ye shall give to that intent that he which committeth a slaughter, may fly thither. And to them ye shall add forty two cities more:
"And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, there shall be six cities of franchise which ye shall give to that intent that he which committeth a slaughter, may fly thither. And to them ye shall add forty two cities more:
And these six free cities shall be for the children of Israel and for the stranger and for him that dwelleth among you, that all they which kill any person unawares, may flee thither.
And these six free cities shall be for the children of Israel and for the stranger and for him that dwelleth among you, that all they which kill any person unawares, may flee thither.
thou shalt appoint three cities in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
thou shalt appoint three cities in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
"Come with the children of Israel and say, 'Appoint out free cities, of which I spake unto you by Moses,
"Come with the children of Israel and say, 'Appoint out free cities, of which I spake unto you by Moses,
And they appointed Kadesh in Galilee, in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kiriatharba which is Hebron, in the mountains of Judah.
And they appointed Kadesh in Galilee, in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kiriatharba which is Hebron, in the mountains of Judah.
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and to the strangers that Sojourned among them that whosoever killed any person ignorantly, the same might flee thither and should not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and to the strangers that Sojourned among them that whosoever killed any person ignorantly, the same might flee thither and should not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
Now hear therefore, my lord king, the words of thy servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, he shall smell the savour of sacrifice. But and if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD. For they have cast me out from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Hence and go serve other gods.'
Now hear therefore, my lord king, the words of thy servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, he shall smell the savour of sacrifice. But and if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD. For they have cast me out from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Hence and go serve other gods.'
For unto us a child is born, and unto us a son is given. Upon his shoulders shall the kingdom lie, and he shall be called with his own name, "Wonderful, the giver of counsel, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of peace."
For unto us a child is born, and unto us a son is given. Upon his shoulders shall the kingdom lie, and he shall be called with his own name, "Wonderful, the giver of counsel, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of peace."
In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah. We have a strong city; Salvation shall God appoint instead of walls and bulwarks.
In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah. We have a strong city; Salvation shall God appoint instead of walls and bulwarks.
Hope still in the LORD, for in the LORD God is everlasting strength.
Hope still in the LORD, for in the LORD God is everlasting strength.
He shall be unto men, as a defense for the wind, and as a refuge for the tempest, like as a river of water in a thirsty place, and the shadow of a great rock in a dry land.
He shall be unto men, as a defense for the wind, and as a refuge for the tempest, like as a river of water in a thirsty place, and the shadow of a great rock in a dry land.
Him hath God lift up with his right hand, to be a ruler and a saviour: for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
Him hath God lift up with his right hand, to be a ruler and a saviour: for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
Not only so, but we also joy in God by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the atonement.
Not only so, but we also joy in God by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the atonement.
For God is faithful, by whom ye are called unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord.
For God is faithful, by whom ye are called unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord.
that by two immutable things - in which it was impossible that God should lie - we might have perfect consolation, which have fled, for to hold fast the hope that is set before us:
that by two immutable things - in which it was impossible that God should lie - we might have perfect consolation, which have fled, for to hold fast the hope that is set before us:
Such a high priest it becometh us to have, which is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than heaven.
Such a high priest it becometh us to have, which is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than heaven.
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
"And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, there shall be six cities of franchise which ye shall give to that intent that he which committeth a slaughter, may fly thither. And to them ye shall add forty two cities more:
And these six free cities shall be for the children of Israel and for the stranger and for him that dwelleth among you, that all they which kill any person unawares, may flee thither.
Bezer in the wilderness, even in the plain country, among the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead among the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan among the Manassites.
Bezer in the wilderness, even in the plain country, among the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead among the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan among the Manassites.
Bezer in the wilderness, even in the plain country, among the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead among the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan among the Manassites.
"Come with the children of Israel and say, 'Appoint out free cities, of which I spake unto you by Moses,
And they appointed Kadesh in Galilee, in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kiriatharba which is Hebron, in the mountains of Judah. And on the other side Jordan over against Jericho eastward, they gave Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain, out of the tribe of Reuben and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. read more. These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and to the strangers that Sojourned among them that whosoever killed any person ignorantly, the same might flee thither and should not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
And thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest the franchised cities of the slayer, Hebron with her suburbs, and Libnah with her suburbs;
And they gave them the free city of the slayer: Shechem with her suburbs, in mount Ephraim; and Gezer with her suburbs;
And unto the children of Gershon which were of the kindreds of the Levites, they gave out of the other half tribe of Manasseh, the city of refuge for the slayer, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs; Beeshterah with her suburbs: Two cities.
And out of the tribe of Reuben, they gave Bezer with her suburbs; Jahaz with her suburbs;
And out of the tribe of Gad, they gave the franchised city of the slayer, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs; Mahanaim with her suburbs;
And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kadesh in Galilee with her suburbs, Hammon with her suburbs, and Kiriathjearim with her suburbs.
Watsons
CITIES OF REFUGE. See REFUGE.