Reference: Refuge, Cities of
American
To provide security for those who should undesignedly kill a man, the Lord commanded Moses to appoint six cities of refuge, or asylums, that any one who should thus shed blood might retire thither, and have time to prepare his defence before the judges, and that the kinsmen of the deceased might not pursue and kill him, Ex 21:13; Nu 35:11-34. Of such cities there were three on each side Jordan. On the west were Kedesh of Naphtali, Shechem, and Hebron; on the east, Golan, Ramoth-Gilead, and Bezer, Jos 20:7-8. These cities served not only for Hebrews, but for all strangers who resided in the country, De 19:1-10. The Lord also commanded that when the Hebrews should multiply and enlarge their land, they should add three other cities of refuge. But this command was never fulfilled.
The custom of blood-revenge appears to have been an institution or principle very early introduced among the nomadic oriental tribes. So firmly was this practice established among the Israelites before their entrance into the promised land, and probably also even before their sojourning in Egypt, that Moses was directed by Jehovah not to attempt to eradicate it entirely, but only to counteract and modify it by the institution of cities of refuge. The custom of avenging the blood of a member of a family or tribe upon some member of the tribe or family of the slayer, still exists in full force among the modern Bedaweens, the representatives in a certain sense of the ancient Israelites in the desert. They prefer this mode of self-vengeance. Niebuhr informs us that "the Arabs rather avenge themselves, as the law allows, upon the family of the murderer; and seek an opportunity of slaying its head, or most considerable person, whom they regard as being properly the person guilty of the crime, as it must have been committed through his negligence in watching over the conduct of those under his inspection. From this time the two families are in continual fears, till some one or other of the murderer's family be slain. No reconciliation can take place between them, and the quarrel is still occasionally renewed. There have been instances of such family feuds lasting forty years. If in the contest a man of the murdered person's family happens to fall, there can be no peace until two others of the murderer's family have been slain." How far superior to this was the Mosaic institution of cities of refuge, where the involuntary homicide might remain in peace till the death of the high-priest, and then go forth in safety, while a really guilty person did not escape punishment.
Among most of the nations of antiquity, temples, and particularly the altars within them, were regarded as proffering an asylum for fugitives from violence. Among the Hebrews we find indications of the custom on the part of the culprit of fleeing to the Lord's altar. But this was not allowed to screen the guilty from deserved punishment, Ex 21:14; 1Ki 2:28-34.
There is an appointed city of refuge for sinners exposed to the second death, and an altar of refuge sprinkled with atoning blood. Happy the soul that flees and is safe in Christ, ere it is overtaken by the avenging law of God.
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But he who hath not lain in wait, but, God, hath occasioned him to come to his hand, then will I appoint for thee a place, whither he may flee. But, when a man shall act presumptuously against his neighbour to slay him with guile, from mine altar, shalt thou take him to die.
then shall ye find for you, convenient cities, cities of refuge, shall they be unto you, - and the manslayer, who hath slain a person, by mistake, shall flee thither. So shall the cities serve you for places of refuge from the redeemer, - that the manslayer may not die, until he has stood before the assembly, for judgment, read more. And as touching the cities which ye shall give six cities of refuge, shall there be unto you. Three of the cities, shall ye give, on this side the Jordan, and three of the cities, shall ye give in the land of Canaan, - cities of refuge, shall they be. For the sons of Israel and for the sojourner. and for the settler in your midst, shall these six cities serve, as places of refuge, - that any one may flee thither who hath slain a person, by mistake. If, then, with an instrument of iron, he smote him, and he died, a manslayer, he is, - a manslayer, shall surely die. Or if with a stone thrown by hand, where-by one might die, he smote him and he died, a manslayer, he is, - the man-slayer, shall surely die, Or, if with hand-weapon of wood, wherewith one might die, he smote him and he died a manslayer, he is, - the manslayer shall surely die. The blood-redeemer, he, shall put to death the man-slayer, - when he lighteth upon him, he, shall put him to death. Or if with hate, he shall thrust at him, or hurl at him designedly, and he have died, or if with enmity, he hath smitten him with his band and he is dead, then shall he that dealt the blow, be surely put to death. a manslayer, he is - the blood-redeemer shall put to death the man-slayer, when he lighteth upon him. But if suddenly, without enmity, he shall thrust him, or hurl upon him any missile, without design; Or with any stone whereby one might die without seeing him, and it fall upon him, and he dieth; he, not being at enmity with him, nor seeking to harm him, then shall the assembly judge, between him that smote and the blood-redeemer, - according to these regulations; and the assembly shall rescue the manslayer out of the hand of the blood-redeemer, and the assembly shall restore him unto his city of refuge whither he had fled, - and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who hath been anointed with the hallowing oil. But if the man-slayer, go out, of the bounds of his city of refuge, whereinto he hath fled; and the blood-redeemer, find him, outside the bounds of his city of refuge, then may the blood-redeemer slay the slayer, without being guilty of blood; for in his city of refuge, should he have remained, until the death of the high priest, - and, after the death of the high priest, might he have returned into the land which he doth possess. So shall these serve you as a regulative statute unto your generations, - wheresoever ye may dwell. Whosoever taketh away life, at the mouth of witnesses, shall, the slayer be slain, - but, one witness, shall not testify against a person, to put him to death. And ye shall accept no ransom for the life of him that slayeth, if he have unlawfully caused death, - but he, must surely be put to death. And ye shall accept no ransom for him that hath fled to his city of refuge, if he should return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest. So shall ye not pollute the land wherein ye are, for blood, doth pollute the land, and for the land, no propitiatory-covering can be made, as touching blood, that is shed therein, save with the blood of him that shed it; thou must not then make unclean the land wherein, ye, are dwelling, in the midst of which, I, have my habitation; for, I, - Yahweh, am making my habitation in the midst of the sons of Israel.
When Yahweh thy God, shall cut off the nations whose land Yahweh thy God is giving thee, - and thou shalt dispossess them, and dwell in their cities and in their houses, three cities, shalt thou set apart for thee, - in the midst of thy land which Yahweh thy God is giving thee to possess. read more. Thou shalt prepare for thee a way, and shalt divide into three parts the boundary of thy land which Yahweh thy God shall cause thee to inherit, - and it shall be that every manslayer shall flee thither. And, this, is the case of the manslayer, who shall flee thither and live, - Whoso shall smite his neighbour unwittingly, he, not having hated him aforetime; as when one entereth with his neighbour into a forest, to fell trees, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe, to cut down the tree, and the head flieth off from the handle, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die, he, shall flee into one of these cities, and live; lest the blood redeemer pursue the manslayer because his heart is hot, and overtake him because the way is long, and he smite him so as to take away his life, - he not being worthy of death, seeing that he had not been hating him aforetime. For this cause, am I commanding thee saying, - Three cities, shalt thou set apart for thee. But, if Yahweh thy God should enlarge thy heralds, as he aware unto thy fathers, - and should give thee all the land, which he spake of giving unto thy fathers; because thou dost observe all this commandment to do it which I am commanding thee to-day, to love Yahweh thy God and to walk in his paths all the days, then shalt thou add unto thee yet three cities, unto these three; that innocent blood may not be sired in the midst of thy land, which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee as an inheritance, - and so shed-blood be upon thee.
So then they set apart Kadesh in Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba, the same, is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah. And, beyond the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness, in the table-land, 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.
Easton
were six in number (Nu 35). 1. On the west of Jordan were (1) Kadesh, in Naphtali; (2) Shechem, in Mount Ephraim; (3) Hebron, in Judah. 2. On the east of Jordan were, (1) Golan, in Bashan; (2) Ramoth-Gilead, in Gad; and (3) Bezer, in Reuben. (See under each of these names.)
Hastings
REFUGE, CITIES OF
1. Origin of the right of asylum.
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But he who hath not lain in wait, but, God, hath occasioned him to come to his hand, then will I appoint for thee a place, whither he may flee.
But he who hath not lain in wait, but, God, hath occasioned him to come to his hand, then will I appoint for thee a place, whither he may flee. But, when a man shall act presumptuously against his neighbour to slay him with guile, from mine altar, shalt thou take him to die.
But, when a man shall act presumptuously against his neighbour to slay him with guile, from mine altar, shalt thou take him to die.
then shall ye find for you, convenient cities, cities of refuge, shall they be unto you, - and the manslayer, who hath slain a person, by mistake, shall flee thither. So shall the cities serve you for places of refuge from the redeemer, - that the manslayer may not die, until he has stood before the assembly, for judgment, read more. And as touching the cities which ye shall give six cities of refuge, shall there be unto you. Three of the cities, shall ye give, on this side the Jordan, and three of the cities, shall ye give in the land of Canaan, - cities of refuge, shall they be. For the sons of Israel and for the sojourner. and for the settler in your midst, shall these six cities serve, as places of refuge, - that any one may flee thither who hath slain a person, by mistake.
Or with any stone whereby one might die without seeing him, and it fall upon him, and he dieth; he, not being at enmity with him, nor seeking to harm him, then shall the assembly judge, between him that smote and the blood-redeemer, - according to these regulations; read more. and the assembly shall rescue the manslayer out of the hand of the blood-redeemer, and the assembly shall restore him unto his city of refuge whither he had fled, - and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who hath been anointed with the hallowing oil.
and the assembly shall rescue the manslayer out of the hand of the blood-redeemer, and the assembly shall restore him unto his city of refuge whither he had fled, - and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who hath been anointed with the hallowing oil.
Then, did Moses set apart three cities, over the Jordan, - towards the rising of the sun:
Then, did Moses set apart three cities, over the Jordan, - towards the rising of the sun: that the manslayer might flee thither who should slay his neighbour unawares, he, not having hated him, aforetime, - and might flee unto one of these cities, and live:
that the manslayer might flee thither who should slay his neighbour unawares, he, not having hated him, aforetime, - and might flee unto one of these cities, and live: namely Bezer, in the desert of the table-land, for the Reubenites, - and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.
namely Bezer, in the desert of the table-land, for the Reubenites, - and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.
three cities, shalt thou set apart for thee, - in the midst of thy land which Yahweh thy God is giving thee to possess.
three cities, shalt thou set apart for thee, - in the midst of thy land which Yahweh thy God is giving thee to possess. Thou shalt prepare for thee a way, and shalt divide into three parts the boundary of thy land which Yahweh thy God shall cause thee to inherit, - and it shall be that every manslayer shall flee thither.
Thou shalt prepare for thee a way, and shalt divide into three parts the boundary of thy land which Yahweh thy God shall cause thee to inherit, - and it shall be that every manslayer shall flee thither.
Thou shalt prepare for thee a way, and shalt divide into three parts the boundary of thy land which Yahweh thy God shall cause thee to inherit, - and it shall be that every manslayer shall flee thither. And, this, is the case of the manslayer, who shall flee thither and live, - Whoso shall smite his neighbour unwittingly, he, not having hated him aforetime; read more. as when one entereth with his neighbour into a forest, to fell trees, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe, to cut down the tree, and the head flieth off from the handle, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die, he, shall flee into one of these cities, and live; lest the blood redeemer pursue the manslayer because his heart is hot, and overtake him because the way is long, and he smite him so as to take away his life, - he not being worthy of death, seeing that he had not been hating him aforetime. For this cause, am I commanding thee saying, - Three cities, shalt thou set apart for thee.
For this cause, am I commanding thee saying, - Three cities, shalt thou set apart for thee.
For this cause, am I commanding thee saying, - Three cities, shalt thou set apart for thee. But, if Yahweh thy God should enlarge thy heralds, as he aware unto thy fathers, - and should give thee all the land, which he spake of giving unto thy fathers; read more. because thou dost observe all this commandment to do it which I am commanding thee to-day, to love Yahweh thy God and to walk in his paths all the days, then shalt thou add unto thee yet three cities, unto these three; that innocent blood may not be sired in the midst of thy land, which Yahweh thy God is giving unto thee as an inheritance, - and so shed-blood be upon thee.
then shall the elders of his city send and fetch him from thence, - and deliver him into the hand of the blood redeemer that he die; thine eye shall not look with pity upon him, - so shall thou consume the shedding of innocent blood out of Israel and it shah go well with thee.
Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, - Set out for you the cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you, by the hand of Moses:
and he shall flee unto one of these cities and present himself at the entrance of the gate of the city, and shall speak, in the ears of the elders of that city, his defence, - and they shall take him for protection into the city unto them, and shall give him a place, so shall he dwell with them.
so shall he remain in that city, until he standeth before the assembly, for judgment, until the death of the high-priest who shall be in those days, - then, shall the manslayer return, and enter into his own city, and into his own house, within the city from whence he fled. So then they set apart Kadesh in Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba, the same, is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah. read more. And, beyond the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness, in the table-land, 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.
And Benaiah came into the Tent of Yahweh, and said unto him - Thus, saith the king, Come forth! And he said - Nay! but, here, will I die! So Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus, spake Joab, and, thus, he answered me.
And Benaiah came into the Tent of Yahweh, and said unto him - Thus, saith the king, Come forth! And he said - Nay! but, here, will I die! So Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus, spake Joab, and, thus, he answered me. And the king said to him - Do as he hath spoken, fall, then, upon him, and bury him, - and so put away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from off me, and from off the house of my father;
So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and put him to death, - and he was buried in his own house, in the wilderness.
Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead, - to him, belonged the towns of Jair, son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, his, was the region of Argob which is in Bashan, sixty great cities, with walls and with bars of bronze;
And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that, ours, is Ramoth-gilead, - yet, we, are too idle to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?
Morish
Six cities were appointed under the law, three on each side of the Jordan, to which any one who had killed a person unintentionally could flee. They were given to the Levites, and the elders of these cities were to judge if the death had been caused accidentally, and if so, the avenger of blood was not allowed to take the manslayer's life. He must remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest who 'was anointed with the holy oil,' and then he could return to his possession. Prior to that if he went outside the city and the avenger found him, he might put him to death. Nu 35:6-32; Jos 20:2-9; 21:13-38; 1Ch 6:57,67.
Typically the manslayer doubtless represents the Jews: they put the Lord Jesus to death, yet they were not at once slain as murderers, but in grace were treated as manslayers, and the assembly became the city of refuge for them, its hope being connected with heaven and not with an earthly inheritance. Peter said they did it ignorantly, Ac 3:17; and the Lord prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The preaching of the gospel was to 'begin at Jerusalem,' as it did on the day of Pentecost. The people of Israel are still out of their possession, and will not be restored to it in blessing so long as Christ retains His present position of actual Priesthood on high.
The Cities of Refuge on the west of Jordan were KADESH, in mount Naphtali, in Galilee; SHECHEM, in mount Ephraim; and KIRJATH-ARBA, which is HEBRON, in the mountain of Judah. And on the east of the Jordan they were BEZER, in the wilderness, in the tribe of Reuben; RAMOTH-IN-GILEAD, in the tribe of Gad; and GOLAN, in Bashan, in the tribe of Manasseh. Jos 20:7-8. It has been calculated that the distance of these from city to city would be about 70 miles, so that no one would in any part be farther than about 35 miles from one of them.
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And, among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall be the six cities of refuge, which ye shall give that the manslayer may flee thither, - and besides them, ye shall give, forty-two cities, All the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall be forty-eight cities, - them, and their pasture lands, read more. And as touching the cities which ye shall give out of the possession of the sons of Israel from the many, shall ye take many, and from the few, shall ye take few, - each, according to his inheritance, which they shall inherit, shall We of his cities unto the Levites.
Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou shalt say unto them, - When ye are passing over the Jordan unto the land of Canaan, then shall ye find for you, convenient cities, cities of refuge, shall they be unto you, - and the manslayer, who hath slain a person, by mistake, shall flee thither. read more. So shall the cities serve you for places of refuge from the redeemer, - that the manslayer may not die, until he has stood before the assembly, for judgment, And as touching the cities which ye shall give six cities of refuge, shall there be unto you. Three of the cities, shall ye give, on this side the Jordan, and three of the cities, shall ye give in the land of Canaan, - cities of refuge, shall they be. For the sons of Israel and for the sojourner. and for the settler in your midst, shall these six cities serve, as places of refuge, - that any one may flee thither who hath slain a person, by mistake. If, then, with an instrument of iron, he smote him, and he died, a manslayer, he is, - a manslayer, shall surely die. Or if with a stone thrown by hand, where-by one might die, he smote him and he died, a manslayer, he is, - the man-slayer, shall surely die, Or, if with hand-weapon of wood, wherewith one might die, he smote him and he died a manslayer, he is, - the manslayer shall surely die. The blood-redeemer, he, shall put to death the man-slayer, - when he lighteth upon him, he, shall put him to death. Or if with hate, he shall thrust at him, or hurl at him designedly, and he have died, or if with enmity, he hath smitten him with his band and he is dead, then shall he that dealt the blow, be surely put to death. a manslayer, he is - the blood-redeemer shall put to death the man-slayer, when he lighteth upon him. But if suddenly, without enmity, he shall thrust him, or hurl upon him any missile, without design; Or with any stone whereby one might die without seeing him, and it fall upon him, and he dieth; he, not being at enmity with him, nor seeking to harm him, then shall the assembly judge, between him that smote and the blood-redeemer, - according to these regulations; and the assembly shall rescue the manslayer out of the hand of the blood-redeemer, and the assembly shall restore him unto his city of refuge whither he had fled, - and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who hath been anointed with the hallowing oil. But if the man-slayer, go out, of the bounds of his city of refuge, whereinto he hath fled; and the blood-redeemer, find him, outside the bounds of his city of refuge, then may the blood-redeemer slay the slayer, without being guilty of blood; for in his city of refuge, should he have remained, until the death of the high priest, - and, after the death of the high priest, might he have returned into the land which he doth possess. So shall these serve you as a regulative statute unto your generations, - wheresoever ye may dwell. Whosoever taketh away life, at the mouth of witnesses, shall, the slayer be slain, - but, one witness, shall not testify against a person, to put him to death. And ye shall accept no ransom for the life of him that slayeth, if he have unlawfully caused death, - but he, must surely be put to death. And ye shall accept no ransom for him that hath fled to his city of refuge, if he should return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest.
Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, - Set out for you the cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you, by the hand of Moses: that the manslayer who slayeth a person by mistake, unwittingly, may flee thither, - so shall they be unto you for refuge from the blood-redeemer, read more. and he shall flee unto one of these cities and present himself at the entrance of the gate of the city, and shall speak, in the ears of the elders of that city, his defence, - and they shall take him for protection into the city unto them, and shall give him a place, so shall he dwell with them. And, when the blood-redeemer pursueth after him, then shall they not deliver up the manslayer, into his hand, - because, unwittingly, it was that he slew his neighbour, and had not been, cherishing hatred, towards him, aforetime; so shall he remain in that city, until he standeth before the assembly, for judgment, until the death of the high-priest who shall be in those days, - then, shall the manslayer return, and enter into his own city, and into his own house, within the city from whence he fled. So then they set apart Kadesh in Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba, the same, is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah.
So then they set apart Kadesh in Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba, the same, is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah. And, beyond the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness, in the table-land, 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.
And, beyond the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness, in the table-land, 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. These, were the cities appointed for all the sons of Israel, and for the sojourner who sojourneth in their midst, that whosoever should slay a person by mistake, might flee thither, - and not die by the hand of the blood-redeemer, until he should stand before the assembly.
But, unto the sons of Aaron the priest, gave they the city of refuge for the manslayer, even Hebron, with the pasture lands thereof, - Libnah also, with her pasture lands; and Jattir with her pasture land, and Eshtemoa with her pasture land; read more. and Holon, with her pasture land, and Debir, with her pasture land; and Ain, with her pasture land, and Juttah, with her pasture land, Beth-shemesh, with her pasture land, - nine cities, out of these two tribes. And, out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon, with her pasture land, - Geba, with her pasture land; Anathoth, with her pasture land, and Almon, with her pasture land, - four cities. All the cities of the sons of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities, with their pasture lands. And, as for the families of the sons of Kohath, the Levites, which remained of the sons of Kohath, the cities of their lot were out of the tribe of Ephraim. So they gave unto them a city of refuge for the manslayer, even Shechem with her pasture land, in the hill country of Ephraim, - also Gezer, with her pasture land; and Kibzaim, with her pasture land, and Beth-horon, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke, with her pasture land, - Gibbethon, with her pasture land; Aijalon, with her pasture land, Gath-rimmon, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Taanach, with her pasture land, and Gath-rimmon, with her pasture land, - two cities. All the cities, were ten, with their pasture lands: for the families of the sons of Kohath which remained. And, the sons of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, had, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, a city of refuge for the manslayer, even Golan in Bashan, with her pasture land, and Be-eshterah, with her pasture land, - two cities. And, out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion, with her pasture land, - Daberath, with her pasture land; Jarmuth, with her pasture land, En-gannim, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal, with her pasture land, Abdon, with her pasture land; Helkath, with her pasture land, and Rehob, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the tribe of Naphtali, a city of refuge for the manslayer - even Kedesh in Galilee, with her pasture land, and Hammoth-dor, with her pasture land, and Kartan, with her pasture land, - three cities. All, the cities of the Gershonites, by their families, were thirteen cities, with their pasture lands. And, unto the families of the sons of Merari, the Levites that remained, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam, with her pasture land, - Kartah, with her pasture land; Dimnah, with her pasture land, Nahalal, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer, with her pasture land, - and Jahaz, with her pasture land; Kedemoth, with her pasture land and Mephaath, with her pasture land, - four cities. And, out of the tribe of Gad, a city of refuge for the manslayer - even Ramoth in Gilead, with her pasture land, - and Mahanaim, with her pasture land;
And now brethren, I know that by way of ignorance ye acted, - just as even your rulers.