Berean Study Bible Six Cities of RefugeGod continued to direct Joshua as Israel’s appointed leader after Moses’ death. Following the conquest of Canaan, Israel was organizing its life in the land God had given the tribes. The command that follows establishes cities of refuge, providing legal protection for a person who caused an accidental death until a proper judgment could be made. These provisions upheld both justice for the victim and protection from unlawful retaliation. Joshua’s leadership under God’s command anticipates Christ’s perfect obedience to the Father, and the cities of refuge point to the safety found in Christ for those who flee to Him. Jos 1:1 Now after the death of His servant Moses,… “Tell the Israelites God commanded Joshua to instruct the covenant people, confirming his role as Moses’ successor and requiring Israel’s obedience to the law given by the Lord. Num 35:2-3 Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance… to designate the cities of refuge, These cities provided protection for a person who caused a death unintentionally, preventing immediate vengeance until the case could be judged fairly. Their placement throughout the land made refuge accessible and upheld both justice and the value of human life. Num 35:6-8 Six of the cities you give the Levites… as I instructed you through Moses, Joshua was carrying out directions God had already given through Moses, preserving the continuity of God’s law as Israel settled in the promised land. Exo 21:12-14 Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death.… so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally Israel distinguished accidental killing from deliberate murder. A person who caused a death without hatred, planning, or malice was not to be treated as a murderer. Num 35:11 designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge… may flee there. The manslayer could go quickly to a designated city of refuge, where he would be protected while his case was heard. This prevented immediate retaliation before the facts were established. Deu 4:42 he could flee to one of these cities of refuge… These will be your refuge The cities provided a lawful place of safety within the land. They upheld both the sanctity of life and the need for justice tempered by mercy. Num 35:12 You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger,… from the avenger of blood. The avenger of blood, typically a close relative of the dead person, could seek justice for a wrongful death, but he was not permitted to execute one whose killing proved unintentional. The refuge system restrained personal vengeance and required judgment by the community. 2Sa 14:11 “Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD”… When someone flees to one of these cities, When someone fled to a city of refuge, he was to present his case to the elders at the city gate. If his death was judged unintentional, he received protection there until a fair trial could be held. Deu 4:42 he could flee to one of these cities of refuge… stands at the entrance of the city gate, “He came to the recognized place of public judgment” refers to the entrance of the city gate, where elders conducted legal matters and accusations, witnesses, and decisions could be heard openly. Deu 21:19 his father and mother are to lay hold of him… and states his case before its elders, The fugitive was to explain the circumstances of the death and seek refuge. The elders were not to presume guilt but to receive the person’s claim until a full judgment determined whether the death was accidental or deliberate. Deu 25:7-9 But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow… they are to bring him into the city They were to bring him into the city and give him a place to live until his case could be heard. The city did not excuse murder; it protected one whose act was unintentional from the avenger of blood while proper legal proceedings took place. Num 35:25 The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand… and give him a place to live among them. The fugitive was received as a resident of the city and remained there under its protection according to the law. His safety depended on remaining within the boundaries God had appointed. Num 35:28 because the manslayer must remain in his city… Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, The avenger of blood was the slain person’s nearest male relative, who had the recognized duty to seek justice for the death. His pursuit did not itself prove the manslayer’s guilt, especially if the death may have been accidental. Deu 19:6 Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue… they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, The elders of the city of refuge were required to protect the accused until his case could be heard. They must not surrender the manslayer to the avenger of blood, because personal vengeance could not replace lawful judgment. Num 35:25 The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand… because that man killed his neighbor accidentally Because the man killed his neighbor accidentally, he could flee to a city of refuge for protection from the avenger of blood. Deu 19:4 Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees… without prior malice. Protection was limited to one who had not previously hated or plotted against the victim. Evidence of earlier hostility would show that the death was not accidental and would remove the manslayer from the city’s protection. Num 35:23 without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him,… He is to stay in that city The manslayer was to remain in the city of refuge, where he was protected from the avenger of blood while his case was considered. These cities provided legal protection for those responsible for unintentional death without excusing deliberate murder. Num 35:26-27 But if the manslayer ever goes outside the limits… until he stands trial before the assembly The local assembly examined the circumstances of the death to determine whether it was accidental or intentional. If the killing was judged premeditated, the offender was delivered to the avenger of blood; if accidental, he was returned to the city of refuge. Num 35:12 You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger,… and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Even after being cleared of murder, the manslayer remained in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. The high priest’s death marked the end of the period of confinement and allowed the manslayer to leave safely. Num 35:25 The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand… Then the manslayer may return to his own home He could return without fear of lawful retaliation. The arrangement preserved justice for the dead, protection for the innocent, and peace within the community. Num 35:28 because the manslayer must remain in his city… in the city from which he fled.” The manslayer was restored to his household and community after the required period of refuge had ended. Num 35:13-15 The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge.… So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Kedesh served as a city of refuge in northern Israel, providing protection for one who caused an unintended death until a proper hearing could be held. Its location in Naphtali made refuge accessible to the tribes living in Galilee. Deu 4:43 Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau… Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, Shechem stood in central Israel and had long been associated with Israel’s covenant history. Its position in Ephraim made it a fitting refuge for the tribes of the central hill country. Jos 21:21 they were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim… and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. Hebron, formerly called Kiriath-arba, lay in Judah’s southern hill country. Closely connected with Abraham and the burial place of the patriarchs, it provided a city of refuge for the tribes in the south. Together, these cities ensured that justice could be administered throughout the land without abandoning mercy. Jos 21:13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest… And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, Beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, the cities of refuge served the lands allotted to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Jericho marked the western approach into Canaan, showing that refuge was provided for Israelites on both sides of the Jordan. Jos 13:32 These were the portions Moses had given them… they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer served the southern Transjordan region. Its location in Reuben’s territory made refuge and legal protection accessible to those living on the plateau east of the Dead Sea. Deu 4:43 Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau… Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth served the central region of Gilead, a strategically important and populated area east of the Jordan. Its appointment ensured that those responsible for accidental death could flee there to await judgment. Jos 21:38 And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead,… and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. Golan served the northern Transjordan territory of Bashan, occupied by the half-tribe of Manasseh. Together, these three cities provided an orderly provision of justice and protection throughout the eastern tribes. Jos 21:27 This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites… These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, God provided the cities of refuge for native Israelites and resident foreigners alike, ensuring that justice was available to every person living under Israel’s law. Their inclusion demonstrated that protection from unlawful vengeance was not limited by ancestry or status. Num 35:15 These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites… so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there A person responsible for an accidental death could escape immediate retaliation by reaching a city of refuge. The law distinguished unintentional killing from murder, requiring that motives and circumstances be examined rather than assuming guilt. Deu 19:4-5 Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees… and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood The avenger of blood was the nearest male relative of the deceased, charged with defending the family’s honor and pursuing a murderer. The refuge cities restrained personal vengeance by placing the accused under legal protection until the facts could be heard. Num 35:19 The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death;… prior to standing trial before the assembly. The local assembly examined the case and determined whether the death was accidental or deliberate. If the killing was judged to be murder, the accused was surrendered for punishment; if it was unintentional, he remained in the city of refuge under its protection. Num 35:12 You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger,… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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