Berean Study Bible Six Cities of RefugeThe LORD continued to guide Israel through Joshua, His appointed successor to Moses, as the tribes received their inheritances in Canaan. The command that follows establishes cities of refuge according to laws already given through Moses in Numbers 35 and Deuteronomy 19. These cities protected a person who caused an unintentional death until a proper judgment could be made, preserving both justice and the sanctity of human life. Joshua’s obedience showed that Israel’s life in the land was to be ordered by God’s righteousness, not merely by military conquest or tribal custom. As Joshua led Israel into its earthly inheritance, he also foreshadowed Jesus Christ, who brings His people into the promised rest of God and provides a true refuge for all who flee to Him in faith. Jos 1:1 Now after the death of His servant Moses,… “Tell the Israelites God charged Joshua to instruct the covenant nation as Moses had done. Joshua’s leadership depended on faithful obedience to God’s revealed law, not personal authority. Num 35:2-3 Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance… to designate the cities of refuge, Six cities would provide protection for a person who caused an unintentional death until judgment could be rendered before the assembly. Israel’s law upheld the value of human life, restrained personal vengeance, and required justice to distinguish accidental killing from murder. The refuge offered to the innocent manslayer points forward to the safety found in Christ for those who come to Him. Num 35:6-8 Six of the cities you give the Levites… as I instructed you through Moses, Joshua carried forward commands already given in Numbers 35 and Deuteronomy 19. God’s purposes and standards did not change with the transition from Moses to Joshua; His word remained the governing authority for His people. 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 death without malice or premeditation could seek protection while the community examined the circumstances, according to Numbers 35:22–25 and Deuteronomy 19:4–6. Human life remained sacred, yet justice required that intent be carefully weighed. Num 35:11 designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge… may flee there. The manslayer was to go quickly to one of the appointed cities of refuge and present his case before its elders. Accessible locations throughout the land prevented the avenger of blood from carrying out personal retaliation before a lawful judgment had been made. Deu 4:42 he could flee to one of these cities of refuge… These will be your refuge God provided these cities as places of legal sanctuary rather than escapes from accountability. If the killing proved accidental, the manslayer remained under the city’s protection until the death of the high priest, a provision that restrained vengeance and preserved peace among the tribes. Num 35:12 You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger,… from the avenger of blood. A near relative of the deceased ordinarily bore responsibility to pursue justice for the family. The cities of refuge limited that role by placing judgment in the hands of the congregation. God’s provision joined mercy with justice and points to the security found in Him, the refuge of those who seek His protection. 2Sa 14:11 “Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD”… When someone flees to one of these cities, The cities referred to are the cities of refuge, established by God through Moses and Joshua as places where individuals who committed unintentional manslaughter could seek asylum. This provision is found in Numbers 35:9-15 and Deuteronomy 19:1-13. The concept underscores God’s justice and mercy, providing protection for those who accidentally caused death, distinguishing between murder and manslaughter. These cities were strategically located throughout Israel to be accessible to all, symbolizing God’s provision and care for His people. Deu 4:42 he could flee to one of these cities of refuge… stands at the entrance of the city gate, The city gate was a place of legal transactions and public affairs in ancient Israelite society. It was here that elders and leaders would gather to make judgments and decisions. This setting emphasizes the formal and legal nature of the asylum request. The gate served as a place of justice, where the fugitive would present his case, reflecting the importance of due process and the rule of law in Israelite culture. Deu 21:19 his father and mother are to lay hold of him… and states his case before its elders, The elders were respected leaders and judges within the community, responsible for maintaining justice and order. By stating his case, the fugitive had the opportunity to explain the circumstances of the accidental death, ensuring that his actions were not premeditated. This process highlights the biblical principle of fair hearing and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, aligning with the broader scriptural theme of justice and righteousness. 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 Once the elders determined the validity of the fugitive’s claim, they were to offer him protection by bringing him into the city. This act of acceptance into the city of refuge symbolizes God’s provision of safety and sanctuary. It reflects the biblical theme of God as a refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). 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 not merely hidden away but received into the life of the city under its protection. He remained there under God’s appointed order, dependent on mercy and separated from the consequences of blood vengeance. The cities of refuge display the Lord’s care for those in danger and anticipate the safety found in Him, who is the refuge of His people. Num 35:28 because the manslayer must remain in his city… Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, In ancient Israel, the “avenger of blood” was typically a close relative of a person who had been killed, tasked with avenging the death. This practice is rooted in the cultural and legal traditions of the time, where family honor and justice were paramount. The concept of the avenger of blood is also seen in Numbers 35:19, which outlines the role and responsibilities of this individual. The pursuit indicates a legal and familial obligation to seek justice, reflecting the societal norms of retribution. Deu 19:6 Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue… they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, The cities of refuge were established to provide protection for those who had killed someone unintentionally. This command underscores the importance of due process and the protection of the innocent, even in a society where blood vengeance was common. The refusal to surrender the manslayer emphasizes the sanctity of life and the need for a fair trial, as outlined in Deuteronomy 19:4-6. It reflects God’s justice and mercy, ensuring that rash vengeance does not prevail over truth. Num 35:25 The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand… because that man killed his neighbor accidentally This phrase highlights the distinction between accidental and premeditated killing. The Hebrew law made a clear differentiation between murder and manslaughter, as seen in Exodus 21:12-14. The accidental nature of the act is crucial in determining the manslayer’s eligibility for refuge. This provision reflects the biblical principle that intent matters in the administration of justice, aligning with God’s character as just and fair. Deu 19:4 Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees… without prior malice. The manslayer could receive protection only when no history of hatred or hostile intent showed that the death had been planned. God’s law guarded against both calculated violence and careless retaliation, revealing His concern for justice tempered by mercy. Num 35:23 without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him,… He is to stay in that city The manslayer remained within the city of refuge for protection from the avenger of blood. God appointed six such cities through Moses and Joshua, placing them throughout the land so that justice would be accessible to every Israelite and resident alien. Refuge protected the innocent from revenge while preserving the seriousness of human life. 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 evidence to determine whether the death resulted from accident or deliberate hatred. A murderer was returned for punishment, but one guilty of unintentional killing was permitted to remain under the city’s protection. Israel’s justice required careful judgment rather than private retaliation. 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. The death of the high priest ended the manslayer’s required residence in the city of refuge. As Israel’s chief mediator in matters of worship and atonement, the high priest’s death marked a public transition that brought release. The provision anticipates Christ, the greater High Priest, whose death secures lasting redemption for all who come to God through Him. Num 35:25 The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand… Then the manslayer may return to his own home Release restored the manslayer to ordinary life, family, property, and community. His refuge was neither imprisonment nor permanent exile, but a merciful provision that guarded both his life and the demands of justice. Num 35:28 because the manslayer must remain in his city… in the city from which he fled.” Return to the city of his former life displayed God’s concern for restoration after judgment had been satisfied. Throughout Scripture, God brings His people back from exile and estrangement, ultimately reconciling believers to Himself through Christ. 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 stood in Israel’s northern region, making refuge accessible to those living in Galilee and Naphtali. The city provided protection for one who had caused a death unintentionally until a lawful hearing could distinguish accidental killing from murder. God’s provision joined justice with mercy, restraining personal vengeance while preserving the value of innocent life. Kedesh also pointed beyond itself to the safety found in Christ, who receives those fleeing in faith from judgment and guilt. Deu 4:43 Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau… Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, Shechem occupied a central place in Israel and carried deep covenant significance. Abraham built an altar there after the Lord promised the land to his descendants, and Joshua later gathered Israel there to renew its commitment to serve the Lord. As a city of refuge, Shechem reminded the nation that the God of the covenant required both righteous judgment and merciful protection. Its location in Ephraim made it accessible to the central tribes west of the Jordan. 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 was associated with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah, whose burial place lay in the cave of Machpelah. The city therefore stood near enduring testimony to God’s covenant promises and faithfulness across generations. Located in Judah’s hill country, Hebron served the southern tribes as a place where justice could be administered without allowing vengeance to prevail. Jos 21:13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest… And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, Three cities of refuge were established in the Transjordan, where Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had received their inheritance before Israel crossed the Jordan. Though separated from the western tribes by the river, these tribes remained fully included in the covenant community and in the Lord’s provision of justice. 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 portion of the eastern territory. Its location on the plateau of Moab made refuge accessible to those living in Reuben’s inheritance. The city protected an unintentional killer from immediate vengeance until he could stand before the congregation for judgment. Deu 4:43 Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau… Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth-gilead stood in the central Transjordan and later became a strategically important city in Israel’s conflicts with Syria (1 Kings 22:3–4). Its role as a city of refuge showed that even a place associated with warfare was to uphold God’s concern for righteous judgment, mercy, and the preservation of innocent life. 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 region of Bashan, a fertile land occupied by the eastern half of Manasseh. Together with Bezer and Ramoth-gilead, it ensured that every Israelite, on either side of the Jordan, could find protection under God’s appointed order. The cities of refuge point beyond themselves to the safety God provides for those who flee to Him in faith. 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’s provision applied equally to native Israelites and resident foreigners. The cities of refuge demonstrated that justice in Israel was not governed by ethnicity, wealth, or clan standing, but by the law of the Lord. The same protection and judicial process extended to every person living under Israel’s covenant order. 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 The Law distinguished accidental killing from deliberate murder. A person responsible for an unintended death could flee immediately to a city of refuge, where he would be protected until the facts were examined. God required both compassion for the accused and honor for the life that had been lost. 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 A close relative of the deceased could seek justice as the avenger of blood, but he was not permitted to execute vengeance before a lawful judgment. The cities of refuge restrained retaliatory violence and preserved the accused from punishment before guilt had been established. God’s justice does not ignore bloodshed, yet He guards against hasty and personal vengeance. Num 35:19 The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death;… prior to standing trial before the assembly. The assembly of Israel’s leaders examined the circumstances and rendered judgment according to God’s law. The process upheld truth, protected the innocent, and condemned intentional murder. The refuge cities reveal God as both righteous Judge and merciful Protector, pointing to the safety sinners find in Christ, who bears judgment and provides refuge for all who come to Him. 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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