1 Chronicles 6:57, 67 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir… (See Exodus 21:13; Numbers 35:6, 11, 14; Deuteronomy 19:1-10; Joshua 20.) The severity of the Mosaic laws and institutions has often been dwelt on, but a careful estimate of the prevailing sentiments of surrounding nations, in those early times, would rather impress us with the mercifulness of Judaism, and the ways in which customs which pressed with undue severity on individual rights and liberties were toned and modified, in the East two things are familiar which appear strange and unworthy to us: (1) irresponsible governments, usually involving tyrannous dealings; and (2) a very light estimate of the value of human life. The mercifulness of Judaism is plainly seen in the Mosaic appointment of the refuge cities. The laws relating to murder are clearly defined, and the different forms of the crime are duly recognized. Premeditated murder is distinguished from unintentional homicide, and the man who accidentally kills another is secured until he can prove the circumstances of the accident. But in the arrangement made for him Moses wisely retains the older sentiment of justice, which called upon the nearest relative of a slain man to act as his blood-avenger, or goel. Amongst the other nations, as the Arab tribes of the present day, "any bloodshed whatever, whether wilful or accidental, laid the homicide open to the duteous revenge of the relatives and family of the slain person, who again in their turn were then similarly watched and hunted by the opposite party, until a family war of extermination had legally settled itself from generation to generation, without the least prospect of a peaceful termination." Moses allowed the goel still to pursue; but the homicide had his chance of escape. Cities conveniently situated on both the west and east of Jordan were made refuge cities, and the roads to them were kept clear. Once within the gates a calm consideration of the circumstances was assured; and only if proved guilty of wilful murder could the man be delivered up to the goel = -avenger. I. THE SOCIAL WORKING OF THE REFUGE SYSTEM. Its influence may be shown in: 1. Its cultivation of a worthier sense of justice. 2. Its teaching as to the relation of motive to crime, such motive giving the act of crime its serious quality. 3. Its tendency to relieve the individual from the thought of executing his own vengeance. 4. Its claim to have a fixed authority for the settling of all social laws, and their vindication by due punishments. A worthy and strongly enforced legislative system lies at the very foundation of the peaceful order and stable progress of every nation. The element of personal passion must be removed if punishment is to be wisely administered; men must be willing to put aside their own avengings if social order is to be secured. Nations need to be very careful to secure purity in the administration of justice. II. THE RELIGIOUS SUGGESTIONS OF THE REFUGE SYSTEM. These will differ according to the school of thought to which the preacher may belong. From the evangelical standpoint, the city of refuge symbolizes Christ. The avenger represents the law-penalty under which the sinner comes, which seeks his death. There is made by Christ Jesus a free and open road to himself, the Refuge. But the sinner must himself arise and flee, running into the shelter of the ever-opened gates. When "in Christ," if a due examination be made of his sins, the all-sufficing answer which secures eternal safety is this: "Jesus has already borne the penalty of them all, and the Law cannot revive its satisfied claim." There is "no condemnation" for those who have "fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before them in the gospel." More generally treated, we may learn: 1. The Divine righteousness in affixing a natural and necessary penalty to every act of sin. 2. The fallen state of man, in that he so readily makes holy avenging into passionate revenging. 3. The mercifulness of the Divine administration, in that God puts man's passions under wise restraints; and secures the fair, considerate, and honourable treatment even of the sinner. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs, |
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