Topical Bible: Homicide: Confinement in the City of Refuge the Punishment For

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, the concept of cities of refuge is a significant aspect of the legal and moral framework established by God for the Israelites. These cities served as sanctuaries for individuals who had committed unintentional homicide, providing them protection from the avenger of blood until due process could be observed.

The establishment of cities of refuge is detailed in several passages, notably in the books of Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. Numbers 35:9-15 outlines the divine command to designate six cities as places of refuge: "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. These cities will be a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.'"

The purpose of these cities was to ensure that justice was served while preventing the cycle of blood vengeance that could arise from a wrongful death. The cities of refuge were strategically located throughout the land to be accessible to all Israelites, as described in Joshua 20:7-9. This accessibility underscores the importance of justice and mercy in the community.

The legal process for those seeking refuge is further elaborated in Deuteronomy 19:4-6: "Now this is the case of the manslayer who may flee there and live: Whoever kills his neighbor unintentionally, without prior malice, as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies. He may flee to one of these cities and live. Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him because the distance is great, and strike him dead, though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm."

The cities of refuge were not a means to escape justice but rather a provision to ensure that the accused received a fair trial. The individual was required to remain in the city until the death of the high priest, as stated in Numbers 35:25: "The assembly must protect the manslayer from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to which he fled. He must remain there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil." This stipulation served as a form of temporal punishment and a reminder of the sanctity of life.

Theologically, the cities of refuge symbolize God's mercy and justice. They reflect the balance between the need for retribution and the opportunity for redemption. The provision for unintentional homicide acknowledges human fallibility while upholding the value of life and the importance of community harmony.

In summary, the cities of refuge in the biblical narrative provide a profound insight into the divine principles of justice, mercy, and the sanctity of life. They illustrate the importance of due process and the protection of individuals from unjust retribution, while also emphasizing the need for accountability and reconciliation within the community.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 35:25,28
And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, where he was fled: and he shall abide in it to the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.
Torrey's Topical Textbook