Topical Bible: Murder: Persons Guilty of not Protected in Refuge Cities

◄ Murder: Persons Guilty of not Protected in Refuge Cities ►

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In the biblical context, murder is considered a grave sin, a direct violation of the commandment, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). The Bible distinguishes between intentional murder and accidental killing, providing specific instructions for dealing with each.

Cities of Refuge:

The concept of cities of refuge is introduced in the Mosaic Law as a merciful provision for those who commit manslaughter unintentionally. These cities served as safe havens where individuals who accidentally killed someone could flee to avoid the avenger of blood, a family member seeking retribution for the deceased. The cities of refuge are detailed in Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 19, and Joshua 20.

Exclusion of Murderers:

While the cities of refuge offered protection for those guilty of accidental killing, they did not extend this protection to those who committed premeditated murder. Numbers 35:16-21 clearly delineates the difference: "But if anyone strikes another with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death. Or if anyone has in his hand a stone capable of causing death and strikes another person with it so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death."

The law required that a murderer be put to death, emphasizing the sanctity of life and the seriousness of taking it unlawfully. Numbers 35:30-31 states, "If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness. You must not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death."

Judicial Process:

The judicial process for determining guilt involved a thorough investigation and the testimony of multiple witnesses. Deuteronomy 19:11-13 provides further instruction: "But if someone hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him, attacks him, and strikes him fatally, and he flees to one of these cities, the elders of his city shall send for him, take him from there, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood to die. You must not show pity. You shall purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you."

Moral and Theological Implications:

The exclusion of murderers from the protection of refuge cities underscores the moral and theological gravity of murder in biblical law. It reflects the belief that human life is sacred, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and that the unlawful taking of life is an affront to God's order. The requirement for the death penalty in cases of murder served both as a deterrent and as a means of purging evil from the community, maintaining the holiness and justice that God demanded of His people.

In summary, while the cities of refuge provided a merciful provision for those who killed unintentionally, they offered no sanctuary for those guilty of premeditated murder. The biblical mandate was clear: murderers were to face justice, reflecting the seriousness with which God views the sanctity of life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 19:11,12
But if any man hate his neighbor, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and flees into one of these cities:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Justinian.
... The Pope protected himself against this violation of the ... removed by force if he was
not content with ... palace entirely surrounded by suspicious persons, he risked ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter iv justinian.htm

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
... heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him ... brethren did, "Verily we are
guilty concerning our ... to overthrow slavery by falsehood, bloodshed and murder? ...
/.../an appeal to the christian women of the south/appeal to the christian women.htm

And ii.
... Israel; and we, who formerly were filled with war and murder, and every ... the "Tower
of the flock" is mentioned,"we shall certainly not be guilty of trifling ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... is ascribed by the people to persons celebrated in ... for the girl's mother, whom she
believed guilty of instigating ... heir to the throne, of the murder, and having ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ;
... of it, as to its damning effects upon the persons that the ... True, perhaps thou dost
not believe with that full ... [Consider] that the cities of refuge were erected ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/come and welcome to jesus.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... house, as if somebody was about to murder him, and ... backs, both of men, women, and
children, not sparing, in ... and after all they imprisoned their persons, to the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

Period I: the Imperial State Church of the Undivided Empire, or ...
... the heathen officials, and was therefore guilty as a ... Catholic doctrine that there
are two persons of Father ... sports, races, and contests, it is not proper that ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the imperial state.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... thousand names of men, as well as the persons of the ... Now they shall not be made,
as before, guilty of the ... The fall of the cities, was not immediately upon the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... the sun was all goodness, and persons or things ... sacrifice precludes the execution
of the guilty.' And this ... was considered as abominable as calumny or murder. ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... a man eat unworthily, he shall be guilty of outrage ... too he allowed second marriages
to incontinent persons, and did ... his wars, but to the [4399] murder"he was ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm