2. Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I speak unto you by the hand of Moses;
3. That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4. And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5. And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
6. And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days; then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
7. And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in Mount Naphtali, and Shechem in Mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
8. And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9. These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
Golden Text: “Who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” Heb. 6:18.
Note.—Two cities served as capitals for ancient Israel, Shechem and Shiloh, the former being the political capital. Shiloh, where the instructions embodied in the present lesson were given, was the religious capital, and was situated near the center of Palestine. It is seventeen miles north of Jerusalem, on the road between Bethel and Shechem, and about nine or ten miles from each. Here was the tabernacle and the ark, and here resorted the different tribes three times a year for a great festival. Joshua, and afterwards Eli and Samuel, lived here, where the ark remained for three hundred years, during the whole period of the judges. The time is not long after the last lesson. Read in connection with the lesson scripture Num. 35:11-34 and Deut. 19:2-13.
Suggestive Questions
(1) Who were the parties to the instruction in this lesson? Verses 1, 2. (2) What were to be appointed? Verse 2. Note 1. (3) For what purpose were the cities of refuge established? Verse 3. Note 2. (4) How was the one who fled to gain entrance to the city? Verse 4. Note 3. (5) What answer would be made to the avenger when he came? Verse 5. (6) Though adjudged not guilty of willful murder, what must the fugitive do? Verse 6. Note 4. (7) What cities were appointed west of the Jordan? Verse 7. (8) What cities east of the Jordan? Verse 8. Note 5. (9) Who were included in this provision? Verse 9. (10) What practical lesson may be derived from a consideration of this feature of ancient history? Note 6. Golden text.
Notes
1. Cities of refuge.—These cities were chosen, or appointed, from among the cities belonging to the tribe of Levi, which, as has been already noticed, was given no portion of the land. To this tribe forty-eight cities were allotted, distributed among the tribes according to the size of the territory of each. For support they received a tithe of all the produce of the land. Six of these cities were appointed as cities of refuge. The matter had been previously outlined by Moses. See Ex. 21:13; Numbers 35.
2. The avenger of blood.—It was a custom of ancient times, and traces of it are seen even yet, for the relatives of a murdered person to avenge or satisfy his death themselves, by slaying the murderer. When tribes existed somewhat separately, without a strong, protective government, this was necessary for protection. Hence there early grew up the custom of blood avenging. The Cambridge Bible says: “Prior to the Mosaic age, it was required of the nearest of kin, as a matter of duty, to avenge the death of a slain relative. He was called the goel, or avenger, and together with his office inherited the property of the deceased. Sometimes a14whole family took upon them this duty. 2 Sam. 14:7.” This procedure, however, outside of Israel often precipitated a family or tribal feud, with scarcely any prospect of termination. Notice that the cities of refuge afforded an asylum only to the unwitting or accidental slayer of another. The willful murderer was invariably delivered up to be slain, if after a fair trial (Num. 35:30), which was accorded both classes, he was found guilty. Moreover, special provision was made to punish a false witness. If guilty of perjury, he was to be punished with the same punishment that would have fallen on the one against whom he testified, if that one were convicted. Deut. 19:16-21. See also Deut. 17:7; John 8:7. Among the Bedouins, Arabs, and even Romans, a murderer could be bought off, but nothing of this kind was permitted under the law of Israel. Num. 35:31, 32. The system was a sure exterminator of criminals of that class.
3. The gate of the city.—“The gate was surmounted by an arch, or by beams which upheld the massive walls above. The gateway was thus sheltered from sun and storm. It was a convenient place for the sessions of the judges, and was habitually used by them. Its publicity also tended to prevent abuses of their authority. The gateway of the city of refuge was probably always attended night and day by men whose duty it was to receive and take charge of fugitives.”—Johnson. This decision of the elders served to admit him. The regular trial, before a higher court, came later on, when witnesses had been summoned, and the accusers had time to appear. Numbers 35; Deuteronomy 17 and 19; Joshua 20:6.
4. He shall dwell in that city.—This judgment was not unjust, though it might seem severe, should the high priest live long. Even the accidental slaying of a fellow-mortal is no light thing, and is often accompanied by carelessness of some sort. The imprisonment would serve a double purpose, to afford the slayer opportunity to reflect seriously over the whole bearing of the case, and to alleviate the hatred and sorrow of the friends of the dead man. While given the freedom of the city, he risked his life by venturing beyond the thousand cubit limit which marked the suburbs. Num. 35:4, 25-28.
5. They appointed Kedesh, etc.—By looking on the map, it will be seen that these six cities were so situated as to present the easiest access from all parts of the country. Roads were to be built to each (Deut. 19:3), and, according to the Jewish rabbins, these were to be kept in good repair. It is also stated that where possible two students of the law were to accompany the fugitive in his flight, that, should he be overtaken, the avenger might be pacified until a legal investigation could take place.
6. The refuge appointed for all.—The idea of a refuge is a hiding place, an asylum from danger. The great danger from which we are to flee, as set forth in the word of God, is sin and its result, death. All dangers of a physical nature are but transient, but sin is able to destroy both soul and body. Sin is present by nature with all; the avenger or pursuer is the broken law; the refuge is Christ, and the hope of eternal life, redemption of soul and body through him. By looking into the perfect law of God one discovers himself in sin, and bound for death. What escape is there for him?—Christ, whose life perfectly met the righteousness of that law, and who alone is able to take away our sins, and save to the uttermost all who come unto him. He is our refuge, our high tower, our rock, our dwelling place and sanctuary.
