“Cities of Refuge”
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of
Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that
the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there. ‘The
cities shall be to you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will
not die until he stands before the congregation for trial.” (v. 9-12)
There were six cities of refuge which might be reached in less
than a day's journey from any part of the land. To these, man-slayers might
flee for refuge, and be safe, till they had a fair trial. If acquitted from the
charge, they were protected from the avenger of blood; yet they must continue
within the bounds of the city till the death of the high priest. On the other
hand, if proved guilty on sufficient evidence, he would be condemned and
punished as a murderer, without the possibility of deliverance.
These cities, ordered by the LORD, show His compassion/protection
of the innocent and established that both humanity and justice would be met.
The Truth
“The Lord
also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of
trouble.” (Psalm 9:9)
