Introduction
‘On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the LORD said to Moses, “Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals. “The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits from the town wall. Outside the town, measure two thousand cubits on the east side, two thousand on the south side, two thousand on the west and two thousand on the north, with the town in the centre. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns.’ Numbers 35:1-5
TOWNS FOR THE LEVITES
This chapter begins by addressing the Levites and because they were given no inheritance of land, God was their inheritance, Numbers 18:20. However, on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, God speaks to Moses and asks him to command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess and give them pasture lands that surrounded the towns Numbers 35:1-2. The Levites will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals, Numbers 35:3.
The pasturelands around the towns that are to be given to the Levites will extend a thousand cubits, which is around one thousand five-hundred feet from the town wall, Numbers 35:4. The outside of the town, measure two thousand cubits, which is around two thousand feet on the east side, two thousand on the south side, two thousand on the west and two thousand on the north, with the town in the centre, Numbers 35:5. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns, Numbers 35:5. There were to be a total of forty-eight towns for the Levites, six cities of refuge, and forty-two additional cities.
CITIES OF REFUGE
‘Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.” Then the LORD said to Moses: “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly. These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge. Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge. These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.’ Numbers 35:6-15
Cities of refuge were established in reference to the civil laws of the nation and six of the cities were given to the Levites to which a person who has killed someone may flee, Numbers 35:6 / Deuteronomy 4:41-43 / Deuteronomy 19:1-14 / Joshua 20:1-9. In addition, give them forty-two other towns, Numbers 35:6.
In all the Levites were to be given forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands, Numbers 35:7. The towns the Levites are to be given are from the land the Israelites possess and are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe, Numbers 35:8. Moses is to take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few, Numbers 35:8.
God tells Moses to speak to the Israelites and tell them when they cross the Jordan into Canaan, they are to select some towns to be your their of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee, Numbers 35:9-11. They will be places of refuge from the avenger, Genesis 9:6, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly, Numbers 35:12 / Joshua 20:4 / Joshua 20:6.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘If he was found worthy of death, they delivered him to the avenger that he might be slain, Deuteronomy 19:12, if not, they sent him back to the city of refuge, where he remained till the death of the high priest, Numbers 35:25. Before the cities of refuge were appointed, the altar appears to have been a sanctuary for those who had killed a person unwittingly, Exodus 21:13 / Exodus 21:14.’
These six towns will be their cities of refuge, Numbers 35:13. There were three cities of refuge on the west side of the Jordan and three were on the east side, Numbers 35:14. On the west side of the of Jordan, Hebron, Kiriath-Arba, was given from the tribe of Judah, Joshua 20:7. Shechem was given from the tribe of Ephraim, Joshua 21:21 and Kedesh in Galilee was given from the tribe of Naphtali, Joshua 21:32.
From the east side of the Jordan, Golan in Bashan was given from the tribe of Manasseh, Joshua 21:27. Bezer was given from the tribe of Reuben, Joshua 21:36 and Ramoth-Gilead was given from of the tribe of Gad, Joshua 21:38.
Back then cities of refuge had meaning to their names, Shechem means, shoulder or back or strength, Hebron means fellowship, Kedesh means holy, sanctuary, Golan means joy, exultation, Ramoth means high, exalted and Bezer means fortification, stronghold.
These six cities will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there, Numbers 35:15. The cities are mentioned in Exodus 21 / Numbers 35 / Deuteronomy 19 / Joshua 20. Roads leading to these cities were kept in excellent condition, with signposts reading, ‘Refuge! Refuge!’ The cities were no more than half a day’s journey from any other city, Joshua 20:7-8.
The cities were in central locations where they could easily be reached from any part of the country. The cities of refuge were open to all and the doors into the cities were never locked. The cities were stocked with food and there was no protection if a man did not flee to a city of refuge.
The principle behind these cities is based on the law of the avenger who could avenge the death of a relative who was killed. The next of kin had the right to avenge the death of a relative. Unless the avenging relative acted out of the heat of the moment when a relative was accidentally killed, the attacker could escape to a city of refuge until a judgment could be made, Genesis 9:6.
‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death. If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet. “‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.’ Numbers 35:16-25
In these verses, we read about the classifications for those who had a right to flee to the cities of refuge. There was a difference between manslaughter, that is, someone who accidentally killed someone else, and an actual murderer. The difference between the two is based upon intent.
If someone was killed by using a weapon, a weapon made of iron, Numbers 35:16, stone, Numbers 35:17, or wood, Numbers 35:18, then this would be classed as murder and was to be put to death, Numbers 25:16-18. If a murder took place, the avenger could kill the murderer on the spot, Numbers 35:19. This same law applied to those who out of hatred killed another, Numbers 35:20-21.
The murderer was someone who intentionally killed someone else, whereas the manslaughterer was someone who had no such intent, but unintentionally did kill someone. Anyone who killed someone accidentally was dealt with differently.
If without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations, Numbers 35:22-24.
Only those who accidentally killed someone were able to flee to the cities of refuge, Numbers 35:25. They could flee to the city of refuge in order to escape the vengeance of a near relative, Numbers 35:25. However, if anyone exercised the privilege of escaping to a refuge city, they had to stay in the city until the high priest died, Numbers 35:25.
‘But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property. “‘This is to have the force of law for you throughout the generations to come, wherever you live. “‘Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. “‘Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death. “‘Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest. “‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.’” Numbers 35:26-34
If that same person who killed someone accidentally decided to go outside of the city of refuge before the high priest died, then the near relative of the one who was killed could kill them without any guilt, Numbers 35:26-27. If the high priest died, the one who accidentally killed someone could return to his property, and the near relative had no right to avenge the death of his relative, Numbers 35:28. This is to have the force of law for Israel throughout the generations to come, wherever they live, Numbers 35:29.
Notice that capital punishment could only be carried out when more than one witness could testify to the fact that murder was committed, Numbers 35:30 / Deuteronomy 17:6-7. No amount of money could be paid to free the one who was guilty of murder, Numbers 35:31 / Exodus 21:30, and neither could any amount of money be paid in order that any who accidentally killed someone could leave a city of refuge before the death of the high priest, Numbers 35:32.
Israel must not pollute the land where they are because bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it, Numbers 35:33. Israel must not defile the land where they live because God’s dwells there among them, Numbers 35:34.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
No wonder God is so particularly strict in his laws against murderers.
1. Because he is the author of life, and none have any right to dispose of it but himself.
2. Because life is the time to prepare for the eternal world, and on it the salvation of the soul accordingly depends, therefore it is of infinite consequence to the man that his life be lengthened out to the utmost limits assigned by Divine Providence. As he who takes a man’s life away before his time may be the murderer of his soul as well as of his body, the severest laws should be enacted against this, both to punish and prevent the crime.
The death penalty was given in order to keep society pure from the sickness of murderers. Once someone murders someone else, then the land is defiled by those who have no value for life. The death penalty, therefore, was God’s way of keeping society clean from moral decay in reference to anyone who had no value for life, Genesis 9:6.
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CITIES
The Bible Hub, says the following.
1. Refuge and Safety.
Just as the Cities of Refuge provided a safe haven for the manslayer, Christ offers refuge to sinners seeking salvation. Hebrews 6:18, speaks of believers who ‘have fled to take hold of the hope set before us,’ drawing a parallel to the act of fleeing to a place of safety. In Christ, believers find protection from the ultimate avenger, the justice of God, which demands retribution for sin.
2. Accessibility.
The cities were strategically located and easily accessible, ensuring that anyone in need could reach them without undue delay. This reflects the availability of Christ to all who seek Him. Romans 10:13, declares, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ The open access to these cities symbolizes the open invitation of the Gospel.
3. Impartiality.
The Cities of Refuge were available to all, regardless of social status or nationality, as stated in Numbers 35:15. ‘These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites, as well as for the foreigner or temporary resident among them.’ This inclusivity prefigures the universal offer of salvation through Christ, who breaks down barriers and extends grace to all humanity, Galatians 3:28.
4. High Priest’s Death.
The manslayer was required to remain in the city until the death of the high priest, at which point they could return home without fear, Numbers 35:25-28. This aspect foreshadows the death of Christ, our High Priest, whose sacrificial death liberates believers from the penalty of sin. Hebrews 9:15 states, ‘For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.’
5. Judgment and Mercy.
The cities balanced justice and mercy, ensuring that the innocent were protected while the guilty were held accountable. This balance is perfectly embodied in Christ, who fulfils the law’s demands while offering mercy through His atoning sacrifice. John 1:17, affirms, ‘For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.’
Conclusion
The Cities of Refuge serve as a multifaceted type of Christ, illustrating His role as a sanctuary for sinners, His accessibility and impartiality, and the profound implications of His sacrificial death. Through this typology, believers gain a deeper understanding of the comprehensive nature of Christ’s redemptive work and the assurance of safety found in Him.