SPECIAL TOPIC: CITIES OF REFUGE
Originally in the OT those who were fleeing from hasty justice (i.e. the Blood Avenger) could grab the horns of the sacrificial altar in the outer temple area for safety (cf. Exod. 21:14; 1 Kgs. 1:50-53; 2:28-31). However, this system was replaced by having six stragetically located Levitical cities within the Promised Land (cf. Joshua 20). Moses had already designated three cities in the trans-Jordan area (cf. Deut. 4:41ff).
There are several discussions in the Pentateuch related to the cities of refuge (cf. Exod. 21: 12-14; Num. 35:10-28; Deut. 4:41-43; 19:1-13). If a person killed a fellow Israelite by accident, he could flee to one of these six cities. There, a trial would be held (cf. Josh. 20:4). If innocent of premeditated murder (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MURDER), he still had to remain in the city until the death of the High Priest. If guilty of murder, he was turned over to the blood avenger of the family he violated for the immediate punishment of death (cf. Josh. 20:9).
A list of the cities of refuge is found in Josh. 20:7-8.
The idea of a place of safety or refuge was not unique to Israel. Most Ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean cultures provided these special places. Usually they were located at religious shrines. Israel also had this concept by one grabbing the "horns of the altar" at a local YHWH altar (cf. Exod. 27:2; 30:10; see Jewish Study Bible, p. 409) or at the central shrine (cf. Exod. 21:14; 1 Kgs. 1:50-53; 2:28-34). However, special cities of refuge were unique to Israel, although other ANE cultures had safe places, usually temples. YHWH was concerned with the death of innocent manslayers.
SPECIAL TOPIC: BLOOD AVENGER and KINSMAN REDEEMER
SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF SACRIFICE
Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International