1Chronicles 06.67 “67 They gave to them the following cities of refuge: Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim
with its pasture lands, Gezer also with its pasture lands,”
In
1Chronicles 06.67-81 we see listed the cities of refuge. (See also Numbers35.09-28)
Cities
of Refuge (jlqm:h yre
‘iyr miqlat in Hebrew) were established by the
LORD only for those who killed another person unintentionally. A person who inadvertently
killed another could then flee to one of these cities for safety.
Old Testament
Law required that a murderer be put to death (Genesis 09.06; Exodus 20.13;
Exodus 21.12; Leviticus 24.17; Numbers 35.16-21, 30-31; Deuteronomy 19.11-13).
As
there were no police in Israel, a near relative of the victim was charged
w/this responsibility of executing justice, and he was designated the “avenger
of blood.” But Old Testament Law makes a clear distinction between intentional
murder & accidental homicide. To protect those who might kill another man
accidentally (Exodus 21.13; Numbers 35.09-15, 22-24; Deuteronomy 04.41-43; 19.01-10; Joshua 20.01-09).
The
Law designated 06 of the 48 Levite cities as “cities of refuge”. The 06 were so
distributed that no Israelite lived more than 30 miles from a city of refuge.
The
LORD established some guidelines mentioned in the above verses that governed the
city of refuge: When a person killed another on accident, they were to
immediately flee to the nearest city of refuge. Once they were there, they were
protected in that city of refuge until a public trial was held to determine
whether the victim had been killed on purpose. If the death was judged an
accident, the accidental killer was allowed to remain in the city of refuge,
where they were to remain until the death of the current high priest. Once the
current high priest was dead, they were then allowed to return home, and thus safe
from the avenger of blood. However, if the verdict at the public trial was ruled
as intentional homicide, no refuge was allowed to the killer. Then the avenger
of blood executed the killer.
The
LORD is often referred to as a place of refuge for the believer. Here are only
a few out of many verses that mention that the LORD is our refuge.
Psalms 17.07 “7
Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your
right hand From those who rise up against
them.”
Psalms 18.02 “2 The
LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I
take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalms 18.30 “30 As
for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to
all who take refuge in Him.”
Psalms 25.20 “20 Guard
my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.”
Psalms 34.08 “8 O
taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in
Him!”
Proverbs 14.26 “26 In
the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have
refuge.”
Proverbs 18.10 “10 The
name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.”
Proverbs 30.05 “5
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
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