Cities of Refuge

The Cities of Refuge

Numbers 35; Deuteronomy 4:41-46; Joshua 20

Purpose
To provide safe haven (asylum) for those who accidentally (without premeditation) caused the death of another.

Outline

1. The avenger of blood:

Foundation/precedence - Gen 4:14,15; 4:24; 9:5,6

Go-el (kinsman redeemer)

Example - 2 Sam 14

2. Cities of refuge:

God's ordinances - Num 35; Deu 4:41-46; Jos 20

Locations, names, and meanings

Example - Joab slays Abner in Hebron - 2 Sam 4 & 5

3. The Lord Jesus Christ

The effects of sin. Accidental sin requires refuge.

Introduction
The Levites were given 48 cities to dwell in out of the inheritance of the Israelites. Six of these were cities of refuge. Three of the cities were west of the Jordan, and three were east of the Jordan River. Each city was within a day's travel from the surrounding tribes.

Num 35 gives the rules regarding murderers and the cities of refuge. If a man was judged by the congregation to have accidentally killed someone, that man was allowed to remain in the city of refuge until the high priest in that city died. Then he was free to return to the land of his posession. If he ventured outside of the city of refuge before the high priest died, the revenger of blood was allowed to kill him.

Cities of refuge insured due process in determining the guilt of a murderer. The death of the high priest provided substitutionary atonement for shed blood (type of Christ).

The Avenger of Blood
The nearest male relative. He was required to avenge blood on the murderer of his kin. The Hebrew word for avenger is gaal or go-el, which is the same term used for the notion of the kinsman redeemer.

Jesus Christ is also the avenger of blood to those who reject him, and particularly to those who mistreat Israel (his kinsmen).
See 2 Thess 1:7-10, Joel 3.
See also: Gen 4:14,15 and 4:24; Gen 9:5,6; 1 Thess 4:6; Rev 6:10 and 19:2.
See 2 Sam 4 & 5 re Joab slaying Abner in Hebron. David does nothing about it, even though it is in direct violation of God's law.
See also 2 Sam 14 re the case of David setting aside this law in Absalom's case.
Psa 9:9,14:6,46:1,46:7,46:11,48:3,57:1,59:16,62:7-8.71:7,91:2,91:9,94:22,104:18,142:4-5
Prov 14:26
Jer 16:19
Heb 6:18

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. We need Christ as our city of refuge in that our sin causes death, whether premeditated or accidental. We are entered into the refuge in Christ, and he is the high priest that died, releasing us again unto our possession, i.e. the inheritance of eternal life promised by God.

Strong's Numbers: 4733, 4585, 4498, 4869, 4268, 2620. asylum; refuge; defence; shelter; den; trust; hope; flee.

Each city's name has meaning and points to the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ:

Name	Location	Meaning	Notes
Kedesh	Mount Naphtali (Galilee)	a sanctum; sanctuary; to be clean; consecrate; sanctify	west of Jordan Christ is our sanctuary. We are consecrated (set apart to a holy purpose) when we trust in Him Jael kills Sisera here (Judges 4)
Shechem	Mount Ephraim	the place of burdens	west of Jordan Christ bears our burdens. When we trust in Him, we can cast our burdens upon Him. He also bore the burden of our sins. Joseph's bones buried here (Joshua 24:32)
Kirjath-arba (Hebron)	Mount Judah	Kirjath = flooring; a building. Arba = four. Hebron = seat of association; fellowship.	west of Jordan Christ is the foundation of our fellowship. He is the chief cornerstone. Four calls to mind the four cherubim around the throne, the four rivers in Genesis, the four Gospels. Sarah died here (Genesis 23:2)
Bezer	Reuben (wilderness plain)	inaccessible spot; cut off	east of Jordan Christ was cut off for our sakes.
Ramoth (in Gilead)	Gad	to be high; rise or raise	east of Jordan Christ was raised from the dead and occupies a throne of majesty on high.
Golan (in Bashan)	Manasseh	exile; carry away captive; removing	east of Jordan Christ will come again and remove his bride from the earth before the day of wrath.