The Lord spoke to Moses to command the people to give the Levites cities to dwell in and land around the cities for their cattle, herds and all their animals (v1-3). The tribe of Levi were not allocated an inheritance as their inheritance was the Lord. They were to serve Him (Numbers 18:20) and because they would be given cities throughout the tribes, they would be spread through all the land. They would also have common land for their cattle etc. and this was measured from the wall of the city to a thousand cubits all around (v4).
Among the cities given to the Levites there were to be six cities of refuge (v6-8) therefore, the Levites would have a total of forty-eight cities with their common land. The number from each tribe was to be in proportion to the size of the tribe and territory. The cities of the Levites would therefore be within easy reach of all the tribes thus also showing God’s intent that their influence would be spread throughout the land rather than them having a particular territory which may have been out of easy reach for many of the tribes. The great commission is for us to go into all the world to preach the gospel, not simply for us to tell people to come to one particular place.
The Lord instructed Moses regarding the cities of refuge (v9-12). These were provided for the person who kills another by accident so that they could flee to one where he could stay until he stands before the congregation in judgments to escape the avenger. I understand that each tribe had a recognised avenger to carry out the death penalty for murder in accordance with Genesis 9:6 Whoever shed’s man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God, God made man. He could not leave the city of refuge until he had been acquitted. I suppose this is similar in some respects to being on remand until trial and being judged by the congregation a forerunner of our jury system.
The cities of refuge were to be strategically placed, three on the west side of the Jordan and three on the east side (v13,14). The cities were designated in Joshua 20:7,8 and evenly spaced with proper roads leading to them so that the person could get to them reasonably quickly (Deuteronomy 19:3).
The cities of refuge were for all – Israelites, strangers and visitors (v15) who killed accidentally, it was protection for all without discrimination.
The definition of murder is laid out in v16-21. If a person strikes with an iron implement, he is a murderer and shall be put to death. The cities of refuge are of no use to him. If he strikes with a stone and the victim dies, he is a murderer. Similarly, if he strikes with a wooden implement or if he pushes him out of hatred or while lying in wait, or throws something at him, or intentionally strikes with his hand so that the victim dies, he/she is a murderer, and the avenger shall put them to death. Intention and premeditation are to be taken into account, and a distinction is made between killing, accidental and murder, deliberately.
The congregation were to judge whether a death was truly manslaughter, accidental or murder. If a person pushes without enmity (v22-24), or throws anything without lying in wait, or uses a stone, thrown without seeing the victim, not hostile or seeking to harm him, the congregation had to decide between the killer or the avenger of blood. The congregation would obviously have to consider all the evidence. If the killer is deemed not to have been guilty of murder the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge, and he shall remain there until the death of the high priest (v25-28). If he doesn’t remain there and leaves, the avenger of blood shall put him to death because he has left his place of safety. After the death of the high priest the person can return to his own land.
Regarding murder – there shall be no death penalty without the evidence of two witnesses (v29,30). One witness is not sufficient. In Deuteronomy 17:6,7 one of the witnesses had to be willing to cast the first stone, so certain he had to be of guilt.
In modern times where we have forensic evidence and DNA, would they be included in the two? Would circumstantial evidence be enough? I would suggest, if strong enough, it would be, or did it have to be actual eyewitnesses? The death penalty as laid down in Genesis 9 is still valid, but God’s justice shows that great care must be taken before imposing it, and it must be on the basis of quite compelling evidence.
Perhaps this adds clarity to the way Jesus dealt with the woman taken in adultery in John 8, particularly when he said that the person without sin should cast the first stone, but no-one did. For one, they only brought the woman and not the man also. In a way, they were admitting that they were not credible witnesses.
Let’s remember that we can be guilty of ‘murder’ simply by hating someone, and we can ruin another’s reputation without witnesses. The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy reminded him that we must not receive accusation against an elder except from at least two witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19).
Payment of money cannot be made to save the life of a murderer (v31,32) nor for the one who has gone to the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. There are things money can’t buy!
Murderers must be brought to justice because blood defiles the land and is only purged by justice and judgement (v33,34). It is a serious matter, and countries and lands are defiled by unjudged murderers. God said to Cain in Genesis, “The blood of Abel cries out to me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10).
God will deal with justice on murderers even if we don’t.
Before we leave the city of refuge, let’s remind ourselves that this is a picture of Jesus who is our refuge, the one who we can flee to cover and forgive our sins. It is open to all, just as the city of refuge was, and He is our High Priest who died for our sin and lives forever. We can have absolute confidence in Him for our security and salvation. There is one distinction and that is the city of refuge was only effective for the person who was innocent whereas the refuge we have in Jesus is for the guilty which we all are – “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
