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stead of being the first to take the spoils of conquest for himself,
waited to make his claim until the humblest of his people had been
served.
Cities of Refuge
Six cities assigned to the Levites were appointed as cities of
refuge, “that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may
flee there. They shall be cities of refuge ..., that the manslayer
may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment.”
(
Numbers 35:11, 12
). This merciful provision was necessary because
responsibility to punish the murderer fell to the nearest relative or the
next heir of the one killed. In cases where guilt was clearly evident,
it was not necessary to wait for a trial by magistrates. The avenger
might pursue the criminal and put him to death wherever he could
be found. The Lord did not abolish this custom but made provision
to ensure the safety of those who took life accidentally.
The cities of refuge could be reached within half a day from
every part of the land. The roads leading to them were always kept
in good repair. Signposts were erected bearing the word Refuge
in plain, bold characters, so that the person fleeing might not be
delayed for a moment. Any person—Hebrew, stranger, or temporary
resident—might use this provision. The killer was to be tried fairly
by proper authorities, and only when found innocent of intentional
murder was the fugitive protected in the city of refuge. The guilty
were given over to the avenger. When the high priest died, however,
all who had taken shelter in the cities of refuge were free to return
home.
In a trial for murder, the accused was not to be condemned on
the testimony of one witness, even though circumstantial evidence
of guilt might be strong. “Whoever kills a person, the murderer
shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness
is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty.”
(
Numbers 35:30
). It was Christ who gave Moses these directions
for Israel, and when He was personally on earth the Great Teacher
repeated the lesson that one person’s testimony is not to release or
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condemn. One person’s opinions are not to settle disputed ques-