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From Eternity Past
And they shall be unto you cities for refuge ...; that the manslayer die
not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.”
Numbers
35:11, 12
. This merciful provision was necessary because the pun-
ishment of the murderer devolved on the nearest relative or the next
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heir of the deceased. 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 should be found.
The Lord did not abolish this custom but made provision to ensure the
safety of those who should take life unintentionally.
The cities of refuge were within a half day’s journey of every part
of the land, the roads leading to them always kept in good repair. Sign-
posts were erected bearing the word Refuge in plain, bold characters,
that the fleeing one might not be delayed for a moment. Any person—
Hebrew, stranger, or sojourner—might avail himself of this provision.
The case of the fugitive was to be fairly tried by proper authorities,
and only when found innocent of intentional murder was he protected
in the city of refuge. The guilty were given up to the avenger. At the
death of the high priest, however, all who had sought shelter in the
cities of refuge were at liberty to return to their possessions.
In a trial for murder, the accused was not to be condemned on the
testimony of one witness, even though circumstantial evidence might
be strong against him. “Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall
be put to death by the mouth of the witnesses: but one witness shall
not testify against any person to cause him to die.”
Numbers 35:30
. It
was Christ who gave to Moses these directions for Israel; and when
personally on earth the Great Teacher repeated the lesson that one
man’s testimony is not to acquit or condemn. One man’s opinions
are not to settle disputed questions. “In the mouth of two or three
witnesses every word may be established.”
Matthew 18:16
.
If the one tried for murder were proved guilty, no atonement or
ransom could rescue him. “Ye shall take no satisfaction for the life
of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to
death.” “The land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein,
but by the blood of him that shed it.”
Numbers 35:31, 33
. The safety
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and purity of the nation demanded that the sin of murder be severely
punished.
The cities of refuge were a symbol of the refuge provided in Christ.
The Saviour has by the shedding of His own blood provided for the