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Patriarchs and Prophets
asked for no extensive province, but only a single city. “They gave him
the city which he asked, ... and he built the city, and dwelt therein.” The
name given to the city was Timnath-serah, “the portion that remains”—
a standing testimony to the noble character and unselfish spirit of the
conqueror, who, instead of being the first to appropriate the spoils of
conquest, deferred his claim until the humblest of his people had been
served.
Six of the cities assigned to the Levites—three on each side the
Jordan—were appointed as cities of refuge, to which the manslayer
might flee for safety. The appointment of these cities had been com-
manded by Moses, “that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any
person at unawares. And they shall be unto you cities for refuge,” he
said, “that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation
in judgment.”
Numbers 35:11, 12
. This merciful provision was ren-
dered necessary by the ancient custom of private vengeance, by which
the punishment of the murderer devolved on the nearest relative or the
next heir of the deceased. In cases where guilt was clearly evident it
was not necessary to wait for a trial by the magistrates. The avenger
might pursue the criminal anywhere and put him to death wherever he
should be found. The Lord did not see fit to abolish this custom at that
time, but He made provision to ensure the safety of those who should
take life unintentionally.
The cities of refuge were so distributed as to be within a half day’s
journey of every part of the land. The roads leading to them were
always to be kept in good repair; all along the way signposts were to
be 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. But
while the guiltless were not to be rashly slain, neither were the guilty
to escape punishment. The case of the fugitive was to be fairly tried
by the proper authorities, and only when found innocent of intentional
murder was he to be protected in the city of refuge. The guilty were
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given up to the avenger. And those who were entitled to protection
could receive it only on condition of remaining within the appointed
refuge. Should one wander away beyond the prescribed limits, and
be found by the avenger of blood, his life would pay the penalty of
his disregard of the Lord’s provision. At the death of the high priest,