Deuteronomy 19:1-13

The cities of refuge (lit. of reception, Numbers 35:12 P) were in criminal law the substitute for the local, now disestablished, sanctuaries, each sanctuary in ancient times affording temporary protection for criminals whose guilt was not obvious (Numbers 35*, Joshua 20*). British churches have served the same purpose, (cf. the Sanctuary Knocker of Durham Cathedral and Frithstool of Beverley Minster and of Hexham Abbey). Blood revenge was the police of the primitive Aryan and Semitic peoples, and it needed such restraint as the law of asylum supplied. For the earlier law, see Exodus 21:12 * (JE), and for the later, Numbers 35 and Joshua 20:1 (both P). The need for this law arose through the operation of the principle of one sanctuary. In Deuteronomy 19:1 Moses commands the establishment of three such cities W. of the Jordan, when the Israelites have settled in Canaan no doubt on the sites of disused sanctuaries. When, however, Yahweh has extended their territory (Deuteronomy 19:8, see Deuteronomy 19:17), they are to appoint three other cities of refuge, almost certainly E. of the Jordan. Numbers 35:13 ff. speaks of six such cities, three E. and three W. of the Jordan.

Deuteronomy 19:8 may be an addition based on Numbers 35:13 ff., as Deuteronomy 4:41 almost certainly is.

Deuteronomy 19:11 provides sufficient security against the abuse of the right of asylum.