Numbers 35:11

_THEN YE SHALL APPOINT YOU CITIES TO BE CITIES OF REFUGE FOR YOU; THAT THE SLAYER MAY FLEE THITHER, WHICH KILLETH ANY PERSON AT UNAWARES._ Slayer may flee ... which killeth any person at unawares. The practice of Go'elism - i:e., of the nearest relation of an individual who was killed being bound to demand satisfaction from the author of his death-existed from a very remote antiquity (Genesis 4:14; Genesis 27:45). It seems to have been an established usage in the age of Moses; and although in a rude and imperfect state of society it is a natural and intelligible principle of criminal jurisprudence, it is liable to many great abuses. The chief of the evils inseparable from it are, that the kinsman, who is bound in duty and honour to execute justice, will often be precipitate, little dispose

9-34 To show plainly the abhorrence of murder, and to provide the more effectually for the punishment of the murderer, the nearest relation of the deceased, under the title of avenger of blood, (or the redeemer of blood,) in notorious cases, might pursue, and execute vengeance. A distinction is made, not between sudden anger and malice aforethought, both which are the crime of murder; but between intentionally striking a man with any weapon likely to cause death, and an unintentional blow. In the latter case alone, the city of refuge afforded protection. Murder in all its forms, and under all disguises, pollutes a land. Alas! that so many murders, under the name of duels, prize-fights, c. should pass unpunished. There were six cities of refuge one or other might be reached in less than a day's journey from any part of the land. To these, man-slayers might flee for refuge, and be safe, t...

Verse Numbers 35:11. _YE SHALL APPOINT - CITIES OF REFUGE_] The cities of refuge among the Israelites were widely different from the _asyla_ among the Greeks and Romans, as also from the _privileged altars_ among the Roman Catholics. Those among the Hebrews were for the protection of such only as had slain a person involuntarily. The temples and altars among the latter often served for the protection of the most profligate characters. Cities of refuge among the Hebrews were necessary, because the old patriarchal law still remained in force, viz., that the _nearest akin_ had a right to avenge the death of his relation by slaying the murderer; for the original law enacted that _whosoever shed man's blood, by man_ _should his blood be shed_, Genesis 9:6, and none was judged so pr...

THEN YE SHALL APPOINT YOUR CITIES TO BE CITIES OF REFUGE FOR YOU,.... And, according to the Jewish writers i, these were neither to be made large nor little, but middling; and they appointed them where there were markets and fairs, at which goods were to be sold; and where there was plenty of water, and a multitude of people; and where there were but few, they fetched others from other places; and they neither made nets for hunting, nor twisted ropes in them, nor sold any warlike instruments, lest the avenger of blood should use himself to come thither, under pretence of buying such things, and kill the manslayer: THAT THE SLAYER MAY FLEE THITHER, WHICH KILLETH ANY PERSON AT UNAWARES; OR THROUGH ERROR k, or mistake, not on purpose, with design, or through malice and enmity, as is afterwards more largely explained. i Maimon. Rotzeach, c. 8. sect. 8. Vid. T. Bab. Maccot, fol. 10. 1. k בש...

11. THE CITIES OF REFUGE CHAPTER 35 _ 1. The provision of the Levites: Forty-eight cities (Numbers 35:1)_ 2. The cities of refuge (Numbers 35:9) The cities of the Levites were scattered through the land. Genesis 49:7 is therefore fulfilled. The provision of cities for refuge is full of interest. The careful study of the purpose of these cities is recommended. Note especially that they were provided to give shelter for those who had killed a person unawares. The avenger of blood (Hebrew: _goel, which means to redeem) pursued the person and the city of refuge gave shelter. The death of the high priest resulted in liberty for all who were in the cities of refuge. It was the signal that they could

CONDITIONS LIMITING THE PRIVILEGE OF SANCTUARY. Anciently the holiness of a sanctuary extended to all who came in contact with it, so that the right of asylum was liable to be abused; but by this law protection at a city of refuge was to be refused to those homicides who in the judgment of the community, on the evidence of two witnesses, were guilty of murder, as inferred from (_a)_ the existence of previous enmity or evidence of premeditation, (_b)_ the use of a murderous weapon. Those who were guilty of manslaughter only (see Deuteronomy 19:4 f.) were safe within the city during the lifetime of the high priest: after his death they ceased to be liable to vengeance. Though the law promoted justice by discriminating between the intentional and the unintentional homicide, it still left the punishment of the former to private revenge instead of committing it to the community.

PERSON. soul. Hebrew. _nephesh._ App-13. AT UNAWARES. by misadventure....

_The -Cities of Refuge,"_and the _Law relating to homicide_ In Numbers 35:9 the appointment of the six cities and their purpose are prescribed; Numbers 35:16 contain specimen cases distinguishing deliberate murder from accidental homicide; Numbers 35:24 provide the legal procedure; Numbers 35:29 form a conclusion. The section presents the latest development in the O.T. of the Law of Asylum. In early days (Exodus 21:13 f. E) an appointed place was provided, to which the manslayer might flee, i.e. an altar, which would be within easy reach

AND AMONG THE CITIES WHICH YE SHALL GIVE UNTO THE LEVITES, THERE SHALL BE SIX CITIES FOR REFUGE, &C.— The cities of the Levites were appointed for this purpose, rather than any other, because they were a kind of sacred places inhabited by sacred persons; and here men might spend their time better than in other places, being among the ministers of religion. These _cities of refuge_ were only for those who _killed any person unawares,_ Numbers 35:11 i.e. _unwittingly,_ or _ignorantly,_ as it is in Deuteronomy 19:4 and Joshua 20:3. See also Numbers 35:22 following. _The avenger,_...

E. REGULATIONS REGARDING THE CITIES OF REFUGE vv. 9-15 TEXT Numbers 35:9. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 10. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 11. Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. 12. And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. 13. And of these cities which ye shall give, six cities shall ye have for refuge. 14. Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge. 15. These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any per