1.
The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,
1-3. The Lord spake unto Joshua . .
. Appoint out for you cities of refuge—(See Numbers 35:9-28;
Deuteronomy 19:1-13). The command
here recorded was given on their going to occupy their allotted
settlements. The sanctuaries were not temples or altars, as in other
countries, but inhabited cities; and the design was not to screen
criminals, but only to afford the homicide protection from the
vengeance of the deceased's relatives until it should have been
ascertained whether the death had resulted from accident and
momentary passion, or from premeditated malice. The institution of
the cities of refuge, together with the rules prescribed for the
guidance of those who sought an asylum within their walls, was an
important provision, tending to secure the ends of justice as well as
of mercy.
2.
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
3.
That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4.
And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
4. he that doth flee unto one of
those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city—It
was the place of public resort, and on arriving there he related his
tale of distress to the elders, who were bound to give him shelter
and the means of support, until the local authorities (), having carefully investigated the case, should have
pronounced the decision. If found guilty, the manslayer was
surrendered to the blood-avenger; if extenuating circumstances
appeared, he was to remain in the city of refuge, where he would be
safe from the vindictive feelings of his pursuers; but he forfeited
the privilege of immunity the moment he ventured beyond the walls.
5.
And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
6.
And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
6. until the death of the high
priest—His death secured the complete deliverance of the
manslayer from his sin, only because he had been anointed with the
holy oil (Numbers 35:25), the symbol
of the Holy Ghost; and thus the death of the earthly high priest
became a type of that of the heavenly one (Hebrews 9:14;
Hebrews 9:15).
Hebrews 9:15. THE ISRAELITES
APPOINT BY NAME
THE CITIES OF
REFUGE.
7.
And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
7-9. they appointed . . .
cities—There were six; three on the west, and three on the
east, of Jordan. In the first instance, they were a provision of the
criminal law of the Hebrews, necessary in the circumstances of that
people (see on ; ). At the same time they were designed also typically to
point out the sinner's way to Christ ().
8.
And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9.
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.