Refuges, Cities of

The cities of refuge were six Levitical cities designated in the Mosaic law to provide asylum for persons who had killed someone accidentally (manslaughter) from the blood avenger (Num. 35:9-34; Deut. 19:1-13; Josh. 20). Three were appointed west of the Jordan — Kedesh in Galilee, Shechem in Ephraim, and Hebron in Judah — and three east of the Jordan — Bezer in Reuben, Ramoth-Gilead in Gad, and Golan in Manasseh (Josh. 20:7-8). Roads to these cities were to be maintained for ease of access; the cities were well publicized throughout the land.

A person who had accidentally killed someone could flee to the nearest city of refuge before the blood avenger overtook them. The congregation would adjudicate the case: if the death was ruled premeditated murder, the slayer was handed over for execution; if ruled accidental, the slayer remained safely in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest in office, after which they were free to return home without being subject to blood vengeance. Leaving the city before the high priest's death removed this protection. The institution established an early form of due process and fair adjudication before the community, preventing unlimited blood vengeance. The Epistle to the Hebrews uses the imagery of the city of refuge for the certainty of Christian hope: believers 'who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us' in Christ (Heb. 6:18).