SPECIAL TOPIC: CITIES OF REFUGE

Originally in the OT those who were fleeing from hasty justice
(i.e., the Kinsman Avenger) could grab the horns of
the sacrificial altar for safety (cf. Exod. 21:14; 1 Kgs. 1:50-53; 2:28-31). However, this
system was replaced by having stragetically located cities within the Promised Land
(i.e., 6 Levitical cities, see Joshua 20). Moses had
already designated three cities in the trans-Jordan area (cf. Deut. 4:41ff).
There are several discussions in the Pentateuch related to the cities of refuge
(cf. Exod. 21: 12-14; Num. 35:10-28; Deut. 19:1-13). If a person killed a fellow
Israelite by accident, he could flee to one of these six cities. There, a trial
would be held (cf. Jos. 20:4). If innocent of premeditated murder (see
SPECIAL TOPIC: MURDER), he still had
to remain in the city until the death of the High Priest. If guilty of murder,
he was turned over to the blood avenger of the family he violated for the
immediate punishment of death (cf. Jos. 20:9).