As I have been reading through the Bible, I have come across multiple sections that discuss this very topic. Five times in the early books of the Old Testament there are explicit instructions written, amongst the endless details giving instruction to the Israelites (particularly to the Levites) about their conduct, rituals, and behavior, on the induction of what God called, "Cities of Refuge." The first mention of these cities comes from the book of Numbers in chapter six. In this particular chapter we are told that the LORD (yahweh) is speaking to and commanding Moses while he is near the Jordan river across from Jerico. He gives Moses final instructions for the Israelites to follow as they enter the great city of Jerico, and more importantly as they approach the promised land. We are told that the LORD spoke the following words to him:
“Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. 3 Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals...
6 Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. 7 In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. 8 The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few...
12 They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly. 13 These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge. 14 Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge. 15 These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.
16 If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death...
19 The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death. 20 If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die 21 or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet.
22 But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally 23 or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, 24 the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations.25 The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil."
In review and for the sake of clarification, this very redundant passage was telling us the following pieces of information: The Israelites were to give the Levites 48 towns. SIX of these towns were to be "Cities of Refuge," to which a person who unintentionally killed someone could flee from the Avenger of Blood and await trial; And, if found to be not guilty, they would stay and live in this safe community until the death of the high priest.
There are three specific things that I want to highlight, the first of which is the Levites (prepare your heart for this short history lesson). The Levites were a specifically selected tribe of Israelites that God chose to appoint with the monumental task that involved all things tabernacle, as well as anything that dealt with holiness and worship. That was their sole job. They were required by God to create each seam of the curtain for the tabernacle in a specific manner, to present all sacrifices in identical accordance with the written law, and to transport and carry each item of the Tabernacle while they traveled, in an exact and calculated manner. It was an enormous job that required large amounts of caution and faith. God knew that because of this large job, the Levites would have no time to create a livelihood for themselves like the other tribes would. So He commanded the other tribes to GIVE the Levites these cities, and to take care of their land while they attended to these holy things of God.
The second thing that I want to draw your attention to is the Avenger of Blood, who is also known by his more common name of Kinsman Redeemer (often discussed in conjunction with the book of Ruth). In the ancient near east, it was common knowledge that a Kinsman Redeemer was a male relative who had the privilege or responsibility to act for a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need of vindication. In the situation of murder, the Avenger of blood was the only person who had the right, based on law, to take the life of the murderer who killed their relative. Therefore, avenging their blood (hence the name Avenger of Blood). In the above passage we see the evidence of how seriously, as well as how quickly the Kinsman Redeemer took action as the Avenger of Blood. This explains God's desire to institute a "City of Refuge."
Finally, I want to pause to reflect on the word refuge. This word has already been defined, but it still holds great meaning. The Hebrew word used for refuge is miqlat. This word miqlat occurs twenty times in the Bible and every single time that it is listed, it references a "City of Refuge." It is derived from the root, qlt, which holds a double meaning. The original meaning for the word was "to separate, divide, or cut off." This definition would make sense in context because a person that ran to seek refuge in one of these cities would have been separated, divided, and cut off from the rest of the people until the death of the high priest. However, that first definition is only one of the two possible meanings that the root, qlt, holds. The second definition describes the root with the words "to take up, or harbor." This definition would make equal sense because any "City of Refuge" officials were required to take up and harbor the refugees within the walls of their protection. Intriguingly, in Jewish-Aramaic this verb is used in connection with rainwater, grafting, and male semen. In the same way that these three things can be taken up, harbored, and made safe through a certain process, whether it be the boiling of water, inosculation, or the fertilization of an egg, so can an unsought murderer be taken up, harbored, and made safe through the process of a trial in a City of Refuge.
All of this to say, that Jesus is a "City of Refuge" for every believer that ever lived, and that ever will live. The system of running to and awaiting trial in one of these cities was created prior to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Cities of Refuge were a necessary installation because there was no forgiveness of sin through the resurrection of a perfect Savior. Sin had not been overcome. Instead, it reigned and captivated every person and every heart, and kept every soul from experiencing freedom. People were forced to avoid death at the hands of the Avenger of Blood by running to a city where they were held captive and alone, just so they could be saved. Fantastically, Christ became a safe place for all of us, as the murderers of the perfect Lamb, to run. God provides legions of Angels, our reigning Levites, to offer us a way out. He gifted us with His forgiveness from sin and a shelter that guards us from Satan, the Avenger of blood. He welcomes us into His embrace, separates and divides us from the world, takes us up and harbours us near to Him, and becomes our REFUGE in every way imaginable.
