Avenger of Blood

An avenger of blood was a close relative of a person who had been killed. This relative was responsible for pursuing the killer and carrying out the legal penalty if the killing was murder. The law also provided cities of refuge where a person accused of killing someone could receive protection until a trial took place (Numbers 35).

This “redeemer“ was expected to act in cases of intentional murder but not accidental manslaughter. Someone guilty of manslaughter could seek asylum in one of six designated cities (Numbers 35:11) to make sure that proper legal processes could take place. The role of the avenger of blood is mentioned in stories of:

Gideon (Judges 8:18–21),

Joab (2 Samuel 3:27, 30),

the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21), and

Amaziah (2 Kings 14:5–6).

During the time when Israel was ruled by kings, the king could prevent the avenger of blood from taking action (2 Samuel 14:8–11).

This custom was based on God's command that a life should be taken for a life in cases of intentional homicide (Genesis 9:6). Unfortunately, the goal of the law (to highlight the importance of human life) has sometimes been misunderstood, leading to blood feuds and the destruction of entire families in some societies.

See also Civil Law and Justice.