Cities of Refuge

The cities of refuge were six cities where a person accused of killing someone by accident could find safety. Three were in Canaan, west of the Jordan River, and three were in Transjordan, the area east of the Jordan River. All six cities were among the 48 cities assigned to the Levites (Numbers 35:6).

The three cities east of the Jordan were:

Bezer,

Ramoth, and

Golan (Deuteronomy 4:43; Joshua 20:8).

The three cities west of the Jordan were:

Kedesh,

Shechem, and

Kiriath-arba, also called Hebron, in the hill country of Judah (Joshua 20:7).

The cities were spread across the land. East of the Jordan, Golan was in the north, Ramoth was in the center, and Bezer was in the south. West of the Jordan, Kedesh was in the north, Shechem was in the center, and Hebron was in the south. This arrangement helped an accused person reach a city of refuge quickly.

In ancient Israel, the closest male relative of a murder victim had the duty to kill the murderer (Numbers 35:19–21). He acted on behalf of the victim’s widow, the rest of the family, and the wider community. A murderer was not allowed to live. No payment could be accepted to spare the murderer’s life (verse 31).

Accidental killing was treated differently. The law of Moses included special rules for a person who killed someone without planning or intending to do so.

A man who killed someone by accident could flee to the nearest city of refuge. The local leaders would give him protection there (Deuteronomy 19:4–6). The case would then be judged in court. If the man was found guilty of planned murder, he was handed over for execution (19:11–12). If the death was judged to be accidental, he was not treated as a murderer.

Even so, he still faced a penalty. He had to remain in the city of refuge until the high priest in office died (Numbers 35:22–28). This could cause great hardship. He might be separated from his family. His family might also have to leave their inherited land and face the cost and risk of making a living in a new city.

See also Asylum; Civil Law and Justice.