Refuge

How Nave’s arranged it

• CITIES OF
• From the avenger of bloodExodus 21:13Exodus 21:14Numbers 35:11–32Deuteronomy 4:41–43Deuteronomy 19:2–13Joshua 20:1–6
• List ofJoshua 20:7–9
• Roads made toDeuteronomy 19:3
• FIGURATIVE
• Of ChristHebrews 6:18

The passages, in Bible order (9)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 9 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Exodus 21:13

   If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 21:132 voices

   For there was a command under the law that cities of refuge should be appointed, in order that they who were sought after to be put to death might at least have some means of saving themselves. And when he who spoke to Moses, the Word of the Father, appeared in the end of the world, he also gave this commandment, saying, "But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another."

   “There was no place of safety for the guilty murderer, not even the altar of Yahweh. Thus all superstitious notions connected with the right of sanctuary were excluded. Adonijah and Joab 1Ki 1:50; 1Ki 2:28 appear to have vainly trusted that the common feeling would protect them, if they took hold of the horns of the altar on which atonement with blood was made Lev 4:7. But for one who killed a man “at unawares,” that is, without intending to do it, the law afterward appointed places of refuge, Num. 35:6-34; Deu 4:41-43; Deu 19:2-10; Jos 20:2-

   Everything gathered on Exodus 21:13→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Exodus 21:14

   But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 21:142 voices

   “Thou shalt take him from mine altar - Before the cities of refuge were assigned, the altar of God was the common asylum.

   “But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile,....

   Everything gathered on Exodus 21:14→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Numbers 35:11–32

   designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there.

   ›Commentary on Numbers 35:11–322 voices

   “Then ye shall appoint your cities to be cities of refuge for you,....

   “Ye shall appoint - cities of refuge - The cities of refuge among the Israelites were widely different from the asyla among the Greeks and Romans, as also from the privileged altars among the Roman Catholics. Those among the Hebrews were for the protection of such only as had slain a person involuntarily. The temples and altars among the latter often served for the protection of the most profligate characters.

   Everything gathered on Numbers 35:11–32→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Deuteronomy 4:41–43

   Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 4:41–432 voices

   “These verses are inserted between two distinct and complete discourses for the reason to which they themselves call attention (“Then Moses severed three cities,” etc.); i. e., the fact narrated took place historically after Moses spoke the one discourse and before he delivered the other. In thus severing the three cities of refuge Moses carried out a previous command of God (see the marginal references); and so followed up his exhortations to obedience by setting a punctual example of it, as far as opportunity was given him.

   “Then Moses severed three cities,....

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 4:41–43→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Deuteronomy 19:2–13

   then you are to set apart for yourselves three cities within the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:2–132 voices

   “Thus Christ is not a refuge at a distance, which we must ascend to heaven or go down to the deep for, but the word is nigh us, and Christ in the word, Rom. x. The gospel brings salvation to our door, and there it knocks for admission.

   “Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land--Goelism, or the duty of the nearest kinsmen to avenge the death of a slaughtered relative, being the customary law of that age (as it still is among the Arabs and other people of the East), Moses incorporated it in an improved form with his legislative code.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 19:2–13→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Deuteronomy 19:3

   You are to build roads for yourselves and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that any manslayer can flee to these cities.

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:32 voices

   “Thou shalt prepare thee a way - The Jews inform us that the roads to the cities of refuge were made very broad, thirty-two cubits; and even, so that there should be no impediments in the way; and were constantly kept in good repair.

   “Thus Christ is not a refuge at a distance, which we must ascend to heaven or go down to the deep for, but the word is nigh us, and Christ in the word, Rom. x. The gospel brings salvation to our door, and there it knocks for admission.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 19:3→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Joshua 20:1–6

   Then the LORD said to Joshua,

   ›Commentary on Joshua 20:1–62 voices

   “The institution of the cities of refuge, together with the rules prescribed for the guidance of those who sought an asylum within their walls, was an important provision, tending to secure the ends of justice as well as of mercy.

   “Lastly, the people were accustomed to detest murder, since homicide, even when not culpable, was followed by exile from country and home, till the death of the high priest. For that temporary exile clearly showed how precious human blood is in the sight of God. Thus the law was just, equitable, and useful, as well in a public as in a private point of view.

   Everything gathered on Joshua 20:1–6→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Joshua 20:7–9

   So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.

   ›Commentary on Joshua 20:7–92 voices

   “They appointed Kedesh in Galilee - The cities of refuge were distributed through the land at proper distances from each other that they might be convenient to every part of the land; and it is said they were situated on eminences, that they might be easily seen at a distance, the roads leading to them being broad, even, and always kept in good repair. In the concluding note on Num 35:33 it has been stated that these cities were a type of our blessed Lord, and that the apostle refers to them as such, Heb 6:17, Heb 6:

   “If they were sanctuaries, it was proper to say they were sanctified. Christ, our refuge, was sanctified by his Father; nay, for our sakes he sanctified himself, John xvii.

   Everything gathered on Joshua 20:7–9→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Hebrews 6:18

   Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

   ›Commentary on Hebrews 6:182 voices

   “That by two unchangeable things - His promise and his oath, in either, much more in both of which, it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation - Swallowing up all doubt and fear. Who have fled - After having been tossed by many storms. To lay hold on the hope set before us - On Christ, the object of our hope, and the glory we hope for through him.

   “Through Moses God gave commandments about sacrifices, and the whole book of Leviticus is taken up with acceptable ways for them to be carried out. The Lord, through the prophets, found fault with those who contemptuously misstated these things, calling them disobedient to the commandment. He told them, "I have not asked you to do these things!… Neither did I speak to your fathers about sacrifices, nor give them commands about whole burnt offerings."Some have put forth the opinion that either the Scriptures do not agree or that God, who gave the commandment, is a liar.

   Everything gathered on Hebrews 6:18→

   Verse page →Original language →