What were Israel’s “Cities of Refuge.”? What did they signify for Israel? What do they mean for Israel in the 7-year Tribulation?

“Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares (unintentionally)” (Numbers 35:11).

There is something prophetic Israel’s “Cities of Refuge” as we will see in context?

“[6] And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities….. [9] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [10] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan; [11] Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares (unintentionally). [12] And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

“[13] And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge. [14] Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge. [15] These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.” (Numbers 35:6-14).

God continually emphasizes these six special cities for someone who killed another “unawares” (accidentally, unintentionally). He distinguishes between manslaughter and murder. Read verses 16-24 in your Bible. If the Jewish congregation determines it was murder, the avenger of blood can rightfully take the assassin’s life. However, if circumstances amounted to manslaughter, the killer is guaranteed safety in a “city of refuge.”

“[24] Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments: [25] And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.” (Numbers 35:24-25 KJV).

The Mosaic Law stipulated killings be investigated following Numbers 35. If murder, the murderer was executed; conversely, if an unintentional killing, the slayer was sheltered in one of Israel’s six cities of refuge.

“[26] But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; [27] And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: [28] Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession. [29] So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

“[30] Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. [31] Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. [32] And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. [33] So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. [34] Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.” (Numbers 35:26-34)

Thus, JEHOVAH God instructed Israel through Moses that, once they entered the Promised Land, they were to reserve six cities of the Levites (Levi was the priestly tribe) for refuge. Joshua obeyed in Joshua 20:1-9 (cf. Joshua 21:13, 21, 27, 32, 36, 38). In doing this, God was laying groundwork for something marvelous.

The LORD God commanded Joshua, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood” (Joshua 20:2,3).

If someone in time past killed another accidentally—namely, without premeditation—that manslayer could seek safety in one of the “cities of refuge.” These six cities of refuge were strategically placed throughout the land of Israel: they were easily accessible, especially since the paths to them were cleared and maintained. Such facts will prove highly important to our discussion later.

Once again, remember the difference between “manslaughter” and “murder.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines “manslaughter” as “the crime of killing a human being without malice aforethought, or in circumstances not amounting to murder.” In stark contrast, “murder” is “the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.”

When Messiah Jesus visited Israel during His three-year earthly ministry, He was overwhelmingly mocked, rejected, and finally crucified. It was downright murder, an intentional killing, for they had already repeatedly schemed to take His life (Matthew 12:14; Matthew 26:3-5,14-16; Mark 11:18; Luke 22:2; John 7:1; John 8:59; John 10:31; John 11:51-54; et cetera). They would not have Him reign over them, they would not admit their sin problem, and they would not relinquish their vain religious system. Christ’s crucifixion was no accident, but a carefully orchestrated event resulting from Israel’s religious leaders conspiring with the Roman government (Psalm 2:1-3; Acts 4:25-28).

Therefore, we are startled to read Luke 23:34. As Christ hangs on Calvary’s cross, greatly suffering and slowly dying, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” In an unfathomable act of compassion toward Israel, the Lord Jesus utters something astonishing. He wants His Heavenly Father to consider this—not murder! — but manslaughter, a killing done in ignorance.

Many are astonished to learn that God did not set the nation Israel aside at Calvary’s cross. Although she deliberately executed His beloved Son, God extended to Israel a renewed opportunity of repentance in early Acts. He poured out His Holy Spirit on her believing “little flock” remnant of believers (Acts 2). Those “little flock” believers preached to unsaved Israel to repent and be water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (verse 38). Thus, God’s divine wrath had not yet been poured out.

The Holy Spirit declares through the Apostle Peter in Acts chapter 3:

“[12] …Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this [lame] man to walk? [13] The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. [14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; [15] And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. [17] And now, brethren, I wot (know) that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. [18] But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.”

Verse 17 is highly notable. Indeed, Father God has honored His Son’s request in Luke 23:34. He has demoted the indictment of Israel from murder to manslaughter. They were spiritually ignorant, blinded; hence, they put Him to death. Premeditated killing (murder), according to the Mosaic Law, is punishable by death. Israel therefore deserves death (destruction)! Thankfully, though, God took advantage of a loophole in the Law! As a “manslayer unaware,” Israel may flee to “the cities of the refuge.”

To where should she (Israel) run?

She must escape by faith to Jesus’ “Little Flock” (of Luke 12:32) of Israeli believers, for the avenger of blood is impending. Scripture often likens God Himself unto a refuge, a place of safety and shelter where His people can go during vexing times.

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them” (Deuteronomy 33:27).

“The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence” (2 Samuel 22:3).

“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast” (Psalm 57:1).

“But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Psalm 59:16).

“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalm 91:2).

“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge” (Proverbs 14:26).

“For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall” (Isaiah 25:4). Jeremiah 16:19: “O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction….” (See also Psalms 14:6, 46:7, 46:11, 48:3, 59:16, 62:7-8, 71:7, 91:9, 94:22, 142:5).

Finally, Hebrews 6:18: “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:…..” Israel can find refuge in their Messiah, Christ.

To spare Israel total annihilation, God graciously provided a loophole in the Mosaic Law. If one ignorantly killed another, the slayer could flee to a city of refuge and escape the avenger’s hand. The deceased person’s relative could not harm him in that special city of refuge.

Similarly, prophetically, the Antichrist unknowingly is God’s ‘avenger of blood,’ coming to punish national Israel for rejecting her Messiah (Jesus Christ) (Isa. 10:5,6; Jn. 5:43). Thankfully, individual Jews can flee to a (figurative) “city of refuge.” Jesus’ “Little Flock” of believing Israelies will survive God’s judgment and an Israeli’s membership therein (via ‘water baptism’) is protected from “the wrath to come” upon Israel, wherein 2/3 of their number will have die (Mat. 3:1-12; 1 Pet. 3:20-21).

Throughout early Acts, God the Holy Spirit constantly indicted Israel for killing her Messiah. They were worthy of His wrath! However, He downgraded the charge from murder to manslaughter. Israel was spiritually ignorant when she crucified Jesus, thus allowing her opportunity to flee to refuge… which is Israel’s believing remnant. In Acts 2-5, Israel was offered a renewed opportunity of repentance.

“That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, (we) who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 6:18-20).

Believing Jews of Israel’s kingdom program have “fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” (cf. Hebrews 12:25-29). Having then trusted Jesus as Messiah, they will enter His earthly millennial ‘kingdom’ when He returns to redeem the believers of Israel nationally at His Second Coming.

“And I will bring the third part (of Israel) through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God” (Zechariah 13:9).

Adapted from Shawn Brasseaux