Tom Petty's Greatest Hits: Refugee, Don't Come Around Here No More, and I Won't Back Down

Numbers 35: 6-34

So when distributing the land to the Levites, six of the 48 cities given to them are to be cities of refuge.  These 48 cities are to be taken from the other clans proportionately...those with more cities give more to the 48, those with fewer giver fewer.

These cities of refuge seem to be safe havens for people accused of murder but claim their innocence.  If you murder someone accidentally (or I suppose if you're just the wrong guy) you can skip town for one of these cities of refuge until after you stand trial.  If the death is avenged while you are in one of these cities- the avenger is a murderer.  If however, you sneak out of refuge town, the avenger can kill with you no penalty.  The avenger is given a license to kill, so to speak.

When you make it to the city of refuge, you must remain there until the death of the high priest... and remembering the life span of folks in this era, this could be hundreds of years.  You can't leave for any reason, even if Bob Dylan plays in the neighboring town- stay put or you're fair game... even if you're innocent.

This section also lists what constitutes murder: death by metal object, death by stone-striking, death by wooden object, shoving with forethought, throwing something at someone with forethought, and angry fist striking.  If it results in death, you are a murderer and are to be avenged.  But if you throw something accidentally, or didn't know someone was beneath the big rock you rolled over the cliff; if you didn't intend harm- head for the city of refuge.  Apparently you run there when it happens, and if found innocent, you return there until the death of the high priest.

Interesting that even if innocent, you are still sentenced to one of these cities until things cool down.  I'm guessing these cities weren't exactly cultural hot spots.  People who lived here were likely considered shady or at best irresponsible and often your fate may not have been your own doing.

Also, you can't buy your way out.  If you are a murderer, you are to be put to death, no matter how much you'd pay.  If you are isolated in a city of refuge, you are stuck there until the high priest dies, no matter how much you'd pay.

It might be easy to read this passage as pro-death penalty (which within it's context it clearly is).  God says if you murder, you are to be murdered.  God sets up a means of justice to be served.  However, this passage seems to be set up as a contrast to the system of grace set to come later through Jesus.

You used to do this, but with Jesus, let those not guilty throw the first stone.  You used to do this, but with Jesus, God says leave vengeance to me.  You used to do this, but with Jesus, we realize that we are all living in cities of refuge even though we are guilty, grateful for the pardon, knowing that we deserve a worse fate.