The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-07

slayer that killeth any person unacit-
tingly and unaacdres marginal reading
through error mag flee thither: and
they shall be for you a refuge from the
dvenger of blood.
Moses had been very explicit in de-
claring that the cities of refuge were to
be asylums and fortresses only for those
who had by accident and without evil
intent destroyed human life. They were
not designed to shield actual murderers
Murderers were to be left to the disposal
Of the avenger of blood; and the avenger
was commanded by the law not to shrink
from the infection of the death penalty
Mum. xxxiv: 1917.
In later ages there were among the pa
gan nations asyIo which shielded actual
murderers, where protection could be
bought. But under the moral upright
ness of the Mosaic Law such institutions
were impossible. 1t was not in the plan
of Moses to make the refuge cities hid
ing places for murderers.
But for those who, through accident
or carelessness, were the agents of death,
these cities offered free refuge. Be-
cause the nearest of kin to one slain, &C
cording to the custom. had no discretion
left to him. he being in honor bound to
kill the slayer Of his relative. there was
only one thing for the man to do who
had Internationally slain another. and
that was to flee. And the cities Of refuge
offered him welcome and protection. He
was. here assured of an impartial trial.
The way to the nearest city of refuge
was always distinctly marked. Says ].
r. Beard: "In order to give the fugitive
allspossible advantage in his fight, it
was the business of the Sanhedrim to
make the roads that led to the cities Of
refuge convenient, by enlarging them
and removing every obstruction that
might hurt his foot or hinder his speed.
No hillock was left. no river was allowed
over which there was not a bridge.
and the road was at least two and
thirty cubits broad. At every turning
there were posts erected bearing the
words, Refuge, Refuge, to guide the I'M
happy man in his fight; and two stu
dents in the law were appointed to ac-
company him, that, if the avenger should
overtake him before he reached the city,
they might attempt to pacify him till the
legal investigation could take place"
In such manner the evils attending
the custom of blood revenge were ma
terially modified.
2. The Law Governing Ref
uge,-vs. 4-6.
The duties of the Levites in authority
in the cities of refuge we're clearly de.
fined. They were to sit in council at the
main gate of entrance to the city; either
in the shade of the arch over the gate or
in the.adjacent square within the city.
The fugitive was to be Immediately
brought before the elders, who we're his
judges. He was required to tell his own
story. If it became Enthusiastically mani
fest that the killing had been done with
malice. the fugitive was at once thrust
out of the gate and given up to the swift
vengeance of the avenger. But if there
was reasonable doubt that the killing
was without intent the fugitive was
granted the right of asylum. The aven-
ger was forbidden under penalty to come
within the wall. and the fugitive was
forbidden to go out Of the gate.
Then followed, in due time, the formal
trial of the manslayer. His neighbors
were summoned. Only by ample con-
current testimony could he be con-
demned. If he was by this trial found
guilty of murder he was delivered, not
directly to the avenger, but to the au-
thorities Of his own city or tribe; they
at their option to condemn him to the
avenger. In case he was not proved
guilty he became the ward of the city of
refuge. He was provided with employ
ment for the gaining Of his livelihood
And here he must stay during the life
Of the high priest then living. This
limit was natural guard against the
cities of refuge becoming in the course
of generations overpopulated with the
refugees. At the death of the high
priest he was to go forth free man, the
blood avenger having no more legal right
of revenge upon him.
3. The Naming of the Cities
of Refugees. 10.
Already had Moses appointed three Of
these cities.-the three which were at the
east of the Jordan (Deut. iv: 41-43). Be-
Ear, Ram 9th and Golan were made the
cities Of refuge for the east side of the
river. Moses furthermore commanded
that three more cities should be assigned
to the cities of refuge on the west side Of
the river. when that portion of the
Promised Land should be wrested from
the Canaanites.
These three were the cities now to be
assigned by Joshua, and confirmed by
vote of the representatives of the twelve
| tribes.
The cities appointed were Kedesh in
in the north. Shechem in the mid
country, and Hebron at the south.
The six cities. on both sides of the