Cities of Refuge

“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 35:25 · KJV

“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:”Joshua 20:2 · KJV

“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 20:3 · KJV

God set apart six cities where a man who killed by accident could flee and live. The avenger of blood could not touch him inside the walls. He was safe, but not free: he had to stay.

He was released the day the high priest died. “He shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest... after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession” (Num 35:28). A death set him free, and not his own. The manslayer went home the moment the high priest died, which is why the New Testament can say a believer is dead to the law “by the body of Christ” (Rom 7:4): the death of our High Priest is the death that opens the gate. Until then, refuge is a Person, and you stay in Him.