The significance of the cities of refuge

The Cities of Refuge were six cities in the Old Testament, allocated to the Levite tribe, that provided asylum for perpetrators of unintentional manslaughter.

Without the cities of refuge, if people were accused of murder, it would seem like a hopeless situation. Where could they go for protection? Who could they look to for help? Police officers couldn’t be sought. Lawyers couldn’t be appointed on their behalf. Justice could be swift and lethal. The cities of refuge gave people feeling condemned the hope they wouldn’t otherwise have.

The cities were Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan.

The meanings of these names seem planned especially to foreshadow a spiritual application.

Kedesh means “to sanctify, set apart, consecrate and therefore to make holy,” and Christ in the New Jerusalem is the ultimate refuge, for “the Lamb [is] the temple of it” (Revelation 21:22).

Shechem means “between the shoulders or burden bearer,” which answers to the “strong consolation” we have in Christ when we flee to Him for refuge.

Hebron means “fellowship,” and we who have come to Christ have been “called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Bezermeans “strong hiding place.” The Scripture assures the believer that “your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

Ramoth means “high place,” and when we are hidden in Christ, God has also “made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).

Finally, Golanis is said to be derived from Galah, meaning to remove, deliver or pass away. It could also be derived from a signifying to rejoice. So, it is delighting through deliverance. This would speak of being free from sin and death to become captive to Christ. “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive” (Ephesians 4:8).

Thus, the cities are appropriately named for their immediate purpose and as a picture of Christ as the Savior of sinners. The typology with Christ is established in Hebrews 6:18: “We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.” In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament), the word for “fled for refuge” is the same word used for the cities of refuge.

As believers and sinners, we flee to the city of refuge for our safety. This city of refuge represents the Lord Jesus Christ, for it is here that we lay hold upon the hope set before us. It is this hope that will be the anchor for us. We are like a ship tossed in the stormy sea of life, but we will be drawn to safety as long as we are attached to the rope and anchor. Let each of us commit ourselves to dwelling in the city of Refuge, for it is only here that we will live safely now and in the future.

Application question: How can the principles of justice and sanctuary in Numbers 35 guide our responses to social issues today?

Quote: What a blessed truth to understand that, in the middle of all of our difficulties and calamities, we have a refuge. Aiden Wilson Tozer

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the lessons You have taught me through the book of Numbers. Please help me to press on in my journey of faith. Amen