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The cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer not die, until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
Verse Takeaways
1
Justice Over Vengeance
All commentators agree that the cities of refuge were a divine legal provision to replace raw vengeance with due process. This system ensured a person accused of killing someone would receive a fair trial before the 'congregation' (a local court) instead of being immediately killed by the 'avenger of blood.' It demonstrates God's high value for justice, order, and the protection of the potentially innocent.
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4
18th Century
Presbyterian
The avenger - Hebrew גאל gā'al — a term whose original meaning is uncertain. The very obscurity of its etymology testifies to the a…
19th Century
Anglican
And they shall be to you cities for refuge... — Better, And the cities shall be to you for refuge (or, as a place of refug…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And they shall be to you cities of refuge from the avenger , &c.] Or near kinsman; for as the right of redemption of…
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To show plainly the abhorrence of murder, and to provide more effectively for the punishment of the murderer, the nearest relation of the deceased,…