4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities
shall stand at the entering of the agate of the city, and
shall declare his cause in the ears of the belders of that
city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that
he may dwell among them.
5 And if the aavenger of blood
pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand;
because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he
stand before the congregation for
judgmenta, and until the
death of the ahigh priest that shall be in those days: then
shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house,
unto the city from whence he fled.
|
6a until he stand before the congregation
for judgment The city of refuge concept was not for a murder to
escape justice and judgment. Once in the city it depended upon whether the
'avenger' did pursue him there and then with whatsoever witnesses a trial
and judgment would still be held to determine ones guilt. If judged to be
guilty of murder then the law would still be put into effect. And if determined
not guilty then the one who sought refuge could still live in the city of
refuge until such time as the high priest who judged him died. Supposedly
the duration would allow tempers to calm and allow the person to return to
his own house to live in peace.
|
|
