Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

served.
Cities of Refuge
Six cities assigned to the Levites were appointed as cities of
refuge, "that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may
flee there. They shall be cities of refuge ..., that the manslayer may
not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment."
(Numbers 35:11, 12). This merciful provision was necessary
because responsibility to punish the murderer fell to the nearest
relative or the next heir of the one killed. In cases where guilt was
clearly evident, it was not necessary to wait for a trial by
magistrates. The avenger might pursue the criminal and put him to
death wherever he could be found. The Lord did not abolish this
custom but made provision to ensure the safety of those who took
life accidentally.
The cities of refuge could be reached within half a day from
every part of the land. The roads leading to them were always kept
in good repair. Signposts were erected bearing the word Refuge in
plain, bold characters, so that the person fleeing might not be
delayed for a moment. Any person--Hebrew, stranger, or temporary
resident--might use this provision. The killer was to be tried fairly
by proper authorities, and only when found innocent of intentional
murder was the fugitive protected in the city of refuge. The guilty
were given over to the avenger. When the high priest died, however,
all who had taken shelter in the cities of refuge were free to return
home.
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