What is a…
City of Refuge in the Bible

There were 6 biblical Levite cities of refuge (Numbers 35). The Levites were scattered among the tribes of Israel to keep the knowledge and service of God alive among them.

• What are Levites, and how many cities did they have?
• About the Tribes of Israel

Is this the same thing as a modern political “Sanctuary City”?

The terms “Sanctuary City” and “city of refuge” share only a loose “refuge” concept. Their core functions and contexts differ very sharply.

The purpose of a biblical “city of refuge” was to protect accidental (unintentional manslaughter) killers from vengeance until trial when they were pursued by avengers of blood (victim’s relatives seeking vengeance). Usually the pursuer was a brother, uncle or other relative of the deceased. They pursued with the full intent of executing the killer upon meeting him.

The city of refuge provided hope of safety from misguided vigilante justice. If the death was judged unintentional, the person could stay safe in the city until the high priest's death, then returned home. The regulations concerning these cities are given in Numbers 35:9-34; Deuteronomy 19 and 20; Exodus 21:12-14.

The purpose of the city of refuge system was to maintain lawful justice, redeem family honor, and prevent blood pollution of the land (rooted in Genesis 9:5-6).

This is all very different than the modern so-called “Sanctuary City” concept which attempts to illegally protect people who have deliberately entered a nation illegally and to protect them from legal deportation by locally refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, and even blocking enforcement—which is against federal law.

• Crime/offense
  City of Refuge: Only accidental, unintentional manslaughter was involved.
  Sanctuary City: Illegal entry into the nation, with protection provide even when these individuals have commited further crimes.

• Legal status
  Biblical: God-ordained, part of Israel's official justice system.
  Sanctuary City: Local policies often resisting or limiting federal law enforcement.

• Eligibility
  City of Refuge: Strict judicial inquiry to determine if murder was involved; only accidental cases receive refuge, and this is temporary until high priest's death.
  Sanctuary City: Broad protection for immigrants regardless of intent or trial outcome.

• Authority
  City of Refuge: Integrated into national/theocratic law.
  Sanctuary City: Local defiance of federal authority.

• Outcome
  City of Refuge: Fair trial + further refuge during cooling-off period.
  Sanctuary City: Avoidance of deportation proceedings.

Ultimately there was no further refuge if the killer was fairly judged to be a murder (intentional killing). Murderer’s would receive lawful punishment.

Locations of cities of refuge

These 6 cities of refuge were placed on both sides of the Jordan, nearly opposite each other.

West of the Jordan River

1. Kadesh, in Tribe of Naphtali Gaililee
2. Shechem, in Tribe of Ephraim
3. Hebron, in Tribe of Judah (aka Kiriath Arba)

East of the Jordan

1. Bezer, in Tribe of Reuben
2. Golan in Bashan, in Tribe of Manasseh
3. Ramoth in Gilead, in Tribe of Gad

More information

• About murder in the Bible
• About the What are the Tribes of Israel?
• What are Levites?
• What is a sanctuary in the Bible?
• Answers about laws in the Bible
• What is justice? What does the Bible say about it?
• What is the justice of God?
• Who is the Just One?
• What is a judge in Israel? and when were they active?
• What is a judgment seat?
• What is righteousness?
• What is the Final Judgment? and What do I need to know about it?
• What are the CITIES OF THE BIBLE? Names, descriptions, locations and types