Refuge, Cities of

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There were six cities selected from the forty-eight Levitical cities as refuges for homicides, three of which were on either side of the Jordan. Their chief interest now lies in their application to Christ (Heb. 6:1818That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Hebrews 6:18)). Dispensationally Num. 35 may refer to Israel, who have been guilty of manslaughter (Acts 3:1717And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. (Acts 3:17)), rather than murder, and hence, although cast off, they are not nationally destroyed, but remain out of their land until Christ, our great high priest, takes the character of king and comes forth to reign, when Israel will return safely to the land of their possession (Num. 35:25, 2825And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. (Numbers 35:25)
28Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession. (Numbers 35:28)).