the Jordan - were set apart as "cities of refuge," for the unintentional manslayer. It is interesting to notice,

that even the number of the Levitical cities was significant. They amounted in all to forty-eight, which is a

multiple of four, the symbolical number of the kingdom of God in the world, and of twelve, the number of the

tribes of Israel.

In regard to the "cities of refuge," for the protection of the unintending manslayer, it must not be imagined

that the simple plea of unintentional homicide afforded safety. The law, indeed, provided that the country

both east and west of the Jordan should be divided in three parts - each with its "city of refuge," the roads

to which were always to be kept in good repair. But, according to the sacred text (Numbers 35:25, comp.

Joshua 20:4), a homicide would, on arriving at the gates of a city of refuge, first have to plead his cause

before the elders of that city, when, if it approved itself to their minds, they would afford, him provisional

protection. If, however, afterwards, the "avenger of blood" claimed his extradition, the accused person

would be sent back under proper protection to his own city, where t he whole case would be thoroughly

investigated. If the homicide was then proved to have been unintentional, the accused would be restored to

the "city of refuge," and enjoy its protection, till the death of the high priest set him free to return to his own

As for the duty of "avenging blood," its principle is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, and traced up to

the relation in which God stands to our world. For, the blood of man, who is God's image, when shed upon

earth, which is God's property, " crieth" unto God (Genesis 4:10) - claims payment like an unredeemed debt.

Hence the expression "avenger of blood," which should be literally rendered "redeemer of blood." On the

other hand, the symbolical meaning of the cities of refuge will readily be understood. There - in the place of

God's merciful provision - the manslayer was to find a refuge, sheltered, as it were, under the wings of the

grace of God, till the complete remission of the punishment at the death of the high priest -the latter

symbolically pointing forward to the death of Him Whom God has anointed our great High Priest, and Who

"by His one oblation of Himself once offered," hath made "a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation,

and satisfaction" for the sins of the world.