These cities of refuge clearly represents the provision God has made for us to escape from death. We have all committed offences and are worthy of death but we can flee to him for refuge. He has provided Christ as our refuge and once we are in him by belief and baptism we are safe. If we do not enter him, or we come out of him through faithlessness, we shall certainly perish. If we faithfully remain in him we shall be safe now and we shall live for ever when he comes as God’s high priest in the earth.
Six cities were designated, three on each side of the River Jordan, so that people would have a refuge in their own vicinity. Later Israel’s possession of the land was extended northwards right up to the River Euphrates 2 Samuel 8:3.Waiting for response for 2 Samuel 8:3 God knew this would occur, the river being his defined northern border of the land, and he therefore made provision for three more cities of refuge to be established then Deuteronomy 19:9.Waiting for response for Deuteronomy 19:9
God commanded Israel to appoint cities of refuge in the land. These were places to which innocent men could flee to escape the vengeance of others in certain circumstances. Most human legal systems distinguish between murder and manslaughter, and the Law of Moses also provided for justice when individuals were killed accidentally. A murderer was punished with death by stoning at the hands of the victim’s next of kin. If, however, someone killed another accidentally, such as by an axe head flying off a handle, (Deuteronomy 19:5)Waiting for response for Deuteronomy 19:5 the manslayer could flee from the avenger, escaping to one of the cities of refuge and be safe until his case was dealt with. The judges would determine if murder had been committed, and if so the murderer would be executed. If the slayer was innocent he could escape death at the hands of the avenger by remaining in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. If he left the city before then the avenger could take his revenge.