Devotional  Verses From Joshua

Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them and give him a place that he may dwell among them. And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime. And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days; then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.     Joshua 20:2-6

Under the Jewish law, which was the most protective of the rights of individuals of ancient days and has been a model for the legal systems of modern civilized countries, there was a consideration for accidental death. Accidents do happen, God understands, and made a provision that in such a case the ancient idea of blood for blood and life for life could be set aside for the cause of justice. Yet, what people may not know, or may misunderstand is that the accidental killer did not get off without consequences. He could save his life from the family member called the avenger of blood by going to a city of refuge, but there he had to be tried to see if he really was innocent, and if he was he still could not leave the city until the death of the high priest who was currently in office. If the High Priest were quite old the accidental slayer might be released after a very short time, but if the High Priest had just come into office and was younger than the slayer, the accidental killer might have to spend his entire life within the city of refuge.  He had to leave his home and family (unless they moved to be with him), give up his way of life, and perhaps his profession, miss the birthday parties of his aging mother and father, the special community festivals, and all the blessings of his life before the accident. But his life was safe, and within the bounds of the city of refuge, whether it was Shechem,  Ramoth in Gilead, or any of the others, he was free. So even in an accidental killing there was a price to be paid. One of the problems in modern society is that there is so much crime and unintended tragedies that come from bad or reckless behavior, and often so little cost to those involved in these events that the same people repeat them over and over again. Modern society must find a way to make the cost for any kind of accident due to unlawful behavior, or what are called “minor crimes” be sufficient to be a deterrent to stupid and sinful activities.