Select some towns to be your cities of refuge. (Numbers 35:11)These closing chapters of Numbers deal with boundaries to define tribal allotments, boundaries to prevent land from osmosing from one tribe to another, and boundaries to protect innocent people accused of murder.
People who think Old Testament laws are harsh must not realize the lengths to which these laws go in protecting the accused. Customs often demanded the death penalty for injuring someone or even simple theft. Biblical laws introduced the idea that the punishment must fit the crime. An eye for an eye was not cruel; it was a limit placed on punishment to protect the defendant.
Another example of these limits is that a person could not be executed on the witness of only one person. The biblical laws stated that testimony in a capital case must be corroborated at the very least by a second witness.
Likewise, cities of refuge were set up to protect the life of a person who accidentally killed someone. Sometimes vigilantes would hunt down and execute the offender. Even though the death may have been accidental, the defendant might be executed before getting to tell his side of the story.
Harsh? Maybe not as harsh as some would believe.
Considering Jesus' admonishment to have compassion on the prisoner (Matthew 25:34-40), should we be surprised that same compassion would be extended to defendants prior to conviction?
Is anyone fearing for his life, or maybe his dignity, while awaiting your verdict?
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