In Family Research Council’s Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan this week, we finished the last few chapters of the book of Numbers, which is a surprising place to find a text that anticipates Holy Week. Yet in Numbers 35, God gave Moses instructions regarding the Cities of Refuge, which are a type and foreshadowing of the person of Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for us through His cross.

The Lord, through Moses, first alludes to the concept of these cities in Exodus 21:13, then spells it out further in Numbers 35:9-34. Moses names the first three of the cities on the east side of the Jordan in Deuteronomy 4:41-43. The remainder on the west side of the Jordan are named in Joshua 20:7-8 — six cites in all. Consequently, the task falls to Joshua and the Levites to set up these six cities, the “cities of refuge.”

At first glance, the cities of refuge were simply a part of God’s prescription for an elevated system of justice in the promised land. The stated purpose was quite practical: “The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment” (35:12). Yet these cities were also prophetic. They point to something, more specifically, to someone greater than mere cities. Throughout the Old Testament, there are many prophetic pictures pointing forward to Jesus, and these cities of refuge are yet another example. Here are three things to know about them: their Nature, their Names, and their Nearness.

Nature of the Cities: A Place of Refuge (Numbers 35:11-12)

Why would a person need a place to flee, a city of refuge? Let’s say a man was involved in another man’s accidental death. In other words, their death was not the result of an intentional murder. However, the first individual was considered the prime suspect, so he needed a place to flee for sanctuary, for refuge. The reason? There was typically a Goel, a “Kinsman-Redeemer,” a “Revenger of Blood,” the nearest male relative of the deceased person. The Goel was tasked with ensuring justice by executing the person responsible for the death of their kinsman. Yet the city of refuge provided a place of legal sanctuary from the Goel until the matter could be settled in court, where the accused had a chance to tell his side of the story, a jury of your peers could hear it, and a Levitical judge could issue a verdict. However, the Goel retained the right and responsibility to slay a murderer if found outside a city of refuge.

These cities speak to our nature in that they were not for the innocent, but for the guilty without intent. We, too, are guilty of death, but not accidentally in the physical sense. We are guilty morally and spiritually. Our sins put Christ on the cross. As Peter declared:

“You killed the Author of life” (Acts 3:15). Yet he immediately adds: “I know that you did it in ignorance” (Acts 3:17). That sounds remarkably like Numbers 35. And from the cross, Jesus prayed: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Consequently, here is the gospel connection: We are guilty, but God provided a place to flee. Christ is that place. Hebrews 6:18 tells us that we have “fled for refuge” to Him. Just as the manslayer ran to the city, we run to Christ, not to deny our guilt, but to find mercy. These cities speak of the very nature of God. Psalm 46:1 declares, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” They are a picture, type, and prophecy of Christ our Refuge.

Names of the Cities: A Portrait of Christ (Joshua 20:7-8)

Second, take note that even the names of the cities have significance and point to Christ. We find the names in Joshua 20:7-8.

1. Kedesh (v. 7): The first city is in Galilee, named Kedesh, which in Hebrew means “holy” or sacred. And Christ is that Holy, sinless place of refuge. Paul writes: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Only a sinless and holy individual could be an acceptable sacrifice for sin. Only Christ could become our Savior.

2. Shechem (v. 7): The next city is in the hill country of Ephraim called Shechem, which in Hebrew literally means “shoulder” and figuratively means “strength.” Isaiah 9:6 speaks of the future reign of Christ when “the government shall be upon his shoulder.” The autobiographical parable of the lost sheep pictures Jesus carrying that sheep on his shoulders. In fact, Paul says in Romans 5:6 , “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” This particular city name tells us that Christ is able to do what we could not do. For He is our Strength.

3. Hebron (v. 7): The next city in the hill country of Judah is Hebron, the city Caleb captured (see Joshua 14). The Hebrew name means “fullness.” Jesus said in John 10:10: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” This city name tells us that not only is Christ our Savior and our Strength, He is also our Satisfaction.

4. Bezer (v. 8): We find the next city east of the Jordan, Bezer, which means “fortification” or “stronghold.” So that tells us that Christ is our Security. Proverbs 18:10 says that “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Jesus said in John 10:27-28: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” In other words, in Jesus we are safe! Beser means that Christ is our Security.

5. Ramoth (v. 8): The next city in Gilead is Ramoth, which means “exalted,” a high place. That also speaks of Christ, because in Acts 2:32-33, Peter proclaims that God raised Jesus to life and He was “exalted at the right hand of God.” Paul wrote: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). Consequently, these cities not only tell us that Christ is our Savior, our Strength, our Satisfaction, and our Security, but the city of Ramoth tells us that Christ is our exalted Sovereign, our Risen King!

6. Golan: The last city in the east is Golan, and it means “separated.” And that tells us that Christ is our Sanctification. In 1 Corinthians 1:30, Paul wrote that Jesus Christ “has become our wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” In Hebrews 10:10, we read that we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Then in Hebrews 13:12, we read that Jesus died outside the gates of Jerusalem that He might sanctify the people with His own blood. The city of refuge in Golan speaks of Christ enabling us to live a separated life. Christ is our sanctification.

Nearness of the Cities: A Refuge within Reach (Numbers 35:13-14)

Based on what we read in Joshua 20, these cities were to be geographically positioned so that anyone among the 12 tribes could easily access a city of refuge. Three on the west side of the Jordan — north, central, and south, and three on the east side of the Jordan — north, central, and south. Plus, these cities were on hills so that they could be readily seen, and according to Levitical law, the roads to these cities had to be well-marked and maintained. The prophetic point is that Christ our refuge is near and accessible to those who need him.

Paul quotes Deuteronomy 30:12-14 in Romans 10:6-9 when he talks about the nearness of our salvation: “But the righteousness based on faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’” The cities of refuge were near anyone who needed them, just as Christ is near to those who need Him.

Ultimate Refuge Opened by the Cross

Yet buried in the instructions God gives Moses in Numbers 35, there is one more vital detail we dare not miss because it too points to the gospel. The manslayer could remain safe inside the city of refuge until one thing happened: “He shall remain there until the death of the high priest … then the manslayer may return” (Numbers 35:25, 28). That provision is not incidental. It is prophetic. For a time, the fugitive was stuck in that city, even if he was exonerated by trial. If he left that city, the “avenger of blood” would have the right to kill him (Numbers 35:24-28). However, when the high priest died, something changed. The debt was considered satisfied. The barrier was removed. The man could go free — not because of his own righteousness, but because another had died. And that is exactly what happened at the cross.

Jesus Christ is not only our Refuge, He is also our Great High Priest. And when He died, He did not merely set an example; He secured our release. At the cross, God’s justice was completely satisfied. God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus for our sin. We were the guilty ones. We were the ones under sentence. But Christ took our place and our punishment. That is why the writer of Hebrews says those who have “fled for refuge” are to lay hold of hope. That hope is not wishful thinking. No, it is anchored in a finished work. When Jesus cried, “It is finished” on that cross, He was declaring that everything necessary for our salvation had been accomplished.

The High Priest died. Now the way out was opened. The fugitive can now go free.

Consequently, run to Christ. Run from sin. Run from self-reliance. Run from the curse and condemnation of the law, from the wrath of God, and from an eternity in hell. And run to the cross. Because at the cross, the High Priest died. At the cross, the way was made open. At the cross, we were set free.

Hopefully, these obscure instructions given to Moses in Numbers 35 and elsewhere regarding the establishment of cities of refuge now have a much deeper meaning. Setting up these cities was not all God intended. They pointed all along to Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, our ultimate Refuge.