“And the cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger and the killer shall not die.” (Bamidbar 35:12)
The concept of arei miklat (cities of refuge) is comprised of two aspects: salvation and punishment. A murderer who killed accidentally flees to these cities for protection from his victim’s relatives. However even a killer who does not fear reprisal must remain exiled in the ir miklat as a punishment for his sin despite it being unintentional.
Thus the concept of arei miklat includes both retribution and kindness. The murderer is punished by midas hadin and protected by midas harachamim.
What’s interesting to note is that the Torah puts great emphasis on security measures to protect the killer from the go’el hadam. In addition to the many signposts directing him to the arei miklat two talmidei chachamim must accompany him as chaperones. However should he decide to leave the city after he is settled the Torah immediately allows the go’el hadam to harm him. Why? (Birkas Peretz Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky according to Lekach Tov)
Create a free account to keep reading.
