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the homicide was then proved to have been unintentional, the accused would be restored
to the "city of refuge," and enjoy its protection, till the death of the high priest set him
free to return to his own city.^54
As for the duty of "avenging blood," its principle is deeply rooted in the Old Testament,
and traced up to the relation in which God stands to our world. For, the blood of man,
who is God's image, when shed upon earth, which is God's property, "crieth" unto God
(Genesis 4:10) - claims payment like an unredeemed debt. Hence the expression
"avenger of blood," which should be literally rendered "redeemer of blood." On the
other hand, the symbolical meaning of the cities of refuge will readily be understood.
There - in the place of God's merciful provision - the manslayer was to find a refuge,
sheltered, as it were, under the wings of the grace of God, till the complete remission of
the punishment at the death of the high priest -the latter symbolically pointing forward
to the death of Him Whom God has anointed our great High Priest, and Who "by His
one oblation of Himself once offered," hath made "a full, perfect, and sufficient
sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction" for the sins of the world.
(^)