A Fortress of Defense to Save Me

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home › resources › literature › A Fortress of Defense to Save Me

Keraza Magazine issue 7-8 February 24, 2017

God commanded Moses to command the children of Israel to give forty-eight cities from the inheritance of their possessions to the Levites to dwell in, and to appoint six cities of refuge among these cities. These cities of refuge were given to the children of Israel that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there, "They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment" (Numbers 35:12). These cities of refuge had certain characteristics. They were six in number, three in the west side of the Jordan and three in its east side. They were among the cities in which the Levites dwell. Their doors would be kept open day and night. The way to each one of these six cities of refuge would be well paved, large, and carrying clear signs directing to the way to the city. The six cities would be geographically distributed in a way that would make them available and close to everybody. These cities would be a refuge for the children of Israel as well as for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them. The elders of that city "must take him (the slayer who fled to the city) into the city as one of them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them" (Joshua 20:4). The slayer who would kill a person accidentally or unintentionally would remain safe as long as he would stay within the limits of the city of refuge, but when he would go out of it the avenger would kill him. The manslayer would get his freedom and become able to return to the land of his possession when the high priest would die. In fact, the high priest was the ruler of the six cities of refuge as long as they were among the forty-eight cities in which the high priest, priests and Levites were dwelling.

David enjoyed calling God, in many places in his psalms, "The refuge". Among these places, his prayer saying, "Be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me" (Psalms 31:2). As for St. Paul, he revealed to us the mystery that the cities of refuge symbolize Jesus Christ by saying, "Who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil" (Hebrews 6:18-19). The cities were six in number, likewise Jesus Christ fulfilled our salvation on the sixth day and in the six hour. The cities' doors would never close up day and night equally before the children of Israel and the stranger, likewise Jesus bosom is open day and night on the cross, offering salvation to everybody and whoever comes to him is not cast away. The ways to the cities were well paved, large, and carries clear directing signs, likewise the means of salvation are available to everybody and the Gospel is preached all over the world. Outside the city's wall there was no salvation but falling under death sentence, likewise outside Jesus blood there is no salvation but eternal condemnation.

The meaning of these cities' names is one of the most wonderful symbols that prescribe Christ's redemptive work. The first city is called Kedesh meaning holy. The second is called Shechem meaning carrying burdens. The third is called Hebron meaning fellowship. The fourth is called Bezer meaning strong fortress. The fifth is called Ramoth meaning height. The sixth is called Golan meaning Joy. Likewise, through the cross our sanctity and justification were achieved, Christ carried the burdens of our sins, He then introduced us into a fellowship with the Holy trinity, hence we became kept from the devil's attacks in a strong fortress, and we were lift to the heights of heavens enjoying the joy of salvation.

If Jesus Christ is for us a city of refuge, He is at the same time the High Priest who died for us once and remains alive forever. This means our abiding in and unity with Him is eternal as long as we have no freedom outside Jesus Christ, who became for us a rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save us.

Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States