Included within the borders of Israel are to be 48 special cities, designated as possessions for the Levites, who are a tribe without a land inheritance.
These towns are to include pasture land extending out from the city walls a thousand cubits. Thus homes are to be established for the tribe of Levi.
Six of these 48 towns will have the added designation as a "sanctuary city" or city of refuge. They are places where those who have killed another can go to escape vengeance from the family of their victim. The protection of that city is limited to those who are guilty of (basically) manslaughter - killing someone without intent. If murder has occurred, the killer is to receive capital punishment.
The conditions of manslaughter sound like "house arrest." The one who has killed without malice may live in the city of refuge safely - as long as he stays in the city! If he ventures out and is found by an avenger of his victim, he may be killed without consequence (vs. 26-27). The term of his sentence is for as long as the high priest is alive. When the high priest dies, the killer is free to return to his home (vs. 28).
This section of Numbers gives us an idea of how the criminal justice system worked in an era without police or prisons!
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