Day 66: Deuteronomy 19-20

Is the modern "sanctuary city" in any sense like the biblical "Cities of Refuge?" No, it isn't. It's easy to see compassion for the immigrant in Scripture. Many laws are explicitly applied to both native Israelites and "the stranger that is within thy gates" (Ex. 20:10; Deut 5:14, 14:29, 16:11,14, 26:2, 31:12). At other times a distinction was made (Exodus 12:43). The Cities of Refuge were explicitly for Israelites who had committed what we would call involuntary manslaughter. Someone had died accidentally due to their actions. Recognizing that such situations are difficult to judge, the law sets aside detention cities, yet permits a vigilante redeemer (the ga'al, Kinsman-redeemer; called "Avenger of Blood" here) to pursue the manslayer to the nearest city, where presumably experts in the law would be assigned who could explain the judgment (Deuteronomy 17:9-11). By contrast, "sanctuary cities" in our modern day are designed and have been used as a way to block enforcement of existing laws regarding immigration, even in clear-cut cases of murder.

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