The Disputed Land

The Jordan Valley and Lake Tiberias on the west, the Yarmuk Valley on the south, the Ruqqad Stream on the east and the Hermon Massif that stands at an altitude of 2, 814 meters on the north demarcate the Golan Plateau, which stretches 50 kilometers from north to south and almost 25 kilometers from west to east. Volcanic lava covered it with a black, Basaltic layer and left behind some Dolmens.

Geographers distinguish two principal regions, the southern Golan with summits, whose altitudes vary from 185 to 600 meters, and the northern Golan with summits that exceed 1,200 meters. The first has always been cultivated, mostly cereals; the second is for the most part a forested region that is well disposed to grazing.

The Refuge Cities

The Levites, who were entrusted with the religious responsibilities, lived in cities allotted to them by the Hebrew tribes on their territories. There were forty-six villages in all. Six were designated to provide refuge to those who had unwittingly committed crimes and who fled there for protection from any revenge. The Biblical text specified the vocation of these cities:

And the cities that you will give will be six cities of refuge. You will give three cities on this side of the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan to be cities of refuge. These six cities will be a refuge for the children of Israel and for the stranger and the sojourner among them for everyone who unwittingly kills anyone in order to flee. If someone strikes another with an iron instrument so that he dies, then he is a murderer and the murderer must surely be put to death… If someone lashes out at another with hatred or hurls something at him with premeditation so that he dies or if someone strikes another with his hand and with hostility so that he dies, he that smote him will surely be put to death for he is a murderer: the avenger of blood will slay the murderer as soon as he encounters him. But if he accidentally struck him without hostility or hurled something at him without premeditation, or cast a stone without seeing him and without being his enemy or seeking to harm him so that he dies, the congregation will judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments. And the congregation will deliver the slayer out of the hand of the avenger and will return him to the city of his refuge to which he had fled. And he will remain there until the death of the high priest after he has been anointed with holy oil. But if at any other time the slayer will leave the border of the city of his refuge to which he fled and the avenger of blood kills the slayer, he will not be guilty of blood because the slayer should remain in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest can he return to the land of his possession.

Numbers 35: 13 – 28

 

Moses designates three cities of refuge east of the Jordan. They were: “Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country for the tribe of Reuben, Ramot in Gilad for the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Menashe.” (Deuteronomy 4:43) Joshua, in turn, will designate three to the west of the Jordan. The rabbis will commentate at length on this institution, detailing the rights and the duties of the refugees. The refugees were obliged to go to the nearest city, whose access was indicated by road signs and marks. The master of an academy could take his students with him; a student could take his teacher. Upon his arrival, the authorities would assume responsibility for the fugitive and take him before a court that would determine his responsibility. When he was found guilty of involuntary homicide, he was admitted into the city until his release.