Lectionary Calendar
Friday, April 19th, 2024
the Third Week after Easter
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more! Bible Encyclopedias
Asylum
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Search for…
or
a -sı̄´lum : The custom of fleeing to specially sacred places to obtain the protection of a deity is found all over the world (Post, Grundriss , II, 252ff). In ancient Israel we meet with it in two forms - the asylum of the altar and the asylum of the cities of refuge. The altar at the House of God was a place to which persons in danger fled for protection (1 Kings 1:50; 1 Kings 2:28 ). It had horns and must not be confused with the altars of earth or stone that were used for lay sacrifices. See ALTAR; SANCTUARY . Exodus 21:14 provides that a murderer is to be taken from the altar to be put to death. The law of the cities of refuge proceeds upon a somewhat different principle. Its objects are (1) to shield a homicide from the avenger of blood until trial, and (2) to provide a refuge for the manslayer who has not been guilty of murder. There is one reference to the institution in the history of the kingdom ( 2 Samuel 14:14 ). For the legal and geographical information, see CITIES OF REFUGE; HOMICIDE .
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and were generously provided by the folks at WordSearch Software.
Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Asylum'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/a/asylum.html. 1915.
