Joshua 20
In this chapter, the Lord commands Joshua to establish cities of refuge, as instructed to Moses earlier in Numbers 35. These cities were designated for people who accidentally killed someone, providing them with a safe place to flee from avengers seeking revenge. It highlights God’s provision for justice and mercy within the legal system of ancient Israel.
Joshua 20:1-2 (NKJV)
1 The Lord also spoke to Joshua, saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses.’”
God commands Joshua to implement a system that He had already communicated to Moses. The cities of refuge were part of the broader legal framework to ensure fair treatment, especially in cases of accidental manslaughter. This system was designed to protect the innocent from unjust retribution, showing God’s concern for justice and mercy.
Joshua 20:3-5 (NKJV)
3 “that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 And when he flees to one of those cities, and stands at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declares his case in the hearing of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city as one of them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5 Then if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, but did not hate him beforehand.”
These verses outline the purpose and procedure for the cities of refuge. A person who accidentally kills another can flee to a city of refuge to escape the "avenger of blood" (usually a close relative seeking revenge). The city elders would judge the case, offering protection if the act was unintentional. This system ensured that no one was punished without proper investigation and safeguarded justice from becoming blind vengeance.
Joshua 20:6 (NKJV)
6 “And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the slayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled.”
The one seeking refuge would live in the city until the congregation judged the case, or until the high priest died. The death of the high priest marked a form of closure, allowing the accused to return home without fear of retribution. This arrangement provided a balance between protecting the individual and maintaining societal order.
Joshua 20:7-9 (NKJV)
7 So they appointed Kedesh in Galilee, in the mountains of Naphtali, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in the mountains of Judah.
8 And on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwelt among them, that whoever killed a person accidentally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.
The chapter concludes by listing the six cities designated as cities of refuge: three on the western side of the Jordan (Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron) and three on the eastern side (Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan). These cities were spread out to ensure accessibility for anyone in need. The system applied not only to Israelites but also to foreigners living among them, emphasizing God’s justice and mercy for all.