Joshua Chapter 20 — The Cities of Refuge
Israel designates six cities of refuge to provide a safe haven for individuals who accidentally cause someone's death. These cities protected the accused from retaliation until a formal trial could take place.
1The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
2“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Assign the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by Moses,
3that the man slayer who kills any person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there. They shall be to you for a refuge from the avenger of blood.
4He shall flee to one of those cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declare his case in the ears of the elders of that city. They shall take him into the city with them, and give him a place, that he may live among them.
5If the avenger of blood pursues him, then they shall not deliver up the man slayer into his hand; because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, and didn’t hate him before.
6He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days. Then the man slayer shall return, and come to his own city, and to his own house, to the city he fled from.’ ”
7They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
8Beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stands trial before the congregation.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Joshua 20:3
“that the man slayer who kills any person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there. They shall be to you for a refuge from the avenger of blood.”
This verse defines the primary purpose of the cities: providing a safe haven to prevent the cycle of blood vengeance.
Joshua 20:6
“He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days.”
This verse outlines the legal process and the specific timeframe required for the individual's safety and eventual return home.
Joshua 20:9
“These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there...”
This highlights the inclusive nature of the law, applying to both native Israelites and resident foreigners.
Chapter Summary
Following the distribution of tribal lands, God instructs Joshua to fulfill the earlier command given to Moses regarding the cities of refuge. These six cities were specifically designated as sanctuaries for anyone who killed another person accidentally or unintentionally. Upon arriving at a city, the individual had to present their case to the elders at the city gate to be admitted. Once inside, they were protected from the 'avenger of blood,' a relative of the deceased seeking retribution. The person was required to remain in the city until they stood trial before the congregation and until the death of the serving high priest. Three cities were chosen west of the Jordan River: Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron. Three were chosen east of the Jordan: Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan. This provision applied to both native Israelites and any foreigners living among them, ensuring legal protection and preventing further bloodshed.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cities of refuge were designated sanctuaries for individuals who committed accidental manslaughter. They provided protection from the 'avenger of blood,' allowing the accused to stay safe until they could face a fair trial.
The six cities named are Kedesh in Galilee, Shechem in Ephraim, and Hebron (Kiriath Arba) in Judah on the west side of the Jordan. On the east side, the cities were Bezer in Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, and Golan in Bashan.
An individual seeking refuge had to stand at the entrance of the city gate and declare their case to the city elders. If the elders accepted the case as accidental, they would provide the person a place to live within the city.
The avenger of blood was typically a relative of the deceased person who sought to punish the killer. The cities of refuge were designed to stop these relatives from taking immediate revenge before a proper legal judgment could be made.
Study Note
The strategic geographical distribution of the six cities ensured that a place of refuge was accessible from any part of Israel within approximately a day's journey.
Related Chapters
Numbers 35
Numbers 35 provides the original instructions from God to Moses regarding the cities of refuge.
Deuteronomy 19
Deuteronomy 19 contains further legal details on the difference between accidental and intentional killing.
Joshua 21
Joshua 21 lists all the Levitical cities, including those designated as cities of refuge.
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