CITIES OF REFUGE
Key verse: 2
NIV
Cities of Refuge(A)
20 Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally(B) may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.(C) 4 When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate(D) and state their case before the elders(E) of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. 5 If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. 6 They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly(F) and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.”
7 So they set apart Kedesh(G) in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem(H) in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba(I) (that is, Hebron(J)) in the hill country of Judah.(K) 8 East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer(L) in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead(M) in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan(N) in the tribe of Manasseh. 9 Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally(O) could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.(P)
Cross references
- Joshua 20:1 : 20:1-9Ref — Nu 35:9-34; Dt 4:41-43; 19:1-14
- Joshua 20:3 : S Lev 4:2
- Joshua 20:3 : S Nu 35:12
- Joshua 20:4 : S Ge 23:10; Jer 38:7
- Joshua 20:4 : S Jos 7:6
- Joshua 20:6 : S Nu 35:12
- Joshua 20:7 : S Jos 12:22
- Joshua 20:7 : S Ge 12:6
- Joshua 20:7 : S Ge 35:27
- Joshua 20:7 : S Jos 10:36
- Joshua 20:7 : Lk 1:39
- Joshua 20:8 : Jos 21:36; 1Ch 6:78
- Joshua 20:8 : S Jos 12:2; 1Ch 6:80
- Joshua 20:8 : S Jos 12:5; 1Ch 6:71
- Joshua 20:9 : S Lev 4:2
- Joshua 20:9 : S Ex 21:13
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Cities of Refuge
20 Then the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, (A)‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand (B)at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them. 5 And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past. 6 And he shall remain in that city (C)until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.’”
7 So they set apart (D)Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and (E)Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and (F)Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) (G)in the hill country of Judah. 8 And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed (H)Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and (I)Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and (J)Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities designated for all the people of Israel and (K)for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation.
Read full chapterCross references
- Joshua 20:2 : Ex. 21:13; See Num. 35:6, 11-14; Deut. 4:41-43; 19:2-9
- Joshua 20:4 : [Deut. 21:19; Ruth 4:1, 2; Ps. 127:5]
- Joshua 20:6 : Num. 35:12, 24, 25
- Joshua 20:7 : ch. 21:32; 1 Chr. 6:76
- Joshua 20:7 : ch. 21:21
- Joshua 20:7 : ch. 21:11, 13; See ch. 14:13-15
- Joshua 20:7 : ch. 21:11; Luke 1:39
- Joshua 20:8 : ch. 21:36; 1 Chr. 6:78
- Joshua 20:8 : ch. 21:38; [1 Kgs. 22:3]
- Joshua 20:8 : ch. 21:27; 1 Chr. 6:71
- Joshua 20:9 : Num. 35:15
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
God had spoken to Moses about cities of refuge in Exodus 21. These cities were to be an integral part of their justice system. A manslayer who accidentally killed a person could flee to these cities to be protected against the avenger of blood. The six cities of refuge were designated throughout the land. These cities were God’s appointed places, where the slayer would receive protection, justice and mercy. God cares for all people without partiality and maintains His perfect mercy and justice. Jesus is the ultimate God-appointed city of refuge. Anyone who comes to Him in faith will receive His mercy, justice, and protection.
The slayer who was proven innocent had to dwell in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Although the slayer would be granted pardon, the loss of life was still considered a very serious matter. The death of the priest in a way was considered a substitute for the slayer. The slayer would be acquitted of his transgression and would be able to go back home. This points us ultimately to the death of Jesus, our great high priest who paid for all our sins.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for Jesus, the city of refuge for all sinners including sinners like me.
One Word: Jesus is the city of refuge
