Joshua20
New King James Version
1The 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,
3that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4And 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.
5Then 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.
6And 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.’ ”
7So 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.
8And 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.
9These 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 20.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The law concerning the cities of refuge. (1–6). The cities appointed as refuges. (7–9).
vv1-6
When the Israelites were settled in their promised inheritance, they were reminded to set apart the cities of refuge, whose use and typical meaning have been explained, Nu 35; De 19. God's spiritual Israel have, and shall have in Christ and heaven, not only rest to repose in, but refuge to secure themselves in. These cities were designed to typify the relief which the gospel provides for penitent sinners, and their protection from the curse of the law and the wrath of God, in our Lord Jesus, to whom believers flee for refuge, Heb 6:18.
vv7-9
These cities, as those also on the other side Jordan, stood so that a man might in half a day reach one of them from any part of the country. God is ever a Refuge at hand. They were all Levites' cities. It was kindness to the poor fugitive, that when he might not go up to the house of the Lord, yet he had the servants of God with him, to instruct him, and pray for him, and to help to make up the want of public ordinances. Some observe a significance in the names of these cities with application to Christ our Refuge. Kedesh signifies holy, and our Refuge is the holy Jesus. Shechem, a shoulder, and the government is upon his shoulder. Hebron, fellowship, and believers are called into the fellowship of Christ Jesus our Lord. Bezer, a fortification, for he is a strong hold to all those that trust in him. Ramoth, high or exalted, for Him hath God exalted with his own right hand. Golan, joy or exultation, for in Him all the saints are justified, and shall glory.
Key Words
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ: Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
עִיר: a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
מִקְלָט: an asylum (as a receptacle)
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
יָד: a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
רָצַח: properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murder
Cross References
Joshua 20Direct parallel command from Moses establishing the purpose and laws of the cities of refuge.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The core Mosaic legislation regarding the geographical distribution and protection of unintentional manslayers.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
New Testament theological fulfillment of fleeing to Christ as our ultimate strong refuge from judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Clarifies the law regarding the slayer remaining in the city until the death of the high priest.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Details Moses initially setting apart the three trans-Jordanian cities of refuge mentioned in verse 8.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Defines the avenger of blood and protects the slayer until he stands trial before the congregation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The earliest covenant promise of a designated sanctuary for those who kill without premeditation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrast showing that intentional murderers are excluded from sanctuary and must be executed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The original command that the six cities of refuge must be selected from the Levitical cities.
Explains the danger of the avenger of blood pursuing in hot anger.
Hebron's designation as both a city of refuge and a priestly Levitical city.
Shechem's double designation as a city of refuge and a Levitical city.
Kedesh's double designation as a city of refuge and a Levitical city.