The Histories · Old Testament
Joshua 20
Six cities of refuge are appointed
General context
The Lord directs Joshua to appoint the cities of refuge previously commanded through Moses. A person who kills unintentionally can flee there from the avenger of blood. At the city entrance, the fugitive must state the case to its elders, who receive the person and provide a place to live. They must not surrender someone whose killing was unintentional and without prior hatred. Residence, judgment before the congregation and the death of the serving high priest are included in the conditions before a return home. Three cities are named west of the Jordan: Kedesh in Naphtali, Shechem in Ephraim and Hebron in Judah. Three more are named eastward: Bezer in Reuben, Ramoth in Gad and Golan in Manasseh. The provision covers Israel's people and the stranger living among them, protecting the fugitive from death at the avenger's hand before a hearing.
Cited passages: Joshua 20:1, Joshua 20:2, Joshua 20:3, Joshua 20:4, Joshua 20:5, Joshua 20:6, Joshua 20:7, Joshua 20:8, Joshua 20:9
Joshua 20 (KJV)
1The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying,
2Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
3That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
6And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
7And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
8And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
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Historical context
The chapter locates the six cities within tribal inheritances on both sides of the Jordan. Hebron is also called Kirjath-arba. Its procedure distinguishes an unintentional killing without earlier hatred from an unrestricted right to shelter after any killing. The elders at the city entrance receive the account, while the congregation is named for judgment. Verse 6 links residence with judgment and the high priest's death; BBE places the latter clause in parentheses, but retains it. Arrival at a city is therefore not described as an immediate final acquittal or an immediate permission to go home. The resident stranger is expressly included.
Cited passages: Joshua 20:3, Joshua 20:4, Joshua 20:5, Joshua 20:6, Joshua 20:7, Joshua 20:8, Joshua 20:9
Literary context
The instruction begins with the purpose of refuge, describes how a person is received and protected, then names the places where that provision takes effect. The final verse returns to both eligibility and judgment, enclosing the city list within its human purpose. Repetition of unintended killing keeps the distinction central while the east-and-west list gives the command specific locations.
Cited passages: Joshua 20:2, Joshua 20:3, Joshua 20:4, Joshua 20:5, Joshua 20:6, Joshua 20:7, Joshua 20:8, Joshua 20:9
Key moments
- Refuge for an unintended killing (Joshua 20:3). The cities provide protection from the avenger of blood for a person who kills unintentionally.
- The case is heard at the entrance (Joshua 20:4). The city's elders receive the account and provide a place for the fugitive.
- Three western cities (Joshua 20:7). Kedesh, Shechem and Hebron are appointed in the western hill country.
- The stranger is included (Joshua 20:9). The closing provision includes the stranger living among Israel and preserves the hearing before the congregation.
For reflection
The refuge procedure makes room for a hearing before the avenger can act. What can be lost when an accusation is treated as though the relevant distinctions have already been examined?
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