Cities of Refuge Appointed
Six refuge cities protect the unintentional manslayer pending judgment.
Joshua 20:1-9 (BSB)
1Then the LORD said to Joshua,
2“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,
3so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4When someone flees to one of these cities, stands at the entrance of the city gate, and states his case before its elders, they are to bring him into the city and give him a place to live among them.
5Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, because that man killed his neighbor accidentally without prior malice.
6He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.”
7So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
8And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.
9These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.
What is the big idea of Joshua 20:1-9?
Six refuge cities protect the unintentional manslayer pending judgment.
Understanding the Big Idea
The Lord commands cities of refuge for a person who kills unintentionally, providing shelter until a hearing and a later return. Named cities on both sides of the Jordan make the protection accessible.
How does Joshua 20:1-9 point to Christ?
The refuge cities belong to Israel's legal order. Their protection may invite later theological reflection, but Joshua 20 does not identify any one city as Jesus. The apostolic message names Christ's death for sins and resurrection as saving events (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), with salvation received by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Authorial Intent
The Lord directs Joshua to appoint refuge cities for a person who kills without intent, and Israel designates three cities west and three east of the Jordan.
Questions for Reflection
- Which kind of killing qualifies for refuge?
- What happens at the city gate?
- What does the assembly still need to decide?
- When may the person return home?
- Which cities lie on each side of the Jordan?
- Who besides Israelites may seek refuge?
- How can this passage be taught without minimizing victims or lawful accountability?
- What changes from Command to establish refuge to Six cities and open access?
- How does Cities of Refuge Appointed relate to the preceding and following units?
- Why should do not use spiritual refuge language to excuse intentional violence or bypass present-day protection and lawful reporting.
Literary Context
Joshua 19:49-51 precedes Cities of Refuge Appointed; Joshua 21:1-8 follows it. Cities of Refuge Appointed serves Joshua’s continuing narrative.
Historical Context
Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron are appointed west of the Jordan; Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan lie east. The six-site distribution makes refuge geographically available across the tribes. The exact routes to them are not supplied here.
Chapter: Joshua 20
Cities of Refuge and the Protection of Justice in the Land
The LORD orders His people’s inheritance with justice and mercy, protecting life from both bloodguilt and uncontrolled vengeance.