1
The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying:
2
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by the hand of Moses,
3
that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there; and they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.
4
When he flees to one of those cities, he shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and declare his case in the hearing of the elders of that city. They shall take him into the city with them and give him a place, and he shall dwell among them.
5
If the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally and did not hate him beforehand.
6
He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest who is in office at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled.”
7
So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba, that is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah.
8
And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben; and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.
9
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who lived among them, that anyone who killed a person unintentionally might flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.
🏛️⚖️⛓️ Summary of Joshua 20 – Cities of Refuge (Cities of Sanctuary)
Joshua 20 contains the LORD’s command to the people of Israel to appoint cities of refuge (cities of sanctuary) — safe places for anyone who killed another person unintentionally. These cities were not places of escape from justice, but a delay of judgment until the person could be fairly tried.
📌 1. The Command to Appoint Cities of Refuge (verses 1–2)
- The LORD commanded through Joshua that Israel should appoint cities of refuge as He had already spoken to Moses (see Numbers 35).
- The purpose: to protect the life of one who killed unintentionally, from the avenger of blood (the victim’s relative seeking revenge).
🎯 God cares for justice that does not merely punish, but also makes room for mercy and fair inquiry.
📌 2. The Function of the Cities of Refuge (verses 3–6)
- One who killed unintentionally could flee to a city of refuge.
- He had to state his case at the city gate, and then he would be received.
- He would remain in that city until there was a trial, and even until the high priest died, and only then could he return home in safety.
🎯 God desires a just legal process — not instant revenge or one-sided anger.
📌 3. List of the Cities of Refuge (verses 7–9)
There were six cities, divided on both sides of the Jordan River:
🟩 West of the Jordan:
- Kedesh in Galilee (Naphtali)
- Shechem in Ephraim
- Hebron in Judah
🟦 East of the Jordan:
- Bezer in Reuben
- Ramoth in Gilead (Gad)
- Golan in Bashan (Manasseh)
🎯 These cities were placed strategically so that they could be reached by anyone throughout Israel.
📖 Main Lessons
- God is just and merciful — He makes a way of escape for one who is guilty without evil intent.
- True justice must not be based on emotion or revenge, but on fair inquiry.
- The cities of refuge picture God’s character as a safe place for the repentant.
- There is a time of shelter until the time of restoration comes.
- God’s law guards life and restrains needless violence.
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“…so that by two unchangeable things… we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement…”
“God is our refuge and strength…”
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
🎯 Jesus is a spiritual city of refuge for every repentant sinner who comes to Him in faith.
“So that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally may flee there…” – Joshua 20:3
“He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment…” – Joshua 20:6
