Joshua - Chapter 20

Joshua 20.1 The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, Joshua 20.2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: Joshua 20.3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. Joshua 20.4 And 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. Joshua 20.5 And 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. Joshua 20.6 And 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. Joshua 20.7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. Joshua 20.8 And 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. Joshua 20.9 These 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.

Joshua : Chapter 20

Cities of Refuge in Joshua Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of the book of Joshua establishes an essential framework for understanding how God balances justice and mercy. This foundational text presents the designation of six cities where those accused of manslaughter can seek protection. Throughout this passage, we are confronted with profound themes such as justice, mercy, divine protection, and the importance of fair legal systems.

Protection of the Vulnerable

Joshua 20 also illustrates God's special care for vulnerable people. He invites us to meditate on five biblical passages that resonate with the compassionate themes of this revelatory chapter.

Important Bible Passages

Numbers 35:6: "Six of the cities you shall give to the Levites shall be cities of refuge, to which anyone who kills a person may flee." This verse sets the context for the establishment of the cities of refuge described in Joshua 20.

Deuteronomy 19:3: "Prepare highways and divide the territory of the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance into three parts, so that whoever kills may flee there." This passage completes the instructions given for establishing cities of refuge according to Joshua 20.

1 Chronicles 6:67: "They gave them the following cities of refuge: Shechem and its pasturelands in the mountains of Ephraim, and Gezer and its pasturelands." This verse lists some of the cities of refuge mentioned in Joshua 20 and emphasizes their importance in the distribution of Levitical cities.

Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in adversity." Although this psalm does not directly mention cities of refuge, it reflects the concept of God as a refuge, which is the origin of the institution described in Joshua 20.

Hebrews 6:18: "God did this so that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who take refuge in him may be strongly encouraged to take hold of the hope set before us." This New Testament passage echoes the language of "refuge," echoing the concept of cities of refuge established in Joshua 20, applying it to hope in Christ.

Conclusion

Reflecting on these passages, we understand that cities of refuge are not only geographical locations, but also symbols of divine love, mercy, and justice. May these reflections encourage us to seek refuge in God, our protector and our hope.