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Joshua 20

World English Bible

WEB

1Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying, 2“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Assign the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by Moses, 3that the man slayer who kills any person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there. They shall be to you for a refuge from the avenger of blood. 4He shall flee to one of those cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declare his case in the ears of the elders of that city. They shall take him into the city with them, and give him a place, that he may live among them. 5If the avenger of blood pursues him, then they shall not deliver up the man slayer into his hand; because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, and didn’t hate him before. 6He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days. Then the man slayer shall return, and come to his own city, and to his own house, to the city he fled from.’” 7They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8Beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. 9These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stands trial before the congregation.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Joshua Chapter 20 outlines the establishment of the cities of refuge, which were designated places for individuals who accidentally caused the death of another person. This chapter emphasizes God's provision for justice and mercy within the community of Israel. The Lord commands Joshua to designate these cities, ensuring that those who flee there can find safety from the avenger of blood until a fair trial can be conducted. The cities of refuge serve as a critical aspect of the legal system in ancient Israel, reflecting God's concern for both the sanctity of life and the need for due process (#citiesofrefuge).

The chapter specifies six cities: three on the west side of the Jordan River and three on the east side, ensuring accessibility for all Israelites. The cities mentioned include #Kedesh, #Shechem, and #Hebron in Canaan, and #Bezer, #Ramoth, and #Golan in Gilead. This distribution highlights God's desire for justice to be available to all, regardless of their location. The chapter concludes by reiterating the purpose of these cities: to provide refuge for those who have unintentionally committed manslaughter, thus illustrating God's grace and the importance of mercy in the administration of justice.

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Referenced by

  1. Numbers 35:6v2Numbers 35:6 introduces the concept of cities of refuge, which is further detailed in Joshua 20:2-3, where God instructs Joshua to establish these cities for those who accidentally kill someone.
  2. Deuteronomy 19:2v2Deuteronomy 19:2 commands the establishment of cities of refuge, which is fulfilled in Joshua 20:2-3 when Joshua sets apart these cities for those who accidentally kill someone to flee to.

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