Joshua 20:1-9
Cities of Refuge
Read the passage
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The LORD tells Joshua to designate the safe towns Moses had commanded Israel to provide. These places are where someone who has killed another person unintentionally can flee from the avenger of blood. The law distinguishes accidental death from deliberate murder.
The person who flees must stand at the entrance of the city and explain the case to the elders. The elders are to receive the person and provide a place to live. Protection is not granted through a secret escape; the facts must be heard by the community's leaders.
The person must stand trial before the assembly. If the killing was accidental, without prior malice, the city protects the manslayer from the avenger of blood. He must remain there until the high priest serving at that time dies; then he may return home. Protection comes with a real limit on where he may live.
Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron are designated west of the Jordan; Bezer, Ramoth in Gilead, and Golan are designated east of it. Israelites and foreigners living among them may use these cities. Refuge is provided across the land, with a place for the case to be heard before revenge takes another life.
How We Know
Numbers 35:9–15 commands six refuge cities for Israelites and foreigners. Verses 24–28 distinguish accidental killing from murder and require the manslayer to remain until the high priest's death. Joshua 20 names the cities and puts those instructions into effect.
Questions
1 Who may flee to a city of refuge?
AnswerSomeone who has killed another person unintentionally may flee there for protection from immediate revenge.
2 What must the fugitive do at the city entrance?
AnswerThe person must state the case to the elders, who are instructed to receive him and give him a place to live.
3 How long does the person remain there?
AnswerHe must stand trial before the assembly and remain in refuge until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then he may return home.
4 Who may use these cities?
AnswerIsraelites, foreigners, and other residents may use them, showing that the protection is meant to be broadly accessible.
What This Means for Us
The city of refuge places due process between tragedy and revenge. It does not minimize a death; it makes room for facts, accountability, protection, and a judgment that is not driven by the first wave of grief.
Families should never handle serious danger or violence by improvising punishment. Seek immediate safety, involve appropriate authorities, listen carefully, and protect the vulnerable while truth is established.
Prayer
God of justice and refuge, protect people caught in danger and grief. Give our communities wise leaders, careful processes, compassion for victims, and restraint when anger demands immediate revenge. Amen.