Joshua 20:2

2 "Say to the people of Israel, ¹'Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,

Joshua 20:2 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 20:2

Speak to the children of Israel, saying
Whom the affair concerned the Lord spake to Joshua about, they having now the whole land divided among them:

appoint out for you cities of refuge;
of the name, nature, use, and number of these cities, (See Gill on Numbers 35:6);

whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
( Numbers 35:1-34 ) ( Deuteronomy 19:1-21 ) .

Joshua 20:2 In-Context

1 Then the LORD said to Joshua,

2 "Say to the people of Israel, 'Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,

3 that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.

4 He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them.

5 And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 21:13; See Num. 35:6, 11-14; Deuteronomy 4:41-43; Deuteronomy 19:2-9