Joshua 20:9

9 These were the appointed cities for all the children of Yisra'el, and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unwittingly might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.

Joshua 20:9 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 20:9

These were the cities appointed for all the children of
Israel
For the common use of them all, and not for that tribe only in which they stood:

and for the stranger that sojourneth among them;
not only for the proselytes of righteousness, but for the proselytes of the gate also, as well as for the natives of Israel; Christ is a refuge for Jews and Gentiles, for all sinners that flee to him:

that whosoever killeth any person unawares might flee thither;
and find shelter and safety:

and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood;
getting thither before he could overtake him:

until he stood before the congregation:
either before the congregation, the elders of the city, or court of judicature in the city of refuge, or before the court of his own city, from whence he fled, if summoned thither.

Joshua 20:9 In-Context

7 They set apart Kedesh in the Galil in the hill-country of Naftali, and Shekhem in the hill-country of Efrayim, and Kiryat-Arba (the same is Hevron) in the hill-country of Yehudah.

8 Beyond the Yarden at Yericho eastward, they assigned Betzer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Re'uven, and Ramot in Gil`ad out of the tribe of Gad, and Galon in Bashan out of the tribe of Menashsheh.

9 These were the appointed cities for all the children of Yisra'el, and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unwittingly might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.