Joshua 20:1

Six Cities of Refuge

1 Then the LORD said to Joshua, ¹

Joshua 20:1 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 20:1

The Lord also spake unto Joshua
Out of the tabernacle, at the door of which he with the high priest and princes were; the Lord had spoken to him before concerning dividing the land among the tribes, ( Joshua 13:1-7 ) ; and this being done he speaks to him again:

saying:
as follows.

Joshua 20:1 In-Context

1 Then the LORD said to Joshua,

2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

3 so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

4 When 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.

5 Now 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.

Cross References

• 1. (Numbers 35:9–34; Deuteronomy 4:41–43; Deuteronomy 19:1–14)