Joshua 20:1

The Cities of Refuge

1 Then the Lord said to Joshua,

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 “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.