Joshua 20:2

2 Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke unto you by the hand of 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 And the LORD spoke unto Joshua, saying,

2 Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke unto you by the hand of Moses,

3 so that the manslayer who kills any person in error and without knowledge may flee there, and they shall be your refuge from the avenger {Heb. redeemer} of blood.

4 And he that flees unto one of these cities shall present himself at the entering of the gate of the city and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city; they shall receive him into the city among them and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

5 And when the avenger {Heb. redeemer} of blood pursues after him, they shall not deliver the manslayer up into his hand because he smote his neighbour by error, nor did he have enmity with him before.