Joshua 20 Study Notes: The Cities of Refuge
The LORD has Joshua set apart six towns where a person who caused a death by accident could flee from the one seeking to avenge the death. The elders shelter him until he is tried and the high priest dies, and three towns west and three east of the Jordan are named, open to Israelites and foreigners alike.
General
True or False: A person fleeing to a city of refuge was to explain his case to the city's elders at the gate, and they were to receive him and settle him there.
Answer: True
This is true. The one who fled was to stop at the town gate, the place where a town's leaders met to settle matters, and tell the elders what had happened. They were then to bring him inside and provide a home for him within the town (20:4). This first hearing gave him shelter; a fuller hearing by the whole assembly came later (Numbers 35:24). Elders also had a part when a deliberate killer tried to hide in such a city, for his own town's elders were to send for him and surrender him (Deuteronomy 19:12).
- Joshua 20:4 (BSB)“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.”The one who flees stands at the city gate and presents his case to the elders, who take him in.
- Deuteronomy 19:12 (BSB)“the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die.”When a murderer flees to a refuge city, the elders of his own city send for him and hand him over.
- Numbers 35:24 (BSB)“then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.”The congregation itself later judges between the slayer and the avenger.
Theological
True or False: Under 20:4, the elders at the city gate were to hear the fugitive's account and then admit him and provide him a home.
Answer: True
This is true. The gate was the seat of local judgment, and the manslayer was to present his account there to the elders, who were then to admit him and provide him a home within the city (20:4). This was a preliminary hearing that secured his safety, not the final verdict, which belonged to the assembly (Numbers 35:24). Elders could also act in the opposite direction: when a willful murderer fled to a refuge city, his own town's elders were to send for him and surrender him to the avenger (Deuteronomy 19:12).
- Joshua 20:4 (BSB)“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.”The one who flees stands at the city gate and presents his case to the elders, who take him in.
- Deuteronomy 19:12 (BSB)“the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die.”When a murderer flees to a refuge city, the elders of his own city send for him and hand him over.
- Numbers 35:24 (BSB)“then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.”The congregation itself later judges between the slayer and the avenger.
General
According to 20:9, who could flee to the cities of refuge?
Answer: Israelites and the foreigners living among them
Six cities were set apart, three west of the Jordan (Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron) and three east of it (Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan), the eastern three being the very towns Moses had already named (20:7-8; Deuteronomy 4:41-43). Verse 9 says they were appointed for every Israelite and for resident foreigners, so that whoever killed a person unintentionally could escape the avenger until trial (20:9). Numbers had included the foreigner and stranger from the start (Numbers 35:15). The cities were part of the Levites' towns (Numbers 35:6), but their protection was not limited to Levites, to one tribe, or to soldiers.
- Joshua 20:7-8 (BSB)“So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.”Three cities are set apart west of the Jordan and three east of it.
- Joshua 20:9 (BSB)“These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.”The cities are appointed for all Israel and for foreigners among them.
- Numbers 35:15 (BSB)“These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.”Moses' instruction already included the foreigner and stranger living in Israel.
- Deuteronomy 4:41-43 (BSB)“Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities: Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.”Moses had earlier set aside the three cities east of the Jordan: Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan.
- Numbers 35:6 (BSB)“Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities.”Six of the Levites' cities were to serve as cities of refuge.
Theological
To whom were the six cities of refuge open according to 20:9?
Answer: Israelites and the foreigners living among them
The six cities, three in the western hill country and three in the Transjordan, east of the Jordan River, the eastern three matching those Moses had designated (20:7-8; Deuteronomy 4:41-43), were appointed for all Israel and for the resident foreigner alike (20:9). This equal protection had been part of the law from the beginning (Numbers 35:15). Though drawn from the cities given to the Levites (Numbers 35:6), the refuge they offered was not restricted to Levites, to the tribe holding each city, or to men of Joshua's army.
- Joshua 20:7-8 (BSB)“So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. And beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the wilderness plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.”Three cities are set apart west of the Jordan and three east of it.
- Joshua 20:9 (BSB)“These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.”The cities are appointed for all Israel and for foreigners among them.
- Numbers 35:15 (BSB)“These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.”Moses' instruction already included the foreigner and stranger living in Israel.
- Deuteronomy 4:41-43 (BSB)“Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities: Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.”Moses had earlier set aside the three cities east of the Jordan: Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan.
- Numbers 35:6 (BSB)“Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities.”Six of the Levites' cities were to serve as cities of refuge.
General
True or False: The cities of refuge gave lasting protection even to someone who killed a neighbor out of hatred.
Answer: False
This is false. The elders were forbidden to surrender the fugitive only because the death had happened by accident, without any earlier hostility toward the victim (20:5). The law drew a sharp line here. A man who hated his neighbor, waited in ambush, and killed him could not hide behind the city walls; his hometown elders were to fetch him and deliver him up (Deuteronomy 19:11-12), for such a person was a murderer (Numbers 35:20-21). Justice still required more than one witness before anyone was put to death (Numbers 35:30). The cities protected the unintentional slayer, not the murderer.
- Joshua 20:5 (BSB)“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.”The elders must not hand the manslayer over, because he killed without prior malice.
- Deuteronomy 19:11-12 (BSB)“If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities, the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die.”A man who hates his neighbor, lies in wait, and kills him is to be brought back and handed over.
- Numbers 35:20-21 (BSB)“Likewise, if anyone maliciously pushes another or intentionally throws an object at him and kills him, or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.”Killing out of malice or hostility marks a person as a murderer who must be put to death.
- Numbers 35:30 (BSB)“If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.”Even a murderer's guilt had to be established by more than one witness.
Theological
True or False: According to the law behind chapter 20, a city of refuge permanently shielded a person who killed his neighbor with malice aforethought.
Answer: False
This is false. The ground of protection in 20:5 is that the slayer took a life by accident, with no prior malice. Where hatred and premeditation were present, the refuge city offered no shelter: the elders were to retrieve the killer and deliver him to the avenger (Deuteronomy 19:11-12), since he was a murderer under the law (Numbers 35:20-21), though his guilt still had to rest on more than one witness (Numbers 35:30). The provision upheld both mercy toward the unintentional slayer and the seriousness of deliberate bloodshed.
- Joshua 20:5 (BSB)“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.”The elders must not hand the manslayer over, because he killed without prior malice.
- Deuteronomy 19:11-12 (BSB)“If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities, the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die.”A man who hates his neighbor, lies in wait, and kills him is to be brought back and handed over.
- Numbers 35:20-21 (BSB)“Likewise, if anyone maliciously pushes another or intentionally throws an object at him and kills him, or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.”Killing out of malice or hostility marks a person as a murderer who must be put to death.
- Numbers 35:30 (BSB)“If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.”Even a murderer's guilt had to be established by more than one witness.
General
According to 20:2-3, who were the cities of refuge meant to protect?
Answer: Someone who had caused a death by accident, without intent
The cities of refuge were towns set apart where a person could flee for safety. The LORD told Joshua to have Israel designate them, just as He had already commanded through Moses, for a person who caused someone's death by accident or without meaning to (20:2-3). The avenger of blood was the one who would pursue the killer to put him to death, and the city sheltered the one who killed unintentionally from him. This was not a new idea: the law at Sinai and the instructions in Numbers and Deuteronomy had already promised such places (Exodus 21:13; Numbers 35:11-12; Deuteronomy 19:4-5). The cities were not for criminals in general, debtors, or captives.
- Joshua 20:2-3 (BSB)““Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.”The LORD tells Joshua to have Israel set up the cities Moses had spoken of, for the one who kills unintentionally.
- Numbers 35:11-12 (BSB)“designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.”The original command through Moses: the cities shelter the one who kills unintentionally until he stands trial.
- Exodus 21:13 (BSB)“If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.”Already at Sinai God promised a place of flight for the one who killed without lying in wait.
- Deuteronomy 19:4-5 (BSB)“Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him: If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.”Moses' example of an axe head flying off shows the kind of accidental death the cities covered.
Theological
Whom did the LORD intend the cities of refuge to shelter (20:2-3)?
Answer: Someone who had caused a death by accident, without intent
In chapter 20 the LORD has Joshua carry out a provision He had already given through Moses: towns of refuge for the person who killed another unintentionally or by accident (20:2-3). The avenger of blood, the one who would pursue a killer to put him to death, could not reach the one who fled there. The provision runs back through the Mosaic law, from the promise at Sinai (Exodus 21:13) to the detailed instructions in Numbers 35:11-12 and the axe-head illustration of Deuteronomy 19:4-5. The cities protected those who had shed blood without intent, not offenders, debtors, or captives in general.
- Joshua 20:2-3 (BSB)““Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.”The LORD tells Joshua to have Israel set up the cities Moses had spoken of, for the one who kills unintentionally.
- Numbers 35:11-12 (BSB)“designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.”The original command through Moses: the cities shelter the one who kills unintentionally until he stands trial.
- Exodus 21:13 (BSB)“If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.”Already at Sinai God promised a place of flight for the one who killed without lying in wait.
- Deuteronomy 19:4-5 (BSB)“Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him: If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.”Moses' example of an axe head flying off shows the kind of accidental death the cities covered.
General
How long was the manslayer to remain in the refuge city (20:6)?
Answer: Until his trial and the passing of the current high priest
The manslayer had to stay in the city until the assembly had tried his case and the high priest, the chief priest then in office, had died; only then could he go back to his own town and home (20:6). Numbers gives the same rule: after the congregation judged the case, he lived in the refuge city until the high priest died (Numbers 35:24-25, 28). No fixed term of years, Jubilee release, or private pardon from the avenger is mentioned. Many Christians have seen in these cities a picture of the refuge believers find in Christ, the high priest who secured eternal redemption through His own blood (Hebrews 9:11-12). Hebrews 6:18 also speaks of believers as people who fled in order to grasp hope, but neither that verse nor Joshua 20 mentions the cities of refuge.
- Joshua 20:6 (BSB)“He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.””The manslayer stays until his trial and the high priest's death, then may go home.
- Numbers 35:24-25 (BSB)“then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.”After the congregation judges, the manslayer lives in the city until the anointed high priest dies.
- Numbers 35:28 (BSB)“because the manslayer must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest may he return to the land he owns.”Only after the high priest's death may the manslayer return to his land.
- Hebrews 6:18 (BSB)“Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.”Believers are described as those who have fled to grasp the hope placed before them.
- Hebrews 9:11-12 (BSB)“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.”Hebrews presents Christ as the high priest who secured eternal redemption by His own blood.
Theological
For how long did 20:6 require the manslayer to remain in the refuge city?
Answer: Until his trial and the passing of the current high priest
Verse 6 ties the manslayer's residence to his hearing by the assembly and to the high priest's death, after which he could go back home to his city and house. Numbers 35:24-25 and 35:28 lay out the same sequence: judgment by the congregation, then residence in the refuge city until the anointed high priest dies. There is no fixed term, no Jubilee release, and no private settlement with the avenger. Many Christians have seen in the cities of refuge a picture of refuge in Christ, the high priest who secured eternal redemption through His own blood (Hebrews 9:11-12). Hebrews 6:18 uses the language of having fled to lay hold of hope, but neither that verse nor Joshua 20 names the refuge cities.
- Joshua 20:6 (BSB)“He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.””The manslayer stays until his trial and the high priest's death, then may go home.
- Numbers 35:24-25 (BSB)“then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.”After the congregation judges, the manslayer lives in the city until the anointed high priest dies.
- Numbers 35:28 (BSB)“because the manslayer must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest may he return to the land he owns.”Only after the high priest's death may the manslayer return to his land.
- Hebrews 6:18 (BSB)“Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.”Believers are described as those who have fled to grasp the hope placed before them.
- Hebrews 9:11-12 (BSB)“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.”Hebrews presents Christ as the high priest who secured eternal redemption by His own blood.