Bible Chapter Summary
Joshua 20 Summary
Six Cities of Refuge Appointed
The LORD commands Joshua to designate cities of refuge as He had previously instructed through Moses, providing safe haven for anyone who kills a person unintentionally and without prior malice. A person fleeing to such a city must present his case to the elders at the city gate, who are then obligated to receive him and protect him from the avenger of blood. The manslayer is to remain in the city of refuge until he stands before the congregation for judgment and until the death of the reigning high priest, after which he may return to his own home. Three cities are appointed west of the Jordan — Kedesh in Galilee, Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Hebron in the mountain of Judah — and three east of the Jordan — Bezer from Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from Gad, and Golan in Bashan from Manasseh — available to both Israelites and sojourning strangers alike.
Key themes
Key verses
Joshua 20:2
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:”
Joshua 20:3
“That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.”
Joshua 20:6
“And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.”
Joshua 20:9
“These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.”
Read Joshua 20 in full
Study the complete chapter with interlinear Hebrew & Greek, verse-by-verse, in the Gospel Daily reader.
Open the full chapter