Cities of refuge for the accidental killer

20:1 The Lord instructed Joshua: 20:2 “Have the Israelites select the cities of refuge that I told you about through Moses. 20:3 Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. 20:4 The one who committed manslaughter should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city. They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there. 20:5 When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation. 20:6 He must remain in that city until his case is decided by the assembly and the high priest dies. Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.” 20:7 So they selected 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. 20:8 Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho they selected Bezer in the desert on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. 20:9 These were the cities of refuge appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

The Lord tells Joshua to set apart cities of refuge for people who killed someone by accident. These cities give safety until the case is properly judged. The law protects life, stops revenge from taking over, and gives the accused a fair hearing.

The Lord gives this command to Joshua, so the arrangement comes from God, not from human invention. Israel must appoint the cities already named through Moses, showing continuity with the earlier law.

This protection is for the person who killed without intent, not for a murderer. The manslayer must flee to a city of refuge, explain his case at the city gate, and be received by the leaders. If his claim is accepted, the city must shelter him from the avenger of blood. This keeps private revenge from replacing public justice.

He must stay in that city until the assembly decides the case and the high priest dies. Then he may return home. Joshua records cities on both sides of the Jordan, showing that this protection was available across the nation. Resident foreigners living among Israel could also use it.

• The Lord himself instructs Joshua.
• The cities of refuge are a divinely ordered safeguard.
• The law protects the one who killed accidentally, not the murderer.
• The manslayer must present his case publicly at the city gate.
• The leaders must shelter him from the avenger of blood until judgment is made.
• The assembly must review the case.
• The high priest’s death marks the end of the manslayer’s restricted stay.
• Six cities were appointed, three west of the Jordan and three east.
• Resident foreigners also received this legal protection.

• Command: Joshua must have the Israelites select the cities of refuge.
• Warning: accidental killing still must be judged and is not treated lightly.
• Promise: the accidental killer may find asylum and live there safely until the case is decided.
• Command: the manslayer must present his case to the city leaders at the gate.
• Command: the city must not hand him over to the avenger of blood if he killed without premeditation.

This passage belongs to Israel’s life under the Mosaic covenant in the land. God provides a lawful place of refuge so innocent blood is not wrongly avenged. In the Bible’s wider storyline, God is also shown as the one who gives protection through appointed means, but here the point is first and foremost this concrete legal provision for Israel.

God cares about justice that is careful and fair. People should not rush to revenge. Wrongful harm must be judged with truth and restraint. This passage should still be read in its own setting: it is Israel’s covenant law in the land, not a direct rule for church civil policy.

• Lite Commentary
• In-depth Commentary