Joshua 20:2-3
“Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While it might seem like a simple instruction, God is reminding them to actively appoint these cities now that they've settled the land. This isn't just about obeying a past command, but about putting God's order into practice for their present lives, showing that His provisions for protection and justice are meant to be a living reality.
{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "c. 1400 BC", "title": "Exodus and Law Given", "description": "God delivers Israel from Egypt and gives them the Law through Moses, including instructions for establishing cities of refuge.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1400 BC", "title": "Division of Transjordanian Land", "description": "Land east of the Jordan River is allocated to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, with three cities of refuge established there.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1370 BC", "title": "Conquest of Canaan Completed", "description": "Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites largely complete their military conquest of the land of Canaan.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1370 BC", "title": "Division of Cisjordanian Land", "description": "The remaining land west of the Jordan is divided among the other tribes, with Levitical cities and the final three cities of refuge being designated.", "isCurrentContext": true } ], "summaryInsight": "This verse marks a critical administrative step after the conquest of Canaan, where the Israelites are commanded to officially establish the cities of refuge, fulfilling a divine law given generations earlier." }
Imagine accidentally causing harm. What happens when the law is strict, but your heart is clean? God had a plan.
Joshua 20 begins with a clear command: "Appoint the cities of refuge." This wasn't a new idea; God had spoken about it through Moses.
Why a Refuge?
The ancient Israelite society had a concept called the "avenger of blood." If someone was killed, their closest relative had the responsibility (and often the right) to seek vengeance. This could easily lead to cycles of violence and injustice.
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God, in His wisdom, established these cities as safe havens. They weren't for murderers who acted with intent, but for those who caused death unintentionally. This system protected the innocent from immediate, brutal retribution and prevented the land from being defiled by unrighteous bloodshed.
These ancient cities weren't just about legal protection; they pointed forward to something much greater. What spiritual truth do they reveal?
The commentators draw a beautiful parallel between these earthly cities and our spiritual reality in Christ.
Jesus: Our Ultimate Refuge
Just as the cities of refuge protected individuals from the consequences of accidental death and the avenger's pursuit, Jesus Christ is our ultimate refuge from the penalty of sin and God's righteous wrath.
Understand the original words
miqlat · Hebrew Noun
Designated locations established by divine law where a person who committed unintentional homicide could find protection from immediate retributive justice. Theologically, they prefigure Christ as the ultimate refuge for sinners.
rotseach · Hebrew Noun
One who has caused the death of another person, specifically in legal contexts regarding homicide and the requirements for justice under the Mosaic Law.
goel ha-dam · Hebrew Noun phrase
The nearest relative of a slain person who was biblically tasked with the duty of reclaiming land, debts, or blood for a murdered kinsman. This role involved maintaining justice and the honor of the family line.
This passage highlights that even after the intense period of conquest and land division, God's people were still called to implement the foundational laws given earlier by Moses. It shows the importance of justice and mercy, even within a society where the "avenger of blood" had a significant role.
~1400 BC
Mosaic Law Established
The foundational laws of Israel, including the institution of cities of refuge for accidental killings, are given by God through Moses. These laws are recorded in the Pentateuch (Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).
c. 1400-1390 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin the military conquest of Canaan, fulfilling God's promise of land.
c. 1390-1350 BC
Division of the Land
After the conquest, the land of Canaan is systematically divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. This division makes the establishment of the cities of refuge practical.
c. 1350 BC— this verse
Appointment of Cities of Refuge
As commanded by God through Moses, Joshua and the elders direct the tribes to officially designate and set aside specific cities as places of refuge.
This passage provides the original divine instruction for the cities of refuge, detailing their purpose and number, which Joshua is now commanded to implement.
Deuteronomy 19:2This passage reiterates the command to set aside cities of refuge, specifying the process and the necessity for the safety of those who killed unintentionally.
Hebrews 6:18This New Testament passage draws a direct parallel between the physical cities of refuge and the spiritual refuge believers find in Jesus Christ from God's wrath.
Exodus 21:13This passage contains an earlier mention of God providing a place of escape for those who kill unintentionally, laying the groundwork for the more detailed laws that followed.
wesleyJoshua 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:"
20:2 Appoint - The possessions being now divided among you, reserve some of them for the use which I have commanded. Cities of refuge - Designed to typify the relief which the gospel provides for poor, penitent sinners, and their protection from the curse of the law and the wrath of God, in our Lord Jesus, to whom believers fly for refuge.
calvinJoshua 20:1-9: "The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,"
And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand 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 take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
Et fugiet ad unam ex civitatibus istis, stabitque ad ostium portae urbis, ac loquetur in auribus seniorum urbis ipsius verba sua, et recolligent eum in urbem ad se,…
While it might seem like a simple instruction, God is reminding them to actively appoint these cities now that they've settled the land. This isn't just about obeying a past command, but about putting God's order into practice for their present lives, showing that His provisions for protection and justice are meant to be a living reality.
{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "c. 1400 BC", "title": "Exodus and Law Given", "description": "God delivers Israel from Egypt and gives them the Law through Moses, including instructions for establishing cities of refuge.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1400 BC", "title": "Division of Transjordanian Land", "description": "Land east of the Jordan River is allocated to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, with three cities of refuge established there.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1370 BC", "title": "Conquest of Canaan Completed", "description": "Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites largely complete their military conquest of the land of Canaan.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1370 BC", "title": "Division of Cisjordanian Land", "description": "The remaining land west of the Jordan is divided among the other tribes, with Levitical cities and the final three cities of refuge being designated.", "isCurrentContext": true } ], "summaryInsight": "This verse marks a critical administrative step after the conquest of Canaan, where the Israelites are commanded to officially establish the cities of refuge, fulfilling a divine law given generations earlier." }
{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "c. 1400 BC", "title": "Exodus and Law Given", "description": "God delivers Israel from Egypt and gives them the Law through Moses, including instructions for establishing cities of refuge.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1400 BC", "title": "Division of Transjordanian Land", "description": "Land east of the Jordan River is allocated to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, with three cities of refuge established there.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1370 BC", "title": "Conquest of Canaan Completed", "description": "Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites largely complete their military conquest of the land of Canaan.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1370 BC", "title": "Division of Cisjordanian Land", "description": "The remaining land west of the Jordan is divided among the other tribes, with Levitical cities and the final three cities of refuge being designated.", "isCurrentContext": true } ], "summaryInsight": "This verse marks a critical administrative step after the conquest of Canaan, where the Israelites are commanded to officially establish the cities of refuge, fulfilling a divine law given generations earlier." }
"“Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 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…" — While it might seem like a simple instruction, God is reminding them to actively appoint these cities now that they've settled the land. This isn't just about obeying a past command, but about pu…
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