Joshua 20 Study Notes

20:1-2 In this chapter some of the land or towns given to Israel are set aside for a specific purpose. On the significance of the cities of refuge, see Ex 21:12-14; Nm 35:9-15,22-28; Dt 4:41-43; 19:1-10. These passages indicate that there were to be six towns—three east and three west of the Jordan River.

20:3 Someone who killed another person unintentionally or accidentally could find refuge in one of these towns, avoiding a form of blood vengeance in which the dead person’s nearest kin was to seek the death of the killer in order to remove any blood guilt from their family.

20:4-6 The elders of that city functioned as the judges who heard all important disputes within the community. The trial before the assembly was presumably a legal trial in his hometown where the killing occurred (Nm 35:22-28). Even if he was acquitted of premeditated murder, he remained in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Presumably the avenger was to accept the high priest’s death as a substitute for the guilt incurred by the shedding of innocent blood. The killer was free to return home.

20:7 Three cities of refuge were originally envisioned west of the Jordan River (Nm 35:9-15). Perhaps the size of the population led Joshua and the leadership to appoint six cities and name them here. They were located across the land so that a person was never far from such a place of refuge.

20:8 These cities of refuge located east of the Jordan River had been designated and named by Moses (Dt 4:41-43).