Joshua 20
Israel Designates Cities of Refuge
20:1 The Lord instructed Joshua: 20:2 “Have the Israelites select the cities of refuge that I told you about through Moses.
In the ancient world, blood revenge was widely practiced. As soon as one person was killed, the nearest relative came seeking revenge. Sometimes this ritual was passed down from generation to generation. Blood feuds between families would kill many innocent peoples.
20:3 Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood.
Only accidental deaths were protected by these cities of refuge.
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.
The man-slayer would state his case at the court of the city gate. If the elders thought that the man-slayer had a good case, then they could offer him asylum in the city.
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.
The elders would not allow the avenger of blood to enter the city.
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.”
The man-slayer must live in the city until the death of the High Priest.
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.
There were three cities established east of the Jordan and three cities established west of the Jordan. There were no instances recorded in Scripture about any cases involving these six cities. The Lord Jesus Christ is the city of refuge for all sinners.