Joshua 20
AOSNJoshua 20:1-21:45
Before they fully divided the land, Joshua had to establish six cities of refuge and assign cities in which the Levites would live.
Joshua 20:1-6
These verses review the law about cities of refuge (see also Numbers 35:6–34).
Joshua 20:3
The relatives of a victim murdered or killed unintentionally or accidentally were responsible for seeking revenge. If the avenger (Hebrew go’el) found the person who killed outside a city of refuge, he could kill him without suffering punishment.
Joshua 20:7-9
Joshua chose six cities of refuge. Three were on the east side of the Jordan River and three were on the west side. From anywhere in the land, people could reach one of these well-known Levitical cities within two days of travel.
Joshua 20:9
Israel's treatment of foreigners was an important advance in human relations. The law required that foreign residents in Israel receive the same justice as native Israelites (see Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:33–34; 24:22; Numbers 15:15–16).
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