The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Refuge” it comes from the Hebrew Word “miqlat” which means “refuge, a place of asylum.”
Joshua sets up the safe cities Moses had commanded, real protection for anyone who kills by accident. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is Joshua 20.
God instructs Joshua to appoint the cities of refuge, “miqlat” in Hebrew, that Moses had commanded through Him back in Numbers and Deuteronomy, so that anyone who kills another person accidentally, without intending harm, can flee there for protection from the avenger of blood until they can receive a fair hearing before the congregation.
Six cities are named across the land, three on each side of the Jordan, positioned to be reasonably accessible from anywhere in Israel’s territory. The instructions specify that the one who flees there must stand at the entrance of the city gate and declare his case before the elders, who are then to receive him into the city and give him a place to dwell among them, protecting him from the avenger of blood until he can stand trial before the congregation.
If found genuinely innocent of premeditated murder, the person may remain safely in that city of refuge until the death of the high priest serving at that time, after which he may return freely to his own city and house, the very land of his possession. This system, established carefully and specifically for Israel’s protection, balanced real justice for genuine wrongdoing with real mercy for tragic, unintentional accidents.
Even in the middle of dividing land and settling a newly conquered nation, God made sure this careful, merciful protection was actually put into practice, not merely commanded on paper decades earlier and forgotten. Justice tempered with mercy, this chapter shows, was meant to be a lived reality within Israel, not simply an ideal.
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