Joshua 20 is a Bible study on the cities of refuge, the six places God commanded Israel to set apart so that a person who killed someone by accident could find protection from a vengeful relative. People read this chapter to understand God’s justice, his mercy toward the unintentional wrongdoer, and how the law was meant to protect life. It is also a short, concrete chapter that shows how the promises made through Moses were carried into the life of the nation once they had entered the land.
Joshua 20 Summary
The chapter opens with the LORD speaking directly to Joshua and instructing him to tell Israel to set apart the cities of refuge that had been described earlier through Moses. The purpose is stated plainly: a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee there and be safe from the avenger of blood, the family member who would otherwise seek revenge.
The procedure is then laid out. The one who fled must stand at the gate of the city, state his case before the elders, and be admitted and given a place to live. If the avenger comes after him, the city must not hand him over, because the death was not born of hatred. He remains there until he has been judged by the assembly and until the high priest of that time dies, after which he may go home.
The chapter closes by naming the cities. Three lie west of the Jordan, in Galilee, Ephraim and Judah, and three lie east of the Jordan, in the territories of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh. The final verse makes clear that these cities served the whole community, including the foreigner living among Israel, so that no one would be denied this protection.
Background and Setting
The book of Joshua recounts Israel’s entry into and settlement of the land of Canaan under Joshua’s leadership. Jewish and Christian tradition associates the book with Joshua himself, though much of its final form is generally thought to have been shaped later, and the period it describes is commonly placed in the late second millennium BC. The book was written for the people of Israel as a record of God’s faithfulness in bringing them into the land and of their responsibility to live under his covenant.
Chapter 20 sits in the section of the book that describes how the land was divided among the tribes. Its instructions echo the law given through Moses in Numbers 35 and Deuteronomy 19, and here they are finally put into effect. The chapter therefore shows the law moving from command to practice in the everyday life of the nation.
Joshua 20 Section by Section
Verses 1-6: The Refuge Provided by God’s Command
3 That the man slayer who kills any person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there. They shall be to you for a refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 He shall flee to one of those cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declare his case in the ears of the elders of that city. They shall take him into the city with them, and give him a place, that he may live among them.
Joshua 20:3-4 (WEB)
The chapter begins with God’s own word to Joshua, which means the cities are not a human invention but a divine provision. The phrase “accidentally or unintentionally” matters, because the law was designed to tell apart the person who killed by mischance from the one who acted with malice. Verse 3 names the purpose: the refuge protects the accidental killer from the avenger of blood.
Verse 4 describes the process of seeking shelter. The one who fled must stand at the city gate and make his case before the elders, which means he is not simply accepted on his word but is heard in the open. Once received, he is given a place to live among the people. The law thus pairs justice with dignity, protecting the innocent while still submitting the case to a public hearing.
Verses 7-9: The Cities Set Apart Across the Land
7 They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8 Beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stands trial before the congregation.
Joshua 20:7-9 (WEB)
Verses 7 and 8 record that six cities were named, three on each side of the Jordan. Spreading them across the land meant that no part of Israel was far from a place of safety. A person in the north or the south, in the hill country or beside the river, could reach a refuge in good time, which reflects the care built into the plan.
Verse 9 closes the chapter by stating that these cities were for all Israelites and for the foreigner living among them. The provision did not depend on tribe, status or birth. It reveals a justice that reaches beyond the boundaries of the covenant people themselves, and it reminds the reader that the God who made the law also cares for those who sojourn in the land.
Key Themes in Joshua 20
- Divine justice: The cities exist because God commanded them, showing that law and mercy come from the same source.
- Distinguishing guilt: The provision separates accidental harm from deliberate violence, so that the outcome of a death is judged by intent.
- Protection of the vulnerable: The refuge shields a person from cycles of vengeance that could otherwise spread through a community.
- Inclusion of the stranger: The foreigner living among Israel receives the same protection as the native-born.
- Law carried into practice: Instructions given earlier through Moses are now fulfilled in the settled life of the nation.
Lessons From Joshua 20 for Today
Consider a family dealing with the aftermath of a car accident in which one driver’s mistake caused a death. Grief can push people toward blame and retaliation, and Joshua 20 suggests a different path: the facts should be heard openly, the difference between accident and malice should be honored, and a community should provide a measured place of safety rather than letting anger decide the outcome. The chapter models patience and fairness in a moment that calls for both.
The chapter also speaks to a workplace or congregation where someone has made an honest error that hurt another person. The cities of refuge show that a person who has caused harm without intent should be heard before being judged, given a place to stand, and not treated as if the worst motive must be assumed. Joshua 20 invites you to look for the pattern of mercy and due process in how you respond to others’ failures.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the distinction between accidental and intentional harm shape the way you judge others’ mistakes?
- Where in your life have you seen anger or a desire for revenge take the place of a fair hearing?
- Who in your community might be living like the foreigner in verse 9, needing to be welcomed and protected?
- What would it look like for you to become a place of refuge for someone who has been hurt by their own error?
- In what ways does God’s concern for both justice and mercy in this chapter challenge your own priorities?
A Prayer From Joshua 20
Lord, you are a God who provides a way of safety for those who have caused harm without meaning to. Thank you for the care in your law that hears before it condemns and protects before it punishes. Help me to deal with others’ mistakes with fairness and patience, and to remember that you judge the heart. Make me a place of shelter for those who need it, and give me wisdom to tell the difference between honest error and deliberate wrong. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the cities of refuge in Joshua 20?
They were six cities set apart by Israel, three on each side of the Jordan, as places where a person who had killed someone accidentally could flee for safety. They were established as God had commanded through Moses. Each one offered a protected place until the matter could be heard.
Why did the person need to stand before the elders?
Standing at the city gate and making his case allowed the elders to hear the circumstances openly. This public hearing ensured that the death was examined rather than assumed to be murder. It was a safeguard for both justice and fairness.
Did the refuge protect people from every kind of killing?
The chapter describes protection for a person who kills accidentally or unintentionally, not for someone who acts with hatred. The provision was meant to separate honest mistakes from deliberate violence. The judgment of the assembly determined which case applied.
