Joshua 20:7

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5 ^aThen if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, but did not hate him beforehand.

6 And he shall dwell in that city ^auntil he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the slayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled.’ ”

7 So they appointed ^aKedesh in Galilee, in the mountains of Naphtali, ^bShechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and ^cKirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in ^dthe mountains of Judah.

8 And on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they assigned ^aBezer in the wilderness on the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, ^bRamoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and ^cGolan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.

9 ^aThese were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who¹ dwelt among them, that whoever killed a person accidentally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood ^buntil he stood before the congregation.

Commentaries:

Matthew Henry

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Joshua 20:1-9

The law concerning the cities of refuge. (1-6) The cities appointed as refuges. (7-9)

Verses 1-6 When the Israelites were settled in their promised inheritance, they were reminded to set apart the cities of refuge, whose use and typical meaning have been explained, Nu 35; De 19. God's spiritual Israel have, and shall have in Christ and heaven, not only rest to repose in, but refuge to secure themselves in. These cities were designed to typify the relief which the gospel provides for penitent sinners, and their protection from the curse of the law and the wrath of God, in our Lord Jesus, to whom believers flee for refuge, hebrews 6:18 .

Verses 7-9 These cities, as those also on the other side Jordan, stood so that a man might in half a day reach one of them from any part of the country. God is ever a Refuge at hand. They were all Levites' cities. It was kindness to the poor fugitive, that when he might not go up to the house of the Lord, yet he had the servants of God with him, to instruct him, and pray for him, and to help to make up the want of public ordinances. Some observe a significance in the names of these cities with application to Christ our Refuge. Kedesh signifies holy, and our Refuge is the holy Jesus. Shechem, a shoulder, and the government is upon his shoulder. Hebron, fellowship, and believers are called into the fellowship of Christ Jesus our Lord. Bezer, a fortification, for he is a strong hold to all those that trust in him. Ramoth, high or exalted, for Him hath God exalted with his own right hand. Golan, joy or exultation, for in Him all the saints are justified, and shall glory.

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