20 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them. And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past. And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.’”
So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. These were the cities designated for all the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation.
(ESV)
In Joshua 20, God instructs Joshua to designate cities of refuge, as previously commanded through Moses, to provide sanctuary for individuals who accidentally or unintentionally kill someone. These cities serve as protection from the avenger of blood, allowing the accused to flee there, present their case to the city elders, and live among them safely.
The cities must not surrender the accused to the avenger if the act was accidental and without prior hatred. The individual must remain in the city until a trial is held and the current high priest passes away, after which they may return home. The designated cities include Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron west of the Jordan, and Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan east of the Jordan. These cities are established for both Israelites and foreigners, ensuring fair protection until due process is completed.
Cities of refuge were established in ancient Israel to provide a safe haven for individuals who accidentally caused another person’s death. These cities protected the individual from the “avenger of blood,” a family member of the deceased who had the right, under cultural and legal norms, to seek retribution.
The cities ensured the accused could receive a fair trial and avoid unjust revenge. If found guilty of intentional murder, the person was punished; if deemed an unintentional manslayer, they could remain in the city until the high priest’s death, symbolizing the resolution of their guilt. This system balanced justice and mercy, curbing blood feuds and promoting due process. (Num 35:9–34; Deut 19:1–13)
The cities of refuge in the Old Testament serve as a powerful parallel to Jesus Christ in the New Testament, emphasizing themes of mercy, protection, and Salvation.
It is also interesting that a person found innocent could only return home after the death of the high priest, and we will only return home (to be with God) through the death of Jesus Christ.
The main point is clear. Our God is faithful, loving, and full of mercy. He will protect those who come to Him in humility and confess their sin. Joshua 20 is a powerful reminder of how mighty our God is to save.