2 Speak H1696 to the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Appoint out H5414 for you cities H5892 of refuge, H4733 whereof I spake H1696 unto you by the hand H3027 of Moses: H4872
And among the cities H5892 which ye shall give H5414 unto the Levites H3881 there shall be six H8337 cities H5892 for refuge, H4733 which ye shall appoint H5414 for the manslayer, H7523 that he may flee H5127 thither: and to them ye shall add H5414 forty H705 and two H8147 cities. H5892
Then Moses H4872 severed H914 three H7969 cities H5892 on this side H5676 Jordan H3383 toward the sunrising; H8121 H4217 That the slayer H7523 might flee H5127 thither, which should kill H7523 his neighbour H7453 unawares, H1097 H1847 and hated H8130 him not in times H8543 past; H8032 and that fleeing H5127 unto one H259 of these H411 cities H5892 he might live: H2425 Namely, Bezer H1221 in the wilderness, H4057 in the plain H4334 country, H776 of the Reubenites; H7206 and Ramoth H7216 in Gilead, H1568 of the Gadites; H1425 and Golan H1474 in Bashan, H1316 of the Manassites. H4520
Then ye shall appoint H7136 you cities H5892 to be cities H5892 of refuge H4733 for you; that the slayer H7523 may flee H5127 thither, which killeth H5221 any person H5315 at unawares. H7684 And they shall be unto you cities H5892 for refuge H4733 from the avenger; H1350 that the manslayer H7523 die H4191 not, until he stand H5975 before H6440 the congregation H5712 in judgment. H4941 And of these cities H5892 which ye shall give H5414 six H8337 cities H5892 shall ye have for refuge. H4733 Ye shall give H5414 three H7969 cities H5892 on this side H5676 Jordan, H3383 and three H7969 cities H5892 shall ye give H5414 in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 which shall be cities H5892 of refuge. H4733 These six H8337 cities H5892 shall be a refuge, H4733 both for the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and for the stranger, H1616 and for the sojourner H8453 among H8432 them: that every one that killeth H5221 any person H5315 unawares H7684 may flee H5127 thither. And if he smite H5221 him with an instrument H3627 of iron, H1270 so that he die, H4191 he is a murderer: H7523 the murderer H7523 shall surely H4191 be put to death. H4191 And if he smite H5221 him with throwing H3027 a stone, H68 wherewith he may die, H4191 and he die, H4191 he is a murderer: H7523 the murderer H7523 shall surely H4191 be put to death. H4191 Or if he smite H5221 him with an hand H3027 weapon H3627 of wood, H6086 wherewith he may die, H4191 and he die, H4191 he is a murderer: H7523 the murderer H7523 shall surely H4191 be put to death. H4191 The revenger H1350 of blood H1818 himself shall slay H4191 the murderer: H7523 when he meeteth H6293 him, he H1931 shall slay H4191 him. But if he thrust H1920 him of hatred, H8135 or hurl H7993 at him by laying of wait, H6660 that he die; H4191 Or in enmity H342 smite H5221 him with his hand, H3027 that he die: H4191 he that smote H5221 him shall surely H4191 be put to death; H4191 for he is a murderer: H7523 the revenger H1350 of blood H1818 shall slay H4191 the murderer, H7523 when he meeteth H6293 him. But if he thrust H1920 him suddenly H6621 without H3808 enmity, H342 or have cast H7993 upon him any thing H3627 without laying of wait, H6660 Or with any stone, H68 wherewith a man may die, H4191 seeing H7200 him not, H3808 and cast H5307 it upon him, that he die, H4191 and was not his enemy, H341 neither sought H1245 his harm: H7451 Then the congregation H5712 shall judge H8199 between the slayer H5221 and the revenger H1350 of blood H1818 according to these judgments: H4941
Thou shalt separate H914 three H7969 cities H5892 for thee in the midst H8432 of thy land, H776 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth H5414 thee to possess H3423 it. Thou shalt prepare H3559 thee a way, H1870 and divide the coasts H1366 of thy land, H776 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth thee to inherit, H5157 into three parts, H8027 that every slayer H7523 may flee H5127 thither. And this is the case H1697 of the slayer, H7523 which shall flee H5127 thither, that he may live: H2425 Whoso killeth H5221 his neighbour H7453 ignorantly, H1097 H1847 whom he hated H8130 not in time H8543 past; H8032 As when a man goeth H935 into the wood H3293 with his neighbour H7453 to hew H2404 wood, H6086 and his hand H3027 fetcheth a stroke H5080 with the axe H1631 to cut down H3772 the tree, H6086 and the head H1270 slippeth H5394 from the helve, H6086 and lighteth H4672 upon his neighbour, H7453 that he die; H4191 he shall flee H5127 unto one H259 of those cities, H5892 and live: H2425 Lest the avenger H1350 of the blood H1818 pursue H7291 the slayer, H310 H7523 while H3588 his heart H3824 is hot, H3179 and overtake H5381 him, because the way H1870 is long, H7235 and slay H5221 him; H5315 whereas he was not worthy H4941 of death, H4194 inasmuch as H3588 he hated H8130 him not in time H8543 past. H8032 Wherefore I command H6680 thee, saying, H559 Thou shalt separate H914 three H7969 cities H5892 for thee. And if the LORD H3068 thy God H430 enlarge H7337 thy coast, H1366 as he hath sworn H7650 unto thy fathers, H1 and give H5414 thee all the land H776 which he promised H1696 to give H5414 unto thy fathers; H1 If thou shalt keep H8104 all these commandments H4687 to do H6213 them, which I command H6680 thee this day, H3117 to love H157 the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and to walk H3212 ever H3117 in his ways; H1870 then shalt thou add H3254 three H7969 cities H5892 more for thee, beside these three: H7969 That innocent H5355 blood H1818 be not shed H8210 in H7130 thy land, H776 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 giveth H5414 thee for an inheritance, H5159 and so blood H1818 be upon thee. But if any man H376 hate H8130 his neighbour, H7453 and lie in wait H693 for him, and rise up H6965 against him, and smite H5221 him mortally H5315 that he die, H4191 and fleeth H5127 into one H259 of these H411 cities: H5892 Then the elders H2205 of his city H5892 shall send H7971 and fetch H3947 him thence, and deliver H5414 him into the hand H3027 of the avenger H1350 of blood, H1818 that he may die. H4191 Thine eye H5869 shall not pity H2347 him, but thou shalt put away H1197 the guilt of innocent H5355 blood H1818 from Israel, H3478 that it may go well H2895 with thee.
And if a man lie not in wait, H6658 but God H430 deliver H579 him into his hand; H3027 then I will appoint H7760 thee a place H4725 whither he shall flee. H5127 But if a man H376 come presumptuously H2102 upon his neighbour, H7453 to slay H2026 him with guile; H6195 thou shalt take H3947 him from mine altar, H4196 that he may die. H4191
Who G5101 shall lay any thing G1458 to the charge G2596 of God's G2316 elect? G1588 It is God G2316 that justifieth. G1344 Who G5101 is he that condemneth? G2632 It is Christ G5547 that died, G599 yea G1161 rather, G3123 G2532 that is risen again, G1453 who G3739 is G2076 even G2532 at G1722 the right hand G1188 of God, G2316 who G3739 also G2532 maketh intercession G1793 for G5228 us. G2257
That G2443 by G1223 two G1417 immutable G276 things, G4229 in G1722 which G3739 it was impossible G102 for God G2316 to lie, G5574 we might have G2192 a strong G2478 consolation, G3874 who G3588 have fled for refuge G2703 to lay hold G2902 upon the hope G1680 set before us: G4295 Which G3739 hope we have G2192 as G5613 an anchor G45 of the soul, G5590 both G5037 sure G804 and G2532 stedfast, G949 and G2532 which entereth G1525 into G1519 that within G2082 the veil; G2665
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 20
Commentary on Joshua 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 20
Jos 20:1-6. The Lord Commands the Cities of Refuge.
1-3. The Lord spake unto Joshua … Appoint out for you cities of refuge—(See Nu 35:9-28; De 19:1-13). The command here recorded was given on their going to occupy their allotted settlements. The sanctuaries were not temples or altars, as in other countries, but inhabited cities; and the design was not to screen criminals, but only to afford the homicide protection from the vengeance of the deceased's relatives until it should have been ascertained whether the death had resulted from accident and momentary passion, or from premeditated malice. The institution of the cities of refuge, together with the rules prescribed for the guidance of those who sought an asylum within their walls, was an important provision, tending to secure the ends of justice as well as of mercy.
4. he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city—It was the place of public resort, and on arriving there he related his tale of distress to the elders, who were bound to give him shelter and the means of support, until the local authorities (Jos 20:6), having carefully investigated the case, should have pronounced the decision. If found guilty, the manslayer was surrendered to the blood-avenger; if extenuating circumstances appeared, he was to remain in the city of refuge, where he would be safe from the vindictive feelings of his pursuers; but he forfeited the privilege of immunity the moment he ventured beyond the walls.
6. until the death of the high priest—His death secured the complete deliverance of the manslayer from his sin, only because he had been anointed with the holy oil (Nu 35:25), the symbol of the Holy Ghost; and thus the death of the earthly high priest became a type of that of the heavenly one (Heb 9:14, 15).
Jos 20:7-9. The Israelites Appoint by Name the Cities of Refuge.
7-9. they appointed … cities—There were six; three on the west, and three on the east, of Jordan. In the first instance, they were a provision of the criminal law of the Hebrews, necessary in the circumstances of that people (see on Nu 35:11; De 19:2). At the same time they were designed also typically to point out the sinner's way to Christ (Heb 6:18).