Cities of Refuge Established
Joshua 20:1-9
Jos.20.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- יהושע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Josh.1:1 (verbal): Same formula “The LORD spoke to Joshua” initiating divine instructions to Joshua; parallels in address and narrative role.
- Num.35:9-34 (verbal): Earlier divine command concerning the establishment and rules of cities of refuge; Joshua 20 implements these instructions.
- Deut.19:1-13 (thematic): Deuteronomy provides the legal background for manslaughter and asylum cities that Joshua 20 enacts—shared subject matter and provisions.
- Deut.4:41-43 (structural): Moses’ setting apart of cities of refuge beyond the Jordan anticipates Joshua’s formal designation of refuge cities; a parallel in procedure and purpose.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying:
- And the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
Jos.20.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- תנו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- ערי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- המקלט: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- דברתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- אליכם: PREP+PRON,2,pl
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 35:9-15 (verbal): God's original instruction through Moses establishing 'cities of refuge'—closely parallels the command Joshua repeats to Israel.
- Deuteronomy 19:1-13 (thematic): Restates the laws and procedures for cities of refuge and asylum for accidental killers, thematically parallel to Joshua's mandate.
- Joshua 20:1 (structural): Immediate contextual parallel: the preceding verse records the divine command that Joshua now conveys to the people in v.2.
- Joshua 21:13 (structural): Describes the allocation of cities (including refuge cities) to the Levites—shows the execution of the command given in Josh. 20:2.
- Joshua 21:38-41 (verbal): Lists the six designated cities of refuge and their assignment to Levite clans, concretely fulfilling the instruction to provide cities of refuge.
Alternative generated candidates
- Speak to the Israelites, saying, 'Set apart for yourselves the cities of refuge that I spoke to you by the hand of Moses;'
- “Speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Appoint for yourselves the cities of refuge which I spoke to you by the hand of Moses.’”
Jos.20.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לנוס: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- שמה: ADV
- רוצח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נפש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בשגגה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בבלי: PREP
- דעת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- למקלט: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מגאל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,def
Parallels
- Numbers 35:11-12 (verbal): Commands the designation of cities of refuge ‘that the manslayer may flee there,’ closely paralleling Joshua 20:3’s language about a manslayer fleeing and finding refuge from the avenger of blood.
- Numbers 35:27-28 (thematic): Explains the protection afforded the unintentional killer—‘the avenger of blood shall not kill him’—developing the same legal outcome Joshua 20:3 prescribes for manslayers.
- Deuteronomy 19:1-13 (thematic): Repeats and expands the law of cities of refuge and procedures for distinguishing accidental from intentional killing, including refuge from the avenger of blood, the same theme as Joshua 20:3.
- Exodus 21:13 (verbal): Earliest formulation of the principle: if a death was not premeditated God will provide a place of refuge—language and legal idea echoed in Joshua 20:3.
- Joshua 20:1-9 (structural): Immediate literary context prescribing the appointment and location of the cities of refuge and the mechanics for asylum, of which verse 20:3 states the core provision.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'that anyone who flees there — a manslayer who struck down a person unintentionally, without knowledge — may find refuge from the avenger of blood.'
- “So that a manslayer who has struck down a person unintentionally, without knowledge, may flee there and have refuge from the avenger of blood.
Jos.20.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונס: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- אחת: NUM,f,sg
- מהערים: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- ועמד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שער: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ודבר: VERB,qal,fut,3,m,sg
- באזני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cstr
- זקני: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ההיא: DEM,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- דבריו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3m
- ואספו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- העירה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- ונתנו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- מקום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עמם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Numbers 35:11-12 (verbal): Almost identical language describing a fleeing person who 'sits at the gate' of a city of refuge, declares his case to the elders, and is received into the city — the primary legislative source for Joshua's enactment.
- Deuteronomy 19:4-5 (thematic): Treats the procedure for a manslayer seeking asylum in a designated city and the role of elders/judges in adjudication and protection from the avenger of blood, providing the Deuteronomic legal background for the practice.
- Joshua 20:5 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same chapter specifying that the city will be a refuge and that the avenger shall not put the asylum-seeker to death, explaining the outcome after the elders admit him.
- Numbers 35:25-28 (thematic): Describes the congregation's role in judging between the manslayer and the avenger and the conditions (including deliverance only after the high priest's death), further elaborating the legal protections and duration of asylum referenced in Joshua 20:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- He shall flee to one of these cities and stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and declare his case to the elders of that city; and the city shall receive him and give him a place, and he shall live among them.
- He shall flee to one of these cities and stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and declare his case in the hearing of the elders of that city; and they shall take him into their midst and give him a place, and he shall live among them.
Jos.20.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכי: CONJ
- ירדף: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- גאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,def
- אחריו: PREP,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- יסגרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הרצח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בידו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- בבלי: PREP
- דעת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הכה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- רעהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- ולא: CONJ
- שנא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- מתמול: ADV
- שלשום: ADV
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 19:4-6 (thematic): Sets out the same provision for fleeing to a city of refuge and the protection from the avenger of blood while the manslayer lives there — explains the humanitarian/legal rationale behind not handing him over when the killing was unintentional.
- Numbers 35:11-15 (verbal): Establishes the cities of refuge and explicitly states that the avenger of blood shall not kill the manslayer who struck his neighbor unintentionally — close verbal and legal parallels to Joshua 20:5.
- Exodus 21:12-14 (verbal): Distinguishes between murder and accidental killing and prescribes refuge for the unintentional slayer (versus punishment for premeditated murder), providing the same legal principle underlying Joshua 20:5.
- Joshua 20:3-6 (structural): Immediate context of Josh 20:5: these verses lay out the procedures for the cities of refuge and the protections afforded the accidental killer, of which v.5 is a part and restates the rule about not delivering the manslayer to the avenger.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, they shall not deliver the manslayer into his hand, for he struck his neighbor unintentionally; he was not his enemy — neither yesterday nor the day before.
- And if the avenger of blood pursue him, they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally and had not been his enemy — not from yesterday nor from the day before.
Jos.20.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בעיר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ההיא: DEM,f,sg
- עד: PREP
- עמדו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לפני: PREP
- העדה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- למשפט: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- מות: VERB,qal,infabs
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הגדול: ADJ,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ההם: PRON,dem,m,pl
- אז: ADV
- ישוב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- הרוצח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ובא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- עירו: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- ביתו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נס: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- משם: PREP
Parallels
- Numbers 35:25-28 (verbal): Gives the same legal prescription for the accidental killer: he remains in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest, after which he may return to his land — language and legal point closely parallel to Josh 20:6.
- Deuteronomy 19:1-13 (thematic): Sets out the laws for cities of refuge and the distinction between accidental manslaughter and premeditated murder; provides the broader legal and theological context for the procedure reflected in Josh 20:6.
- Joshua 20:4-5 (structural): Immediate context within the same chapter describing the procedure for fugitives to present themselves to the elders and the place of refuge; these verses form the direct narrative/legal framework for the statement in 20:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- He shall live in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest who shall be in those days; then the manslayer shall return and go to his city and to his house, to the city from which he fled.
- He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment and until the death of the high priest who shall be in those days; then the slayer shall return and go to his city and to his house, to the city from which he fled.
Jos.20.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקדשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בגליל: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בהר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- נפתלי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- בהר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אפרים: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- קרית: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ארבע: NUM,card,f
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- חברון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בהר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 4:41-43 (verbal): Gives the same three Canaanite refuge cities by name (Kedesh in Naphtali, Shechem in Ephraim, Kiriath‑arba/Hebron in Judah), closely paralleling Joshua's wording.
- Deuteronomy 19:1-13 (structural): Prescribes the establishment of three cities of refuge on each side of the Jordan and the legal framework for their use—background for Joshua's appointments.
- Numbers 35:9-34 (thematic): Sets out the laws and purpose of the cities of refuge (designation, asylum for manslayers, procedures), which Joshua implements by naming specific sites.
- Joshua 21:13 (verbal): Records Hebron/Kiriath‑arba among cities allotted (here to the Levites), repeating the same place‑name and linking its tribal/administrative status to Joshua 20:7.
- Joshua 21:21 (verbal): Lists Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim among the Levites' cities, echoing the Shechem named in Joshua 20:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- 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.
- They set apart Kedesh in Galilee on Mount Naphtali, and Shechem on Mount Ephraim, and Kiriath‑arba, that is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah.
Jos.20.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומעבר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לירדן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יריחו: NOUN,m,sg,cstr
- מזרחה: ADV,dir
- נתנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- בצר: PREP
- במדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במישר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ממטה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ראובן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- ראמת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בגלעד: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ממטה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גד: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- גולן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בבשן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ממטה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מנשה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 4:41-43 (quotation): Almost verbatim parallel: Moses sets apart three cities beyond the Jordan—Bezer for Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead for Gad, and Golan in Bashan for Manasseh—same list and function as in Joshua 20:8.
- Joshua 21:36-40 (verbal): Repetition of the allocation of these towns (Bezer, Ramoth, Golan) in the catalogue of Levitical towns; echoes the tribal attributions given in Joshua 20:8.
- Numbers 35:9-15 (thematic): Gives the legal/structural background for the cities of refuge (six cities, three on each side of the Jordan); provides the law underlying Joshua’s listing of specific east‑Jordan refuge towns.
- Deuteronomy 19:1-13 (thematic): Contains the legislation concerning cities of refuge and the protection of the manslayer; provides the legal context and purpose for the three east‑of‑Jordan cities named in Joshua 20:8.
- 1 Chronicles 6:63-66 (verbal): Chronicles repeats the allocation of towns to the Levites and lists towns east of the Jordan (including Bezer, Ramoth, Golan in many traditions), echoing the same tribal assignments found in Joshua 20:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- And beyond the Jordan, eastward — from Jericho eastward — they gave Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.
- And on the other side of the Jordan, eastward toward Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the plain for the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.
Jos.20.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ערי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- המועדה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לכל: PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולגר: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הגר: NOUN,f,sg,def,prop
- בתוכם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- לנוס: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- שמה: ADV
- כל: DET
- מכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נפש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בשגגה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- ימות: VERB,qal,juss,3,m,sg
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,def
- עד: PREP
- עמדו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לפני: PREP
- העדה: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Numbers 35:9-15 (verbal): Gives the original legislation for the cities of refuge and uses similar language about fleeing there and protection from the avenger of blood until standing before the congregation.
- Deuteronomy 19:4-6 (quotation): Repeats the command to set aside cities of refuge and explains their purpose for accidental manslayers to escape the avenger of blood, closely paralleling Joshua’s summary.
- Deuteronomy 4:41-43 (structural): Records Moses’ establishment of three cities of refuge beyond the Jordan, an earlier account of the same institutions that Joshua lists and finalizes.
- Joshua 20:1 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same chapter: the divine command to designate the cities of refuge to which verse 9 refers, linking instruction and execution of the ordinance.
- 1 Kings 2:31-33 (thematic): Narrative example of sanctuary/asylum (Joab at the altar) and the eventual denial of protection by political/legal authority, providing a later illustration/contrast to the intended inviolability of the cities of refuge.
Alternative generated candidates
- These were the appointed cities for all the Israelites and for the resident foreigner who dwelt among them, that anyone who struck down a person unintentionally might flee there; he shall not die at the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
- These were the appointed cities for all the people of Israel and for the sojourner who dwelt among them, that anyone who struck down a person unintentionally might flee there and not die at the hand of the avenger of blood before he stood before the congregation.
The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
Tell the people of Israel: Set apart for yourselves the cities of refuge that I commanded you through Moses.
A manslayer who has struck a person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there; they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.
He shall flee to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and declare his case to the elders of that city; they shall take him into the city, give him a place, and he shall live among them.
If the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not hand him over to the avenger; for he struck his neighbor unintentionally and there was no prior enmity between them.
He shall remain in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest who is in office in those days; then the slayer may return to his own city and to his house—the city from which he fled.
They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali; Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim; and Kiriath‑arba—Hebron—in the hill country of Judah.
Beyond the Jordan, to the east, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain for the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.
These were the designated cities for all the Israelites and for the alien who sojourns among them, so that anyone who struck a person unintentionally might flee there and not die at the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation.