Keraia
Joshua 20

Joshua 20:6

Six Cities of Refuge · Joshua 20:1–9
Read Joshua 20

Translations

Modern
He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.”
Traditional
And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
Literal
And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the face of the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest who is in those days. Then the manslayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled.”
Latin
Et habitabit in civitate illa, donec stet ante judicium, causam reddens facti sui, et moriatur sacerdos magnus, qui fuerit in illo tempore: tunc revertetur homicida, et ingredietur civitatem et domum suam de qua fugerat.

Original

Hebrew
English
He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.”

Notes

Joshua 20:1–6

These verses review the law about cities of refuge (see also Numbers 35:6–34).

Joshua 20:1–21:45

Before they fully divided the land, Joshua had to establish six cities of refuge and assign cities in which the Levites would live.

Joshua 13:1–21:45

  • As he had promised, God brought Israel into the land. Joshua then focused on dividing the land among Israel's tribes.

  • The tribal allowances made the covenant of the Israelites with God real. It showed the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God owned the land, giving it to the tribes was a gift. God gave them the land to live in and guided its distribution.

  • In these lists of tribal allowances, the author describes some borders in great detail, allowing them to be mapped. With others, they are less plainly defined.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua Inheriting the Land The Cities of Refuge

Parallels

Numbers 35:9–34 Deuteronomy 4:41–43 Deuteronomy 19:1–14

Glossary

Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Numbers, Book of Tribe of Dan

Topics

Avenger of Blood: Scriptures Relating To Communion: Joshua Homicide: Accidental Refuge: Cities of from the Avenger of Blood