Joshua 20:7-9

The Appointment of the Cities of Refuge Joshua 20:7-9

7 And they appointed Kedesh in Gaililee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.

7.

What three cities were selected west of the Jordan? Joshua 20:7

West of the Jordan, Joshua selected Kedesh in the tribe of Naphtali, Shechem in the tribe of Ephraim, and Hebron in the tribe of Judah. Kedesh lay just north and west of the waters of Merom and was in the very far north part of the land allotted to the children of Israel. This would be readily accessible to people who lived in the borders of the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali. Shechem was in the hill country of Ephraim and was west of the Jordan River about halfway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Men who lived in the broad expanses of the territory of the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim would have ready access to Shechem as a city of refuge. Hebron was west of the Dead Sea about halfway down the length of the sea. This location was situated where it would be within easy reach of those who lived in the borders of the tribes of Dan, Benjamin, Simeon, and Judah.

8.

What cities were selected east of the Jordan? Joshua 20:8

East of the Jordan, Joshua selected Golan in the land belonging to the children of Manasseh, Ramoth-Gilead in the land belonging to the children of Gad, and Bezer in the land belonging to the children of Reuben. Golan was in the north part of the land beyond the Jordan, Ramoth-Gilead was in the center, and Bezer was in the south. Once again, provision was made so that no person living east of the Jordan would have too far to go to get to a city of refuge. Each one of the three tribes had a city of refuge within its borders.

9.

What strangers sojourned in Israel? Joshua 20:9 a

When the children of Israel left Egypt, a mixed multitude went up with them (Exodus 12:38). This mixed multitude must have been a group of natives of Egypt and other countries who cast their lots with the children of Israel. When the laws were given to Israel, specific notice was made of these people; and it was clearly ordered that the laws which governed Israel's society were to apply to all who lived among them. There was not a separate law for men who were native Israelites as opposed to those who were strangers among them. Even this law with regard to murder was to be enforced on strangers in their midst, as well as upon those who were native Israelites.

10.

In what sense did the fugitive stand before the congregation? Joshua 20:9 b

The fugitive was to declare his cause in the ears of the elders of the city of refuge (verse four). These elders were to receive the fugitive into the city and give him a place where he might dwell among them. If the avenger of blood came to the city, these men were not to deliver the slayer to the avenger of blood. When the fugitive's case had been heard and judgment had been rendered, the elders were to see that the proper execution of the judgment was implemented. In this sense, a fugitive stood before the congregation. The elders of the city of refuge and the inhabitants of that city passed judgment on behalf of all Israel.