Joshua
Chapter 20
Cities of Refuge
 Design of Ex 21:13; Nu 35:11; Jos 20:3
o And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
(Exodus 21:13)
o Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any
person at unawares. (Numbers 35:11)
o That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge
from the avenger of blood. (Joshua 20:3)
 Names of De 4:41-43; Jos 20:7,8
o 41 ¶ Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising; 42 That the slayer might flee thither,
which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities
he might live: 43 Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of
the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites. (Deuteronomy 4:41-43)
o 7 ¶ And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee 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. (Joshua 20:7-8)
 Required to be easy of access. De 19:3
o Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit,
into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither. (Deuteronomy 19:3)
 Strangers might take advantage of Nu 35:15
o These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among
them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. (Numbers 35:15)
 Those admitted to were put on their trial. Nu 35:12,24
o And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the
congregation in judgment. (Numbers 35:12)
o Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:
(Numbers 35:24)
 Not protected outside of. Nu 35:26,27
o 26 But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; 27 And
the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer;
he shall not be guilty of blood: (Numbers 35:26-27)
 Obliged to remain in, until the high priest's death. Nu 35:25,28
o And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall
restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest,
which was anointed with the holy oil. (Numbers 35:25)
o Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the
high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession. (Numbers 35:28)
 Afforded no asylum to murderers Ex 21:14; Nu 35:16-21
o AW Pink – Therein they differed noticeably from the sacred precincts of the heathen gods, which provided a safe
asylum for any violent or wicked man.
o But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar,
that he may die. (Exodus 21:14)
o 16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put
to death. 17 And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the
murderer shall surely be put to death. 18 Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die,
and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 19 The revenger of blood himself shall slay
the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. 20 But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of
wait, that he die; 21 Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to
death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him. (Numbers 35:16-21)
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:6)
 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of
the man. (1 Corinthians 11:7)
 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (James
3:9)
 30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify
against any person to cause him to die. 31 Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty
of death: but he shall be surely put to death. 32 And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge,
that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. 33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye
are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him
that shed it. 34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the
children of Israel. (Numbers 35:30-34)
o Capital punishment is given by God because man was created in God’s image.
o Capital punishment was given by the Lord so that the land would not be defiled.
12 ¶ He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. 13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his
hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. 14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him
with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. (Exodus 21:12-14)
 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. (Psalms 68:20)
 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; (Ecclesiastes 3:2)
 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. (Psalms 31:15)
 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
(Job 14:5)
 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. (1 Samuel 2:6)
 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)
Picture of Redemption (AW Pink)
1. Awareness of Sin
2. Dread of Sin
3. Flee from Wrath
 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of
God abideth on him. (John 3:36)
 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath
to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
4. Flee to Refuge
a. 1 ¶ Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings
will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. 2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth
all things for me. 3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.
Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. (Psalms 57:1-3)
5. Must Remain in Place of Refuge
 “The manslayer left his house, his wife, his children, everything, to flee away to the city of refuge. This is just what a man
does when he resolves to be saved by grace: he leaves everything he calls his own, renounces all the rights and privileges
which he thought he possessed by nature: yea, he confesses to having lost his own natural right to live, and he flees for life to
the grace of God in Christ Jesus.” Spurgeon
Picture of Christ
 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalms 91:2)
 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the
heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. (Isaiah 25:4)
 The hope of the gospel
o That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who
have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Hebrews 6:18)
1. Cities – Appointed by God
2. Cities – Given to Provide Shelter from the Avenger
3. Path Was Clearly Marked
 Jewish writers say it was a law in Israel that one day in every year there were persons sent to repair the roads leading
to them, to remove all stumbling stones which might by time have fallen in the way, and to see also that signposts
which were set up at every corner leading to the city were carefully preserved, and the name Miklac (Hebrew for
refuge0 be legible upon them.” AW Pink
4. Way Easily Accessible – “in the midst of thy land” Deut 19:2-3
 2 Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess
it. 3 Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to
inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither. (Deuteronomy 19:2-3)
5. Available to Jew and Gentile
 These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among
them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. (Numbers 35:15)
6. Freedom Only After the Death of the High Priest
Additional Passages Addressing Cities of Refuge
41 ¶ Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising; 42 That the slayer might flee thither, which should
kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live: 43 Namely,
Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the
Manassites. (Deuteronomy 4:41-43)
1 ¶ When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and
dwellest in their cities, and in their houses; 2 Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy
God giveth thee to possess it. 3 Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth
thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither. 4 And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he
may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; 5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his
neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and
lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: 6 Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the
slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death,
inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. 7 Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee. 8 And if
the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy
fathers; 9 If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to
walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three: 10 That innocent blood be not shed in thy
land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee. (Deuteronomy 19:1-10)
9 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over
Jordan into the land of Canaan; 11 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither,
which killeth any person at unawares. 12 And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not,
until he stand before the congregation in judgment. 13 And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge. 14
Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge. 15
These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every
one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. 16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a
murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 17 And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he
die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 18 Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he
may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 19 The revenger of blood himself shall slay the
murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. 20 But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die; 21
Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of
blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him. 22 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any
thing without laying of wait, 23 Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and
was not his enemy, neither sought his harm: 24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood
according to these judgments: 25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the
congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest,
which was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither
he was fled; 27 And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the
slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: 28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest:
but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession. 29 So these things shall be for a statute of
judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to
death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. 31 Moreover ye shall take
no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. 32 And ye shall take no
satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.
33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is
shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. 34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the
LORD dwell among the children of Israel. (Numbers 35:9-34)