March 7, 2025
What were the cities of refuge in the Bible?
Joshua 18-20
Aaron Ricks
Big Book Idea
God's instruction is given intentionally and leads to flourishing.
Key Verse | Joshua 20:1-3
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Say to the people of Israel, 'Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.'"
Joshua 18-20
Chapter 18
Allotment of the Remaining Land
1 Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.
2 There remained among the people of Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been apportioned. 3 So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? 4 Provide three men from each tribe, and I will send them out that they may set out and go up and down the land. They shall write a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then come to me. 5 They shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall continue in his territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall continue in their territory on the north. 6 And you shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God. 7 The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the LORD is their heritage. And Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.”
8 So the men arose and went, and Joshua charged those who went to write the description of the land, saying, “Go up and down in the land and write a description and return to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh.” 9 So the men went and passed up and down in the land and wrote in a book a description of it by towns in seven divisions. Then they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh, 10 and Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD. And there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion.
The Inheritance for Benjamin
11 The lot of the tribe of the people of Benjamin according to its clans came up, and the territory allotted to it fell between the people of Judah and the people of Joseph. 12 On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan. Then the boundary goes up to the shoulder north of Jericho, then up through the hill country westward, and it ends at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13 From there the boundary passes along southward in the direction of Luz, to the shoulder of Luz (that is, Bethel), then the boundary goes down to Ataroth-addar, on the mountain that lies south of Lower Beth-horon. 14 Then the boundary goes in another direction, turning on the western side southward from the mountain that lies to the south, opposite Beth-horon, and it ends at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city belonging to the people of Judah. This forms the western side. 15 And the southern side begins at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim. And the boundary goes from there to Ephron, 1 18:15 See 15:9; Hebrew westward to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. 16 Then the boundary goes down to the border of the mountain that overlooks the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is at the north end of the Valley of Rephaim. And it then goes down the Valley of Hinnom, south of the shoulder of the Jebusites, and downward to En-rogel. 17 Then it bends in a northerly direction going on to En-shemesh, and from there goes to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim. Then it goes down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, 18 and passing on to the north of the shoulder of Beth-arabah 2 18:18 Septuagint; Hebrew to the shoulder over against the Arabah it goes down to the Arabah. 19 Then the boundary passes on to the north of the shoulder of Beth-hoglah. And the boundary ends at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan: this is the southern border. 20 The Jordan forms its boundary on the eastern side. This is the inheritance of the people of Benjamin, according to their clans, boundary by boundary all around.
21 Now the cities of the tribe of the people of Benjamin according to their clans were Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, 22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, Geba—twelve cities with their villages: 25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zela, Haeleph, Jebus 3 18:28 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah 4 18:28 Hebrew Gibeath and Kiriath-jearim 5 18:28 Septuagint; Hebrew Kiriath —fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the people of Benjamin according to its clans.
Chapter 19
The Inheritance for Simeon
1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the people of Simeon, according to their clans, and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the people of Judah. 2 And they had for their inheritance Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah, 3 Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, 6 Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen cities with their villages; 7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—four cities with their villages, 8 together with all the villages around these cities as far as Baalath-beer, Ramah of the Negeb. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Simeon according to their clans. 9 The inheritance of the people of Simeon formed part of the territory of the people of Judah. Because the portion of the people of Judah was too large for them, the people of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.
The Inheritance for Zebulun
10 The third lot came up for the people of Zebulun, according to their clans. And the territory of their inheritance reached as far as Sarid. 11 Then their boundary goes up westward and on to Mareal and touches Dabbesheth, then the brook that is east of Jokneam. 12 From Sarid it goes in the other direction eastward toward the sunrise to the boundary of Chisloth-tabor. From there it goes to Daberath, then up to Japhia. 13 From there it passes along on the east toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin, and going on to Rimmon it bends toward Neah, 14 then on the north the boundary turns about to Hannathon, and it ends at the Valley of Iphtahel; 15 and Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem—twelve cities with their villages. 16 This is the inheritance of the people of Zebulun, according to their clans—these cities with their villages.
The Inheritance for Issachar
17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar, for the people of Issachar, according to their clans. 18 Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem, 19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 21 Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, Beth-pazzez. 22 The boundary also touches Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and its boundary ends at the Jordan—sixteen cities with their villages. 23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Issachar, according to their clans—the cities with their villages.
The Inheritance for Asher
24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the people of Asher according to their clans. 25 Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, 26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west it touches Carmel and Shihor-libnath, 27 then it turns eastward, it goes to Beth-dagon, and touches Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtahel northward to Beth-emek and Neiel. Then it continues in the north to Cabul, 28 Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, as far as Sidon the Great. 29 Then the boundary turns to Ramah, reaching to the fortified city of Tyre. Then the boundary turns to Hosah, and it ends at the sea; Mahalab, 6 19:29 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew Mehebel Achzib, 30 Ummah, Aphek and Rehob—twenty-two cities with their villages. 31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Asher according to their clans—these cities with their villages.
The Inheritance for Naphtali
32 The sixth lot came out for the people of Naphtali, for the people of Naphtali, according to their clans. 33 And their boundary ran from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and it ended at the Jordan. 34 Then the boundary turns westward to Aznoth-tabor and goes from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun at the south and Asher on the west and Judah on the east at the Jordan. 35 The fortified cities are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor, 38 Yiron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh—nineteen cities with their villages. 39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Naphtali according to their clans—the cities with their villages.
The Inheritance for Dan
40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the people of Dan, according to their clans. 41 And the territory of its inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon, 46 and Me-jarkon and Rakkon with the territory over against Joppa. 47 When the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and striking it with the sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor. 48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Dan, according to their clans—these cities with their villages.
The Inheritance for Joshua
49 When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. 50 By command of the LORD they gave him the city that he asked, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it.
51 These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel distributed by lot at Shiloh before the LORD, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.
Chapter 20
The Cities of Refuge
1 Then the LORD said to Joshua, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them. 5 And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past. 6 And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.’”
7 So 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. 8 And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities designated for all the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Joshua
Timeline
Author and Date
While this book mentions Joshua writing (8:32; 24:26), it does not claim he wrote the book. The repeated references to something existing “to this day” (see 4:9; 5:9; 6:25; etc.) seem to suggest that there was a significant lapse of time between the events recorded in the book and the time when the writing of the book was completed. The final writing may have taken place in the time of the exile (post-587 B.C.), but the writing probably began much earlier.
Theme
Joshua records part two of God’s grandest work of redemption in the OT period. In part one (the Pentateuch), the Lord redeemed his people out of slavery in Egypt and formalized his covenantal love for them at Sinai. Moses led the people during that time. Now in part two, under the leadership of Joshua, the Lord brings his people into the Land of Promise and gives them rest.
Purpose and Background
The book of Joshua seeks to explain God’s purpose in the events surrounding Israel’s capture of and settlement in Canaan. Those events are seen as the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Such an account would have been relevant to ancient Israel from its earliest arrival in Canaan, and to every generation of God’s people to the present day.
Joshua comes immediately after the Pentateuch and in many ways completes its story. The theme of the first five books of the Bible is the progressive fulfillment of the “patriarchal promise,” made first to Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3) and repeated to his son Isaac (Gen. 26:2–4) and his grandson Jacob (Gen. 28:13–15; etc.). The Lord promised Abraham and his descendants that they would be blessed and would become a blessing to others, that they would grow to become a great nation, and that they would be given a land of their own—and that these blessings would be enjoyed within a close covenant relationship with God.
By the end of the Pentateuch, Israel has been brought into a covenant relationship with the Lord and has become a great people. But they remain outside the Land of Promise, on the plains of Moab. Forty years before, the Lord had chosen Moses to lead his people out of slavery in Egypt and to bring them to the land he had promised (Ex. 3:6–8; 6:2–8). Now, after so many years of wandering, Joshua, the “new Moses” (Josh. 1:1–9), is to lead God’s people into the land, take it, and divide it among them as their inheritance from the Lord.
Key Themes
- The Lord’s continuing presence as the key to strength and courage (e.g., 1:5, 9).
- The importance of the Lord’s instructions for succeeding in one’s mission and acting with wisdom (1:7–8).
- The ability of the Lord to save the “outsider” (Rahab), and the danger of the “insider” falling away (Achan; see chs. 2 and 7).
- The Lord as divine Warrior and the reality of judgment (e.g., 10:42; 11:19–20).
- The danger of failing to ask the Lord (e.g., 9:14).
- The Lord as Protector of the covenant (e.g., 10:1–15, especially v. 11).
- The unity of the people of God (18:1–10; 22:34).
- The sovereignty of God in giving his people a place and rest (1:13; 11:23; 21:43–45).
- The faithfulness of God in fulfilling all his good promises (1:2; 21:43–45).
- The necessity of removing false gods and worshiping God alone (ch. 24).
Outline
- Crossing into the Land (1:1–5:15)
- Taking the Land (6:1–12:24)
- Dividing the Land (13:1–21:45)
- Serving the Lord in the Land (22:1–24:33)
The Setting of Joshua
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Joshua recounts Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan under Joshua’s command. The book opens with Joshua being commissioned by the Lord as the leader of the Israelites. It tells of his victories over the Canaanite kings and how he allotted the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel. The book ends with Joshua encouraging the people to remain faithful to the Lord.
Fact: Bethlehem?
Bethlehem? There are actually two places called Bethlehem in the Bible. The town where Ruth lived and where Jesus was born was about 5 miles (8 km) south of Jerusalem. The one mentioned in 19:15 was about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent his childhood years.
Fact: Manslayer
A manslayer was a person who unintentionally took another person’s life. Such a person could flee to a “city of refuge” (20:1–6) for safety until his case was heard. The term “manslayer” corresponds to the modern use of the term “manslaughter” for unintentional killing.
The Setting of Joshua
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Joshua recounts Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan under Joshua’s command. The book opens with Joshua being commissioned by the Lord as the leader of the Israelites. It tells of his victories over the Canaanite kings and how he allotted the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel. The book ends with Joshua encouraging the people to remain faithful to the Lord.
The Allotment of the Land
c. 1400 B.C.
During the conquest of Canaan, Joshua allotted the land to the tribes of Israel. These boundaries, however, do not necessarily reflect the land each tribe actually inhabited by the end of the conquest. Several tribes, such as Dan, were unable to drive out the Canaanites that lived in much of their allotted territory (19:47), while other tribes controlled portions of land that were not originally allotted to them (e.g., 17:11).
Joshua 1:1–9 as a “Table of Contents” for the Rest of the Book
| “Table of Contents” Item: | Corresponds To: |
|---|---|
| “arise, go over this Jordan . . . into the land that I am giving . . . to the people of Israel” (1:2–5) | Israel conquers Canaan (1:10–12:24) |
| “you shall cause this people to inherit the land” (1:6) | Israel’s inheritance distributed (chs. 13–21) |
| “be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law . . .” (1:7–9) | Covenant renewal (chs. 22–24) |
Josh. 18:7 The Levites have no portion among you. See note on 13:14. This verse prepares for assigning Levitical cities throughout the territories in ch. 21.
Josh. 18:9 wrote in a book. Or on a scroll, or some other writing material (the term does not specify).
Josh. 18:1–10 That the assembly gathers before the tent of meeting, or tabernacle (see Ex. 27:21; 40:2), recalls Israel’s history under Moses. Shiloh serves as the central sanctuary that Israel was to establish in the land (Deut. 12:10–11). Shiloh was likely destroyed following the battle of Ebenezer (1 Samuel 4; Jer. 26:6); it was replaced as central sanctuary by Jerusalem in King David’s time. Mention of the God of your fathers evokes God’s promise of land to the patriarchs (see note on Josh. 1:2). The Lord has fulfilled all his “good promises” (21:45).
Josh. 18:11 Though one of the smaller tribes, Benjamin would be significant as the tribe of Israel’s first king, Saul (1 Sam. 9:21).
Josh. 19:1–9 The allotment for Simeon fell in the midst . . . of Judah (v. 1; see note on Gen. 49:5–7). Because of this, no boundary description is given for Simeon, only a list of cities.
Josh. 19:15 Bethlehem is a northerly village, not the more famous Bethlehem in Judah.
Josh. 19:47 On how Dan’s territory was lost to them, see Judg. 1:34. The story of how Dan went up and fought against Leshem is told in Judges 18.
The Allotment of the Land
c. 1400 B.C.
During the conquest of Canaan, Joshua allotted the land to the tribes of Israel. These boundaries, however, do not necessarily reflect the land each tribe actually inhabited by the end of the conquest. Several tribes, such as Dan, were unable to drive out the Canaanites that lived in much of their allotted territory (19:47), while other tribes controlled portions of land that were not originally allotted to them (e.g., 17:11).
Josh. 19:49–50 By command of the LORD, Joshua is given Timnath-serah (called Timnath-heres in the notice of Joshua’s death in Judg. 2:6–10). The site is in southwest Ephraim. Joshua receives his inheritance only after all others have received theirs. This speaks well of him as a leader.
Josh. 14:1–19:51 These chapters describe the tribal assignments west of the Jordan.
Josh. 19:51 Eleazar the priest. See note on 14:1.
Fact: Bethlehem?
Bethlehem? There are actually two places called Bethlehem in the Bible. The town where Ruth lived and where Jesus was born was about 5 miles (8 km) south of Jerusalem. The one mentioned in 19:15 was about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent his childhood years.
Josh. 20:1–2 The fullest description of how the cities of refuge are to function appears in Num. 35:6–34, where the Lord expands his initial instructions to Moses in Ex. 21:12–14. There are to be six sites chosen from the Levitical cities, with three on each side of the Jordan (Num. 35:13–14). They are to provide security and access to fair trials for anyone accused of manslaughter (Num. 35:15). In Deut. 4:41–43 Moses designates the three cities of refuge in the newly conquered territory east of the Jordan, one in each tribal area. In Deut. 19:1–10, he instructs Israel about the cities that will be designated west of the Jordan once the land is conquered. The three cities west of the Jordan are finally named in Josh. 20:7. Should God enlarge Israel’s territory, an additional three cities can be designated (Deut. 19:8–9). That the additional three are not mentioned in Joshua may mean that Israel was not entirely successful in taking over all the land.
Josh. 20:3 A manslayer was a person who unintentionally or without premeditation took another’s life. The avenger of blood was responsible for seeing that the murderer was punished (see Num. 35:16–19).
Josh. 20:6 until the death of him who is high priest at the time. This verse condenses the fuller instructions in Numbers 35.
Fact: Manslayer
A manslayer was a person who unintentionally took another person’s life. Such a person could flee to a “city of refuge” (20:1–6) for safety until his case was heard. The term “manslayer” corresponds to the modern use of the term “manslaughter” for unintentional killing.
How can we understand the boundaries of the land today?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Joshua 18-20
When looking back at the first chapter of Joshua, God's plan to make His people flourish is clear. Joshua's name literally means "The Lord saves," and, as the Israelites had come out of their captivity in Egypt and were wandering in the desert, the Lord presented the opportunity for them to take this land and succeed in it. They would flourish only if they stayed the course, obeying God's law set before them (Joshua 1:2-8).
In Joshua 20:1-3, after the tribes had claimed their land portions, God presented a part of His plan for His people to flourish. He emphasizes to Joshua what he had previously told Moses (Numbers 35:6) concerning His plan for His people to have cities of refuge. These Levitical cities in Joshua 20:7-8 were placed in strategic areas for any person who unintentionally killed another person to be able to escape an avenger of blood under the law. What is imperative to understand is that the sanctity of human life is incredibly important to God (Genesis 1:26), and, even if a person was killed unintentionally, it was taken seriously by God. It is equally important to note that God, in His mercy and grace, provided an escape from the condemnation of His own law.
Looking back at the extent of the law, it is important to understand that the law was meant to be a tutor until Christ came (Galatians 3:15-29). Yes, people could flee to a city of refuge if they had killed another unintentionally, but not if it was premeditated murder. While man's salvation was not contingent upon his actions, he could not always escape the consequences of disobedience. However, looking at the city of refuge, we see a type of Christ (Hebrews 6:18) fashioned into the Mosaic Law by God Himself that demonstrates: 1) All human beings have sinned, whether premeditated or unintentionally (Psalm 51:5); and 2) God still provides the opportunity for us to be saved from sin and eternity separated from God. Just as the high priest had to die before the manslayer could return home (Numbers 35:28), Christ had to die in order to save us.
This month's memory verse
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
– 1 Samuel 16:7
Discussion Questions
1. When you read about the cities of refuge, what is your first impression of God's plan? Do you think that it's fair or not?
2. What does the plan of the cities of refuge say about the sanctity of life?
3. What do the cities of refuge say about the condition of humanity? Remember, the cities of refuge are for an unintentional killing.
4. What is the similarity between the high priest and Christ?
5. The Law was never meant to save, only to be a tutor to point to Christ until His coming. What are the similarities between the law and grace in this passage? The differences?