Bible Strands
Joshua 20:9
These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua addresses the assembled Israelites at the conclusion of the land distribution instructions, formally closing the list of the six cities of refuge.
The words — מֽוּעָדָה (mu.'a.Dah) literally means "appointed" or "designated," indicating that these locations were officially established by authority rather than chosen by circumstance.
The thread — The provision for foreigners among them runs parallel to Numbers 35:15, while the procedural framework for seeking and maintaining asylum is detailed in Joshua 20:4 and 20:6.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that justice for unintentional killing is geographically structured, mandating immediate flight to a designated trial venue to prevent blood vengeance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Numbers 35:15 These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.
- Joshua 20:4 When someone flees to one of these cities, stands at the entrance of the city gate, and states his case before its elders, they are to bring him into the city and give him a place to live among them.
- Joshua 20:6 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.”