Joshua 20

Six Cities Where the Pursued May Live

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The Cities of Refuge Commanded

20:1The Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,

20:2“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge of which I spoke to you through Moses,

20:3a refuge for the killer who strikes a person involuntarily. The cities shall be a refuge for you, and the killer shall not die at the hand of the next of kin avenging the blood until he stands before the congregation for judgment.’”

The Cities Set Apart

20:7He set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the mountain of Naphtali, Shechem in the mountain of Ephraim, and the city of Arbok—that is Hebron—in the mountain of Judah.

20:8Beyond the Jordan he appointed Bosor in the wilderness in the plain from the tribe of Reuben, Aremoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Gaulon in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

20:9These were the designated cities for the sons of Israel and for the sojourner attached to them, for anyone who struck a person involuntarily to flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the next of kin avenging the blood until he stood before the congregation for judgment.

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.