The Cities of Refuge Appointed

201 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua , saying , 2 "Speak to the sons of Israel , saying , 'Designate the cities of refuge , of which I spoke to you through Moses , 3 that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally , without premeditation , may flee there , and they shall become your 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 state his case in the hearing of the elders of that city ; and they shall take him into the city to them and give him a place , so that he may dwell among them. 5 'Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, then they shall not deliver the manslayer into his hand , because he struck his neighbor without premeditation and did not hate him beforehand e . 6 'He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment , until the death of the one who is high priest in those days . Then the manslayer shall return e to his own city and to his own house , to the city from which he fled .' "

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 20:1-6

Commentary on Joshua 20:1-6

(Read Joshua 20:1-6)

When the Israelites were settled in their promised inheritance, they were reminded to set apart the cities of refuge, whose use and typical meaning have been explained, Hebrews 6:18.