Verse 1

The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,

The Lord also spake unto Joshua ...

Verse 2

Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

Appoint out for you cities of refuge - (see Numbers 35:9-28; Deuteronomy 19:1-13.) The command here recorded was given on their going to occupy their allotted settlements. The sanctuaries were not temples or altars, as in other countries, but inhabited cities; and the design was not to screen criminals, but only to afford the homicide protection from the vengeance of the deceased's relatives, until it should have been ascertained whether the death had resulted from accident and momentary passion, or from premeditated malice. The institution of the cities of refuge, together with the rules prescribed for the guidance of those who sought an asylum within their walls, was an important provision, tending to secure the ends of justice us well as of mercy.

Verse 3

That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Verse 4

And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

He that doth flee ... shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city. It was the place of public resort; and on arriving there he related his tale of distress to the elders, who were bound to give him shelter and the means of support until the local authorities (Joshua 20:6), having carefully investigated. the case, should have prononuced decision. If found guilty, the manslayer was surrendered to the blood-avenger; if extenuating circumstances appeared, he was to remain in the city of refuge, where he would be safe from the vindictive feelings of his pursuers; but he forfeited the privilege of immunity the moment he ventured beyond the walls.

Verse 5

And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Verse 6

And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

Until the death of the high priest. His death secured the complete deliverance of the manslayer from his sin, only because he had been anointed with the holy oil (Numbers 35:25), the symbol of the Holy Spirit; and thus the death of the earthly high priest became a type of that of the heavenly One (Hebrews 9:14-15).

Verse 7

And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.

They appointed ...

Verse 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.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Verse 9

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.

Cities. There were six; three on the west, and three on the east of Jordan. In the first instance they were a provision of the criminal law of the Hebrews, necessary in the circumstances of that people (see the note at Numbers 35:9-15; Deuteronomy 19:1); and at the same time they were designed also typically to point out the sinner's way to Christ (Hebrews 6:18).