1 And the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: “Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them:
2 Separate the cities of refuge, about which I spoke to you by the hand of Moses,
3 so that anyone who will have struck down a life unintentionally may flee to them. And so, he may be able to escape from the wrath of a close relative, who is an avenger of blood.
4 And when he will have fled to one of these cities, he shall stand before the gate of the city, and he shall speak to the ancients of that city, the things that prove him innocent. And so shall they receive him, and give him a place in which to live.
5 And if the avenger of blood will have pursued him, they shall not deliver him into his hands. For he struck down his neighbor unknowingly, one who was not proven to have been his enemy two or three days before.
6 And he shall live in that city, until he stands before judgment in order to render the facts of his case, and until the death of the high priest, whoever it will be in that time. Then the one who killed a man may return, and he may enter his own city and house, from which he had fled.”
7 And they decreed Kedesh in Galilee, at mount Naphtali, and Shechem, at mount Ephraim, and Kiriath-Arba, which is Hebron, at mount Judah.
8 And beyond the Jordan, opposite the eastern side of Jericho, they appointed Bezer, which is situated on the plain of the wilderness of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan of the tribe of Manasseh.
9 These cities were established for all the sons of Israel, and for the new arrivals who were living among them, so that whoever had struck down a life unintentionally might flee to these, and not die at the hand of a close relative who desires to vindicate the blood that was shed, until he should stand before the people, in order to present his case.
Versículos relacionados com Joshua, 20:
Joshua chapter 20 deals with the institution of the cities of refuge in Israel, places where a person who had killed someone without intention could take refuge and have protection against the victim's family revenge. These cities should be strategically located so that they could easily be achieved by anyone looking for protection. Following are five verses related to the theme of the selected chapters of other books of the Bible:
Deuteronomy 4:41-42: "Then Moses separated three cities east of the Jordan River, where he could escape those who killed someone without intention. Whoever killed someone without intention and fled to one of these cities would live." This verse talks about choosing the cities of refuge for Moses before his death, as a measure of justice and protection for those who killed unintentionally.
Numbers 35:6: "The six cities you give will be cities of refuge, where you can escape those who kill someone without intention." This verse talks about the number of cities of refuge that should be established in Israel and the importance of having them available throughout the territory.
Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and our fortress, aid always present in adversity." This verse talks about the protection and refuge God offers in difficult times and can be applied to the cities of refuge in Israel as a symbol of divine protection.
Proverbs 18:10: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to her and are safe." This verse also talks about the protection and security offered by the name of God and can be applied to the institution of the cities of refuge in Israel.
Isaiah 25:4: "For you have a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their affliction, a shelter against the storm and a shelter against the heat." This verse talks about God as a refuge for those who suffer and can be applied to the institution of the cities of refuge in Israel as a reflection of God's compassion for those who need protection.
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