The contents of this chapter are the renewal of the order to appoint cities of refuge for such that commit manslaughter ignorantly, to flee unto, and have shelter in from the avenger of blood, Josh. 20:1–6; and the execution of this order, Josh. 20:7–9.

The Lord also spake unto Joshua Out of the tabernacle, at the door of which he with the high priest and princes were; the Lord had spoken to him before concerning dividing the land among the tribes, ; and this being done he speaks to him again: saying: as follows.

Speak to the children of Israel, saying Whom the affair concerned the Lord spake to Joshua about, they having now the whole land divided among them: appoint out for you cities of refuge; of the name, nature, use, and number of these cities, (See Gill on Num.

That the slayer that killeth any person unawares, and unwittingly, may flee thither Who through mere accident, and without design, killed a person, friend or foe, one of his own kindred, or a stranger, without any malice against him, or intention to take away his life: and they shall be your refuge…

And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities Any one of them, that was nearest to him: shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city; for he might not rush in without leave: and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city; lay before them the whole matter, how that…

And if the avenger of blood pursue after him To the city of refuge, whither he is fled, and demand him: then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hands; to be slain by him, but shall protect him: because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime; (See Gill on Num.

And he shall dwell in that city until he shall stand before the congregation for judgment That is, until his cause was heard in the court of judicature in his own city, or in any other to which the avenger of blood should appeal: see (Num. 35:24, Num.

And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in Mount Naphtali Of which see ; the appointment of this and the two cities following was made by the children of Israel at this time: and Shechem in Mount Ephraim; called Sichem, ; and Shechem from a prince of that name that possessed it, ; it fell to the lot…

And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward In the country possessed by the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh: 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…

These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel For the common use of them all, and not for that tribe only in which they stood: and for the stranger that sojourneth among them; not only for the proselytes of righteousness, but for the proselytes of the gate also, as well as for the…