The Cities of Refuge

The words

1. Anointed

   Consecrated with holy oil.

   Numbers describes the high priest as anointed with holy oil; the unintentional killer must remain in the refuge city until that priest dies.

   Numbers 35:22–25 (opens a new tab)

2. Appointed

   The LORD tells Joshua to appoint the cities of refuge as instructed through Moses; the chapter then lists the six designated cities.

   Did you know?

   Deuteronomy describes Moses setting apart Bezer, Ramoth and Golan east of Jordan, before Joshua’s list names them again.

   Joshua 20:1–3 (opens a new tab) · Joshua 20:7–9 (opens a new tab) · Deuteronomy 4:41–43 (opens a new tab)

3. Avenger

   One seeking vengeance for the victim’s family.

   The avenger of blood may pursue the killer, but Joshua says the city must not surrender someone who killed without intent or prior hatred.

   Numbers 35:19 · Joshua 20:3–5 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Numbers 35:19 (opens a new tab)

4. Bezer

   Bezer is named as a refuge city in the wilderness plain, in Reuben’s territory east of the Jordan.

   Joshua 20:8 (opens a new tab)

5. Cities

   Numbers includes six cities of refuge among the forty-eight towns assigned to the Levites, alongside their surrounding pastureland.

   Numbers 35:2–7 (opens a new tab)

6. Galilee

   Galilee locates Kedesh in Joshua’s list, among the three refuge cities named before the list turns east of the Jordan.

   Did you know?

   First Kings later describes Solomon giving Hiram, king of Tyre, twenty towns in the land of Galilee.

   Joshua 20:7–8 (opens a new tab) · 1 Kings 9:10–11 (opens a new tab)

7. Golan

   Golan in Bashan is the refuge city named from Manasseh’s territory east of the Jordan, alongside Bezer and Ramoth.

   Joshua 20:8 (opens a new tab)

8. High Priest

   Numbers forbids paying to leave refuge before the high priest’s death; afterward, the killer may return to his own land.

   Numbers 35:28 (opens a new tab) · Numbers 35:32 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Numbers 35:32 (opens a new tab)

9. Kedesh

   Joshua sets apart Kedesh in Galilee, in Naphtali’s hill country, as one of the refuge cities west of the Jordan.

   Joshua 20:7–8 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Joshua 20:7-9 (opens a new tab)

10. Manslayer

    The manslayer seeking refuge must have killed unwittingly and without prior hatred; the law requires a hearing before the congregation.

    Joshua 20:3–6 (opens a new tab) · Numbers 35:11–12 (opens a new tab)

11. Ramoth

    Ramoth in Gilead is appointed from Gad’s territory east of Jordan, grouped with Bezer and Golan in the refuge list.

    Joshua 20:8 (opens a new tab)

12. Refuge

    A person fleeing to a refuge city must state the case at its gate; the elders receive the person and provide a place to stay.

    Joshua 20:4 (opens a new tab)

13. Shechem

    Shechem is the refuge city in Ephraim’s hill country, listed between Kedesh in Galilee and Hebron in Judah’s hill country.

    Did you know?

    Joshua later describes all Israel’s tribes gathering at Shechem with their elders, leaders, judges and officers.

    Joshua 20:7 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Joshua 20:7-9 (opens a new tab) · Joshua 24:1 (opens a new tab)

14. Stranger

    A resident foreigner.

    Joshua extends the refuge-city provision to both Israelites and the stranger who lives among them, pending a hearing before the congregation.

    Joshua 20:9 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Joshua 20:7-9 (opens a new tab)

15. Unwittingly

    Deuteronomy illustrates an unwitting killing with a woodcutter whose axe head slips from its handle and kills a neighbor.

    Deuteronomy 19:4–5 (opens a new tab)