Joshua 20:9 - These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stands trial before the congregation.
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What does "Joshua 20:9" mean?
Joshua 20:9 is a key verse explaining the purpose of the cities of refuge established for the Israelites and the foreigners living among them. Let's break it down:
"These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them..." This establishes the intended audience for this provision. The cities of refuge were not just for Israelites, but also for resident aliens (foreigners who lived permanently among the Israelites). This highlights a sense of justice and fairness extending to all who lived in the land.
"...that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there..." This is the core purpose of the cities of refuge. If someone accidentally caused the death of another person (i.e., manslaughter, not murder), they could flee to one of these designated cities for protection. The key word here is "unintentionally." This system distinguished between premeditated murder (which would be punished by death) and accidental killings.
"...and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood..." In ancient Israelite culture, the nearest male relative of a murder victim had the right and responsibility to avenge the death by killing the perpetrator. This was called the "avenger of blood." The city of refuge provided protection from this immediate act of vengeance.
"...until he stands trial before the congregation." The protection offered by the city of refuge was temporary. The accused was not simply allowed to live there indefinitely. They were required to face a formal trial before the community (the congregation) to determine the circumstances of the death. The trial would establish whether the killing was indeed accidental or whether it was intentional murder.
In Summary:
The verse from Joshua 20:9 describes the system of cities of refuge. These cities were designated places of sanctuary where someone who had accidentally caused a death could flee to avoid immediate retaliation from the victim's family. The purpose was to provide temporary protection until a proper trial could be held to determine the circumstances of the death and ensure justice was served, distinguishing between accidental manslaughter and intentional murder. This system applied to both native Israelites and foreigners living among them.
Joshua 20:9 - These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stands trial before the congregation.
What does "Joshua 20:9" mean?
Joshua 20:9 is a key verse explaining the purpose of the cities of refuge established for the Israelites and the foreigners living among them. Let's break it down:
"These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the alien who lives among them..." This establishes the intended audience for this provision. The cities of refuge were not just for Israelites, but also for resident aliens (foreigners who lived permanently among the Israelites). This highlights a sense of justice and fairness extending to all who lived in the land.
"...that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there..." This is the core purpose of the cities of refuge. If someone accidentally caused the death of another person (i.e., manslaughter, not murder), they could flee to one of these designated cities for protection. The key word here is "unintentionally." This system distinguished between premeditated murder (which would be punished by death) and accidental killings.
"...and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood..." In ancient Israelite culture, the nearest male relative of a murder victim had the right and responsibility to avenge the death by killing the perpetrator. This was called the "avenger of blood." The city of refuge provided protection from this immediate act of vengeance.
"...until he stands trial before the congregation." The protection offered by the city of refuge was temporary. The accused was not simply allowed to live there indefinitely. They were required to face a formal trial before the community (the congregation) to determine the circumstances of the death. The trial would establish whether the killing was indeed accidental or whether it was intentional murder.
In Summary:
The verse from Joshua 20:9 describes the system of cities of refuge. These cities were designated places of sanctuary where someone who had accidentally caused a death could flee to avoid immediate retaliation from the victim's family. The purpose was to provide temporary protection until a proper trial could be held to determine the circumstances of the death and ensure justice was served, distinguishing between accidental manslaughter and intentional murder. This system applied to both native Israelites and foreigners living among them.