Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The Lord said to Joshua, "Tell the people of Israel that I instructed Moses to designate cities where those who have unintentionally taken a life may find refuge. If someone unknowingly kills another person, they can flee to one of these cities and seek protection from the family member seeking revenge.

These cities are to provide safety for anyone who has killed accidentally, without having any hatred in their heart beforehand. When the accidental killer flees to one of the designated cities, they must go straight to the city gate and explain what happened to the elders. The elders will take them in and give them a place to live among them.

The family member seeking revenge cannot harm the accidental killer while they are living in the city. The accidental killer will remain in the city until they stand before the community for judgment, and until the high priest who was serving at that time has died. Only then can they return home.

Cities of refuge were designated in various regions: Kedesh in Galilee's hill country, Shechem in Ephraim's hill country, and Kiriath Arba, also known as Hebron, in Judah's hill country. Across the Jordan River from Jericho, cities were designated for those who lived eastward: Bezer in the plain of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, and Golan in Bashan. All these cities were made available to the people of Israel and to foreigners living among them.