Joshua 20:1

“The Lord also spake unto Joshua, etc.] 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, (<061301>Joshua 13:1-7); and this being done he speaks to him again: saying: as follows.”

“THE LORD COMMANDS THE CITIES OF REFUGE. (Jos 20:1-6) The Lord spake unto Joshua . . . Appoint out for you cities of refuge--(See Num. 35:9-28; Deu 19:1-13). The command here recorded was given on their going to occupy their allotted settlements. The sanctuaries were not temples or altars, as in other countries, but inhabited cities; and the design was not to screen criminals, but only to afford the homicide protection from the vengeance of the deceased's relatives until it should have been ascertained whether the death had resulted from accident and momentary passion, or from premeditated malice. The institution of the cities of refuge, together with the rules prescribed for the guidance of…”

“20:1–21:45 Before the land was fully allotted, Joshua needed to establish six cities of refuge and assign cities for the Levites to live in. 20:1-6 These verses contain a review of the law concerning cities of refuge (see also Num 35:6-34).”

“spake: Jos 5:14, Jos 6:2, Jos 7:10, Jos 13:1-7 Joshua 20:2”

“After the distribution of the land by lot among the tribes of Israel, six towns were set apart, in accordance with the Mosaic instructions in Num 35, as places of refuge for unintentional manslayers. Before describing the appointment and setting apart of these towns, the writer repeats in Jos 20:1-6 the main points of the Mosaic law contained in Num 35:9-29 and Deu 19:1-13, with reference to the reception of the manslayers into these towns. לכם תּנוּ, "give to you," i.e., appoint for yourselves, "cities of refuge," etc. In Jos 20:6, the two regulations, "until he stand before the congregation for judgment," and "until the death of the high priest," are to be understood, in accordance with…”