Joshua 20:1 kjv
The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,
Joshua 20:1 nkjv
The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying,
Joshua 20:1 niv
Then the LORD said to Joshua:
Joshua 20:1 esv
Then the LORD said to Joshua,
Joshua 20:1 nlt
The LORD said to Joshua,
Joshua 20 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 35:9 | "Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying..." | God instructs Moses on Cities of Refuge. |
| Deut 19:1-3 | "When the Lord your God cuts off the nations...you shall designate three cities..." | Previous command for Cities of Refuge. |
| Josh 1:1 | "After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua..." | God speaking directly to Joshua at his calling. |
| Gen 9:6 | "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed..." | Sanctity of human life and consequence of murder. |
| Exod 21:12-14 | "Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death...I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee." | Early provision for accidental homicide refuge. |
| Deut 4:41-43 | "Then Moses set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan..." | Moses partially fulfilling the command. |
| Lev 24:17 | "Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death." | The principle of justice for murder. |
| Num 35:11-12 | "you shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge for you...the manslayer may flee there..." | Purpose of the Cities of Refuge. |
| Ps 46:1 | "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." | God as ultimate spiritual refuge. |
| Prov 18:10 | "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe." | God's protection and refuge for believers. |
| Isa 25:4 | "For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm..." | God as a shelter and refuge. |
| Jer 1:4 | "Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying..." | God's communication with prophets. |
| Heb 6:18 | "...we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us." | Believers finding refuge in Christ. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God..." | Principle against personal blood vengeance. |
| Matt 11:28-30 | "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." | Jesus as the ultimate refuge and giver of rest. |
| Deut 19:4-6 | "If anyone kills his neighbor unintentionally...he may flee to one of these cities..." | Details of accidental death vs. murder. |
| Josh 20:7-8 | "So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee...and Hebron...and Bezer..." | Fulfillment of the command by Joshua. |
| Num 35:33-34 | "You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land..." | Blood guilt defiling the land. |
| Judg 2:1-2 | "Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim...And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land..." | Emphasizes God's commands must be obeyed. |
| Jas 2:13 | "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." | Balance of justice and mercy in God's law. |
Joshua 20 verses
Joshua 20 1 Meaning
Joshua 20:1 introduces God's direct and authoritative command to Joshua concerning the establishment of the Cities of Refuge. This verse signals the divine initiation of a crucial legal and social structure within Israel, ensuring both justice for innocent blood and refuge for those who cause accidental death, thereby preventing lawless blood vengeance and upholding the sanctity of human life according to God's righteous standards.
Joshua 20 1 Context
Joshua 20:1 immediately precedes the detailed instruction for establishing the Cities of Refuge, which Moses had commanded previously (Num 35; Deut 19). Following the conquest and the initial distribution of the land among the Israelite tribes, God initiates this specific directive to implement a vital legal and social system. This placement highlights God's ongoing involvement in establishing the nation's civic and moral order, beyond mere territorial occupation. Historically, the ancient Near East often practiced unmitigated blood revenge, where the victim's family could exact retaliation on the perpetrator and sometimes their kin, regardless of intent. The divinely appointed Cities of Refuge system, therefore, presented a radical and more just alternative, providing due process, protecting the innocent, and demonstrating God's values of both justice (punishing deliberate murder) and mercy (offering asylum for accidental homicide) for His covenant people.
Joshua 20 1 Word analysis
The Lord: In Hebrew, יְהֹוָה (Yahweh or YHWH), the sacred, personal, and covenantal name of God, indicating His direct involvement and authority. This emphasizes that the following command originates from the ultimate sovereign.
also spoke: In Hebrew, וַיְדַבֵּר (vay'dabber). This verb, derived from דָּבַר (davar), means "to speak, to declare, to command." The grammatical form (waw consecutive imperfect) indicates a sequential and decisive action. It signifies a direct, deliberate, and authoritative communication, not a mere suggestion or discussion. This stresses the divine initiative.
to Joshua: In Hebrew, אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (el Yehoshua). Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yehoshua) means "Yahweh is salvation" or "The Lord saves." The address to Joshua confirms his ongoing leadership and the responsibility placed upon him as Moses' successor to execute God's law and commands for the nation.
saying: In Hebrew, לֵאמֹר (le'mor). This common introductory particle specifies that what follows is direct speech from God, reinforcing the authenticity and precision of the coming instructions.
The Lord also spoke to Joshua: This phrase immediately establishes the divine source and the human recipient of the forthcoming decree. It reiterates the pattern of God directly communicating with His chosen leaders, ensuring that the foundational laws and practices of Israel were rooted in divine wisdom and authority, not human devising. This specific act of communication underlines the supreme importance and priority God places on the proper administration of justice and mercy within the land. It also demonstrates God's faithfulness in guiding Israel into a structured society according to His law.
Joshua 20 1 Bonus section
The Cities of Refuge underscore a foundational principle of biblical justice: the sacredness of human life. Blood spilt pollutes the land (Num 35:33-34), and this pollution can only be atoned for by the blood of the one who sheds it, unless it's an accidental death, in which case a place of refuge is provided. This divine design predates human legal systems that often struggle with these nuances. The command for Cities of Refuge reveals God's meticulous care for details in governing His people and points forward to Christ as the ultimate refuge and strong tower for all who flee to Him for salvation from sin and judgment.
Joshua 20 1 Commentary
Joshua 20:1, though brief, serves as a vital preamble, anchoring the establishment of the Cities of Refuge directly in God's divine command. It demonstrates God's proactive concern for justice, mercy, and the preservation of human life within His covenant community. The direct address to Joshua emphasizes that these are not merely legal stipulations but sacred directives to be implemented under divine guidance. This foundational statement reinforces that Israel's legal framework was derived from a benevolent and just God, contrasting sharply with often arbitrary or brutal human justice systems. The subsequent detailed instructions on the Cities of Refuge provide a balanced, compassionate, and structured legal system for differentiating between intentional murder and accidental homicide, safeguarding both the land from blood-guilt and the lives of those who accidentally cause death.