Joshua 20 6

Joshua 20:6 kjv

And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

Joshua 20:6 nkjv

And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the slayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled.' "

Joshua 20:6 niv

They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled."

Joshua 20:6 esv

And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.'"

Joshua 20:6 nlt

But the slayer must stay in that city and be tried by the local assembly, which will render a judgment. And he must continue to live in that city until the death of the high priest who was in office at the time of the accident. After that, he is free to return to his own home in the town from which he fled."

Joshua 20 verses

Joshua 20 6 Meaning

Joshua 20:6 specifies the conditions under which an unintentional slayer, having fled to a City of Refuge, could be released. The individual must remain within the city's bounds until they have been judged by the assembly, verifying the accidental nature of the killing. Furthermore, release is granted only upon the death of the High Priest officiating at that time. Upon the High Priest's death, the slayer is legally free to return to their ancestral home and property without fear of retribution from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20 6 Context

Joshua chapter 20 specifically details the establishment of the Cities of Refuge, fulfilling a command previously given by God through Moses in Numbers 35 and Deuteronomy 19. This verse comes directly after the listing of the six designated cities—three west and three east of the Jordan—emphasizing their sacred purpose and divine appointment. The broader context of Joshua includes the division of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, highlighting God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises. The institution of the Cities of Refuge underscores God's justice tempered with mercy, providing a structured legal pathway for protection against blood vengeance (a common practice in the ancient Near East) while still maintaining the sanctity of human life. It was a crucial part of Israel's divinely ordained judicial and social framework, distinguishing Israel from surrounding nations whose asylum practices might not have been rooted in a consistent moral or theological framework, serving as a direct polemic against chaotic or arbitrary forms of justice and retribution.

Joshua 20 6 Word analysis

• And he shall abide: (Hebrew: וְיָשַׁב, v'yashav) "To abide" here implies not just a temporary stay but a settled residence, a dwelling. The unintentional slayer must integrate into the community of the city of refuge as a resident. This is a secure dwelling, under God's protection.
• in that city: Refers specifically to one of the six designated Cities of Refuge, which were Levite cities. This implies that the slayer would live among priests and Levites, exposed to religious instruction and practices, further signifying God's structured provision.
• until he stand before the congregation: (Hebrew: עַד עָמְדוֹ לִפְנֵי הָעֵדָה, ad amdo lifnei ha-edah) This signifies a formal judicial process. "The congregation" (ha-edah) refers to the assembly of elders or judges who would hear the case of the slayer and determine if the killing was truly unintentional. This was not a re-trial for guilt but an inquiry into the nature of the act, establishing intent or lack thereof. This process ensures accountability and due process, differentiating Israel's law from arbitrary mob justice.
• for judgment: (Hebrew: לַמִּשְׁפָּט, la-mishpat) Refers to a legal ruling or decision regarding the culpability of the slayer, particularly distinguishing unintentional homicide from murder. The "judgment" here is to ascertain the fact of unintentionality, not to convict for intentional murder.
• and until the death of the high priest: (Hebrew: וְעַד מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל, v'ad mot ha-kohen ha-gadol) This is the critical, unique condition for release. The High Priest's life was intricately tied to the spiritual well-being of the entire nation and represented their corporate relationship with God, particularly through his role on the Day of Atonement. His death served as a national atonement, ritually cleansing the land and allowing the slayer's return. It was an act of grace tied to a specific spiritual office.
• that shall be in those days: Emphasizes that it is the death of the specific High Priest currently serving at the time of the incident, not a High Priest in general, which marks the term of refuge.
• then shall the slayer return: (Hebrew: וְשָׁב הָרֹצֵחַ, v'shav ha-rotzeakh) "The slayer" (ha-rotzeakh) in this context specifically denotes the one who committed unintentional homicide. The "return" (shav) signifies full restoration, not just freedom to leave, but to re-establish life and inheritance.
• and come unto his own city, and unto his own house: Full restoration to family, inheritance, and tribal land. This signifies the completion of the period of spiritual and legal limbo, highlighting God's provision for full societal reintegration.
• unto the city from whence he fled: Reinforces the specific origin and destination of the returning slayer, emphasizing the completion of the cycle of refuge and restoration.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And he shall abide in that city until he stand before the congregation for judgment": This phrase outlines the mandatory first stage of the refuge period. It emphasizes judicial accountability and community validation of the unintentional nature of the act. The presence of a public judgment distinguishes accidental killing from malicious murder, underscoring God's righteous standard of justice. It served to prevent abuse of the system by actual murderers and to reassure the avenger of blood that due process was followed.
• "and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days": This clause reveals the profoundly theological and symbolic nature of the release mechanism. The High Priest's death, serving as a vicarious atonement or symbolic expiation, released the involuntary slayer. This points to the concept of one's life (the High Priest's) paying a debt for another, foreshadowing the ultimate and complete atonement brought by the death of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, our great High Priest. His death sets all who take refuge in Him truly free from the ultimate avenger—sin and death.
• "then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house": This signifies the complete restoration of the unintentional slayer. It's not merely an escape from danger, but a return to full communal and familial rights and inheritance. This demonstrates God's mercy extending beyond bare legal requirements to provide full restitution for those under His protective laws. The restitution points to the full freedom and inheritance offered through Christ's redemptive work.

Joshua 20 6 Bonus section

The cities of refuge were all Levite cities (Jos 21), meaning the unintentional slayer, during their confinement, lived among those dedicated to the service of God and instruction in His law. This provided a structured environment for spiritual contemplation and learning during their period of exile. Some scholars also interpret the High Priest's death as a profound symbolic act, absorbing the 'guilt' or 'taint' of the blood spilled within the land. The inability to ransom oneself out of the city before the High Priest's death (Num 35:32) emphasizes that only a divinely appointed sacrificial "price" (the High Priest's life, in type) could atone and release, not mere human wealth. This system underlines the high value God places on human life and the spiritual consequence of even unintentional harm, highlighting the need for divine provision for restoration.

Joshua 20 6 Commentary

Joshua 20:6 encapsulates a crucial element of God's law for Israel: His perfect blend of justice and mercy. The Cities of Refuge ensured protection for the innocent while upholding the sanctity of life. The specified term of confinement—until the death of the High Priest—is unique and carries profound theological weight. The High Priest, through his sacrificial duties, stood as a mediator for the entire nation before God. His death symbolized a national expiation, providing a divine release for the unintentional slayer, signifying a new slate or the turning of a new era. This intricate provision illustrates that even unintentional shedding of blood required atonement. The ultimate fulfillment of this type is found in Jesus Christ, the perfect High Priest, whose sacrificial death offers a far greater, eternal refuge and complete liberation from the spiritual bondage of sin, allowing those who take refuge in Him to truly "return" to God and their eternal inheritance. This system also stood as a polemic against the uncontrolled practice of blood vengeance prevalent in the ancient world, establishing a regulated, God-ordained system of justice.