It impresses me how often the topic of cities of refuge or asylum for those guilty of manslaughter occur in the early books of the Bible. I can only presume that manslaughter was prevalent at the time! For as in Numbers 35:6, 9-34; Deuteronomy 4:41-43; Deuteronomy 19:1-13, so Joshua 20 is devoted to this matter.
Joshua again summarizes the designation of 6 cities as cities of refuge or asylum where those who killed somebody accidentally would be safeguarded against the "avenger of blood" who would be a relative of the deceased who was authorized to seek retribution. The designated cities were Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Ramoth, Golan and Bezer. These cities offered a safe haven for those guilty of manslaughter.
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