Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 20:2
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spoke unto you by the hand of Moses:
2. cities of refuge ] “The cityes of fugityues,” Wyclif. Prior to the Mosaic age, it was required of the nearest of kin, as a matter of duty, to avenge the death of a slain relative. He was called the Goel or Avenger, and together with his office inherited the property of the deceased. Sometimes a whole family took upon them this duty (2Sa 14:7). Among the Arab tribes of the present day, “any bloodshed whatever, whether wilful or accidental, laid the homicide open to the duteous revenge of the relatives and family of the slain person, who again in their turn were then similarly watched and hunted by the opposite party, until a family war of extermination had legally settled itself from generation to generation, without the least prospect of a peaceful termination.” It was the aim of the Mosaic Law, without altogether abolishing this long-established custom, to mitigate its evils as far as possible.
whereof I spake unto you ] The general directions on this subject will be found in ( a) Exo 21:13; ( b) Num 35:9 ff.; ( c) Deu 19:2. The reference to them here is one of the numerous instances in which the book of Joshua presupposes the existence of the Pentateuch.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. Cities of refuge] An institution of this kind was essentially necessary wherever the patriarchal law relative to the right of redemption and the avenging of blood was in force; we have already seen that the nearest of kin to a deceased person had not only the right of redeeming an inheritance that had been forfeited or alienated, but had also authority to slay on the spot the person who had slain his relative. Now, as a man might casually kill another against whom he had no ill-will, and with whom he had no quarrel, and might have his life taken away by him who was called the avenger of blood, though he had not forfeited his life to the law; therefore these privileged cities were appointed, where the person might have protection till the cause had been fully heard by the magistrates, who certainly had authority to deliver him up to the avenger, if they found, on examination, that he was not entitled to this protection. On this subject see the notes on Nu 35:11 to the end.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The possessions being now divided among you, do you reserve some of them for the use which I have commanded.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Speak to the children of Israel, saying,…. Whom the affair concerned the Lord spake to Joshua about, they having now the whole land divided among them:
appoint out for you cities of refuge; of the name, nature, use, and number of these cities, [See comments on Nu 35:6];
whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: Nu 35:1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“Handfuls of Purpose”
For All Gleaners
“Appoint out for you cities of refuge.” Jos 20:2
The law in Numbers xxxv. appointed that the Levites should have six cities of refuge and forty-two others. The law of the cities of refuge is given in full in Num 35 and Deu 19 All cities should be cities of refuge. How great the number of the inhabitants, and how well-organised the institutions; how fitting, then, that the young and the inexperienced should find refuge in such highly-civilised asylums. The city is an aggregation of homes, and should surely bring the home feeling into wandering and aching hearts. Is not the city crowded with churches? And are there not in them men of God appointed to preach the great Gospel which was meant to heal the dying life of man? All these reflections suggest the gracious thought of refuge. Where men are few it would appear as if the soul were more exposed to assault. Solitude has dangers peculiar to itself. When the young life is hidden amongst ten thousand times ten thousand others, surely it ought to feel a sense of security, because in such a number the spirit and genius of brotherhood should be developed and crowned. Consider what libraries there are in the city; how rich in literary treasure; how impossible is solitude in the midst of such eloquent silence. Is not a library itself a city of refuge? May not wandering thoughts be stayed amid all its treasures of learning and language? Who can be lonely in any sense of desolateness who has access to a library? Whilst all this is pictorially true, consider how different is the melancholy fact. The city is full of trapdoors opening upon perdition. Count the number of its inns, places of harmful amusement, people devoted to what has now become the fine art of knavery, sharp practice, and all manner of delusion. Consider how the net is spread even in the sight of the bird, and the snare is laid on the open ground. Compare a city as it might be with a city as it is, and see how steady and tremendous has been the process of degradation and corruption. It has pleased God to represent his Church and kingdom under the image of a city. We read in the Psalms of “the city of God.” Heaven is represented as a city whose walls are jasper and whose streets are gold. This would seem to be a restoration of the ideal city. It is a mistake to suppose that a city is bad simply because it is a city. Association, companionship, interchange of opinion, the commingling of trusts and stewardships, ought all to combine to constitute an idea of commonwealth, brotherhood, and home. In proportion as the city is really bad, the Church should take care to provide refuges from all its malicious pursuers and an answer to all its seductive appeals. Let there be a city within a city, the city of God within the city of destruction.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
Jos 20:2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
Ver. 2. Speak unto the children of Israel. ] They had been spoken to before by Moses to do thus but made no haste to do it: such is men’s slackness in procuring the good of others.
Appoint out for you cities of refuge.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
children = sons.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Appoint: Exo 21:13, Exo 21:14, Num 35:6, Num 35:11-14, Deu 4:41-43, Deu 19:2-13, Rom 8:1, Rom 8:33, Rom 8:34, Heb 6:18, Heb 6:19
you refuge: Num 35:15-24