Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 20:4
And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
4. shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city ] not i.e. outside the gate of the city, but in the forum, or public place of judgment. Comp. Rth 4:1-2.
in the ears of the elders of that city ] Before the fugitive could avail himself of the shelter conceded by the laws, he was to undergo a solemn trial, and make it appear to the satisfaction of the magistrates of the place (“the aldren of the citie,” Wyclif), where the homicide was committed, that it was purely accidental.
and give him a place ] If he succeeded in so doing, the elders were to “give him a place,” i.e. receive him into the protection of the city, and permit him to reside there.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
As soon as the manslayer presented himself at the city of refuge, the elders of the city were to hold an inquiry, and receive him provisionally into the city. Afterward, when the avenger of blood should have tracked his victim to the city, and appear to claim him, a more formal and thorough investigation Jos 20:6 was to be made. Consult the marginal references.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The judges used to sit
at the entering of the gate. His cause, or, his matters or business, what he hath done, and why, and how; he shall give them a true relation of the fact, and all its circumstances.
They shall take him into the city; understand, if they are satisfied in the relation he makes concerning the fact, otherwise it had been a vain thing to examine his cause.
Give him a place; which they might well allow him, because God gave them the city with a reservation for such persons.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. he that doth flee unto one ofthose cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the cityItwas the place of public resort, and on arriving there he related histale of distress to the elders, who were bound to give him shelterand the means of support, until the local authorities (Jos20:6), having carefully investigated the case, should havepronounced the decision. If found guilty, the manslayer wassurrendered to the blood-avenger; if extenuating circumstancesappeared, he was to remain in the city of refuge, where he would besafe from the vindictive feelings of his pursuers; but he forfeitedthe privilege of immunity the moment he ventured beyond the walls.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities,…. Any one of them, that was nearest to him:
shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city; for he might not rush in without leave:
and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city; lay before them the whole matter, how that he had killed a person unawares, by what means it came about, and that it was merely through error, without any malicious design, and was a mere accident:
they shall take him into the city unto them; directly, lest the avenger of blood should come and seize on him, and kill him; and they were to take him into the city, not only to prevent that, but to examine him still more closely about the matter, and get further satisfaction; and being satisfied, were to continue him in it:
and give him a place, that he might dwell among them; until his death, or the death of the high priest, if that was first. Kimchi observes from their Rabbins, the he was not to hire a house all the time of his dwelling there, but was to have one freely, because it is said, “and give him”, &c.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. Gate of the city The tribunal of justice, the forum, was at the city gate. The refugee was not kept out of the city till his innocence was proved, but he was permitted to enter, and to relate his cause, and to receive the protection of the city, for this is the meaning of the clause, they shall take him into the city unto them. He must at the earliest possible moment be recognized as a fugitive, or the purpose of his flight may be defeated. This recognition he is entitled to have till his case can be examined by the local authorities. The Rabbins relate how every possible facility was to be afforded to the refugee. “The roads to these cities were to be kept in good repair; no hillock was left, no river nor stream was allowed over which there was not a bridge; the road was to be at least thirty-two cubits broad, (three rods,) and every kind of obstruction was to be removed that might hurt the foot or hinder the speed of the fugitive. At every turning or branching of roads posts were erected bearing the words, REFUGE! REFUGE! to guide the fugitive in his flight; so benign and considerate was the provision made for the benefit of the accidental slayer of his fellow-man.” Bush. Infinitely greater pains has God taken to lead guilty souls to the refuge of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. He has opened this refuge, built a highway to it from every human soul, sent his Spirit to enlighten every eye, and his heralds to cry in every ear, “This is the way; walk ye therein.” This way is not for the innocent but for the guilty.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And he shall flee to one of those cities, and shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city and declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, and they shall take him into the city to them, and give him a place, that he might dwell among them.’
The man seeking refuge would come to the gate of the city. It was in the square just inside the gate that all official public activity took place for it was the public meeting place. There the elders of the city would hear his case, and if they were satisfied that the man appeared innocent of deliberate murder, they would allow him in to take refuge there, and provide somewhere for him to live. It would appear that houses were assigned in such cities for such occasions.
The ‘elders of the city’ were the ruling men of the city who were also responsible for justice. They were usually, although not always, older men. They were always men of recognised status.
“They shall take him into the city to them.” The verb is used of a wife being taken into a home (2Sa 11:27), and a forsaken child being taken in by God (Psa 27:10). It contains an element of welcome and protection.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Those instructions are again repeated, which we find in Deu 19:1-7 , as if the Holy Ghost was pleased to have this important subject very clearly to be understood. I beg the Reader not to overlook that feature in it, which speaks of the death of the High Priest. Here we find that by the death of the High Priest, the poor captive got his freedom, and was permitted to return to his own city. Reader! was it not the death of thy High Priest and sacrifice that procured thy ransom? Did not our Jesus, liberate all his people in the day he died on the cross? And before that glorious moment was not his intentional offering of himself, as the lamb slain, from the foundation of the world, the grand cause wherefore the souls of his people, though kept in captivity, as in the city of refuge, from the avenger of blood, were kept by grace, and saved from everlasting destruction? Oh! thou dearest Jesus! how precious dost thou appear as the city of refuge to my soul, from all the avenging pursuits of my own guilty conscience, and the terrors of a broken law! And how delightful doth thy everlasting priesthood become, in that thou ever livest, and the efficacy of thy salvation remaineth; while the Jewish High Priests continued not by reason of death, thou hast an unchangeable Priesthood, and therefore art able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by thee. Heb 7:23-25 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 20:4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
Ver. 4. And when he that doth flee unto one of these cities. ] Which were to be cities of Levites, who were presumed to be both wise and merciful men, and such as would not favour wilful offenders. These cities also were to be at a just distance, that the party might repair thereunto from all parts in due time. And lastly, a way thereunto was to be paved, and marks of direction set up, as some note from Deu 19:2-3 .
They shall take him into the city unto them.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
at the entering: Rth 4:1, Rth 4:2, Job 5:4, Job 29:7, Pro 31:23, Jer 38:7
take: Psa 26:9
that he may: Heb 6:18
Reciprocal: Exo 33:21 – place by Num 35:12 – until he stand Jos 20:9 – until he stood
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 20:4. The gate Where the judges used to sit. His cause Shall give them a true relation of the fact, and all its circumstances. They shall take him If they are satisfied in the relation he makes concerning the fact, otherwise it had been a vain thing to examine. Give a place Which they might well allow him, because God gave them the city with a reservation for such persons.