Protecting accidental killers from avengers
1When Israel finished dividing the land, the LORD talked to Joshua: 2“I want you to tell the people it’s time to decide which cities will become cities of safe haven. Earlier, I had Moses tell you about these cities. [1] 3These are towns where people can find safety after they accidentally kill someone. If the killer says it was an accident and not murder, then the city will protect the killer from the avenging family.Advice: turn yourself in
4Here’s what people should do when they accidentally kill someone. They should go to one of the cities of safe haven and turn themselves in. They should do this wherever city leaders meet each day. It’s often at the entrance gate into the city. 5If family or friends of the victim show up, hoping to avenge the death, don’t give them the killer. The killer says the death was accidental. 6The city should allow the killer to live in safety until the trial. And if found innocent of murder, the killer should stay in the city until the death of the high priest. [2] Only then can the killer return safely home.”Six cities of safety
7Here are the three cities of safe haven for tribes west of the Jordan River:- Kedesh. It’s in Naphtali’s tribe, in the region of Galilee.
- Shechem. Ephraim’s tribe, in the hill country.
- Hebron. Judah’s tribe, in the hill country. It’s also called Kiriath-arba.
- Bezer. Reuben’s tribe, in the desert plains.
- Ramoth. Gad’s tribe, in the region of Gilead.
- Golan. Eastern half of Manasseh’s tribe, in the territory of Bashan.
