Joshua 20 Bible Study Guide — Summary, Themes & Outline
Joshua 20 records the designation of six cities of refuge, three on each side of the Jordan. These cities provided protection for someone who killed a person unintentionally, allowing them to stand trial rather than being killed by the avenger of blood. The chapter is brief but theologically rich, establishing a system that balances the sanctity of life with the provision of mercy.
Numbers 35 Bible Study Guide — Summary, Themes & Outline
Numbers 35 gives the Levites forty-eight cities and carves out six of them as refuge for the person who kills without intent. The chapter grounds that care in something larger: the land is holy because Yahweh dwells in it, so blood shed there must be answered with justice, not convenience.