1 The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,
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:
3 That the slayer that killeth [any] person unawares [and] unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
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.
5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, [and] until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which [is] Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth [any] person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
Versículos relacionados com Joshua, 20:
Joshua chapter 20 deals with the institution of the cities of refuge in Israel, places where a person who had killed someone without intention could take refuge and have protection against the victim's family revenge. These cities should be strategically located so that they could easily be achieved by anyone looking for protection. Following are five verses related to the theme of the selected chapters of other books of the Bible:
Deuteronomy 4:41-42: "Then Moses separated three cities east of the Jordan River, where he could escape those who killed someone without intention. Whoever killed someone without intention and fled to one of these cities would live." This verse talks about choosing the cities of refuge for Moses before his death, as a measure of justice and protection for those who killed unintentionally.
Numbers 35:6: "The six cities you give will be cities of refuge, where you can escape those who kill someone without intention." This verse talks about the number of cities of refuge that should be established in Israel and the importance of having them available throughout the territory.
Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and our fortress, aid always present in adversity." This verse talks about the protection and refuge God offers in difficult times and can be applied to the cities of refuge in Israel as a symbol of divine protection.
Proverbs 18:10: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to her and are safe." This verse also talks about the protection and security offered by the name of God and can be applied to the institution of the cities of refuge in Israel.
Isaiah 25:4: "For you have a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their affliction, a shelter against the storm and a shelter against the heat." This verse talks about God as a refuge for those who suffer and can be applied to the institution of the cities of refuge in Israel as a reflection of God's compassion for those who need protection.
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