Joshua 20: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Joshua 20 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Yahweh spoke to Joshua, giving him specific instructions about the cities of refuge. He told Joshua to assign these cities as places for the man slayer who kills someone accidentally. The cities would be refuge from the avenger of blood (vv.

Key verse

“He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days. Then the man slayer shall return, and come to his own city, and to his own house, to the city he fled from.’”
Joshua 20:6 (WEB)

Outline

Joshua 20:1–2 God's Instruction on Cities of Refuge
Joshua 20:3–5 Purpose and Protection for the Accidental Slayer
Joshua 20:6–8 The Designation of Specific Cities
Joshua 20:9 Final Affirmation of the Cities' Role

Discussion questions

In v2, what specific instruction does Yahweh give to Joshua regarding the cities?
What purpose for the cities of refuge is stated in v3?
In v5, why does the text specify that the act was 'unintentional' in relation to the man slayer?
In v6, what does the phrase 'until he stands before the congregation for judgment' imply about the process of justice?
When have you felt the need for 'refuge' from situations or people in your life?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Joshua 20: Numbers 35, Joshua 21, 1 Chronicles 6.

Before next time: read Joshua 21.