In the ancient world, blood revenge was widely practised. When a person was killed, his nearest relative took responsibility for vengeance. This rite of vendetta was often handed down from one generation to the next, with one act of revenge provoking another in turn. As a result, an increasing number of people died violently. This was why places of refuge were needed in ancient Israel.

After apportioning territory to all the tribes, Joshua now turns his focus to the Lord God's commands to designate six cities of refuge (Joshua 20:1-9). This careful distribution of cities throughout the nation of Israel ensures that anyone guilty of accidental manslaughter can flee to a city of refuge quickly.

Three of these cities lie west of the Jordan River, and form a fairly straight line north to south along a major trade route (v. 7). Kedesh is in the land of Naphtali, north of the Sea of Galilee; Shechem is in Ephraim; and Hebron is in Judah, west of the Dead Sea and south of Jerusalem.

The other three cities lie east of the Jordan River, and also follow another major trade route (v. 8). Bezer is in Reuben, east of the northern end of the Dead Sea, where the Jordan River ends; Ramoth is in Gad; and Golan is in East Manasseh, east of the southern end of the Sea of Galilee.

God is using these six cities of refuge to impress on Israel the sanctity of human life. To put an end to a person's life–even if unintentionally–is a serious thing, and the cities of refuge underscore this emphatically.

What's more, these cities of refuge also vividly illustrate the Lord's readiness to protect and forgive His people–including you and me. He did so ultimately through Jesus Christ's saving work on the cross for us and for our sins (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; 1 Peter 2:24).