◄ Joshua 20:9 ►
These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 20:9? 2. How does Joshua 20:9 illustrate God's provision for justice and mercy? 3. What role do cities of refuge play in promoting community safety and fairness? 4. How can we apply the concept of refuge in our modern justice system? 5. How does Joshua 20:9 connect with God's laws in Exodus and Numbers? 6. How can believers today offer refuge and support to those seeking justice? 7. What is the significance of cities of refuge in Joshua 20:9 for justice and mercy? 8. How does Joshua 20:9 reflect God's provision for accidental killers? 9. Why were both Israelites and foreigners included in the protection of Joshua 20:9? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 20? 11. Who is the Avenger of Blood in the Bible? 12. How plausible is it that the avenger of blood system (Numbers 35:19) was enforced fairly in the context of ancient Near Eastern tribal justice? 13. How does the system of protection for manslaughter in Joshua 20:1-6 align or conflict with other Mosaic laws on homicide and justice? 14. Why is there no conclusive archaeological evidence for the six cities of refuge (Numbers 35:9-15) if they were central to Israelite legal practice? Discussion Questions 1. How do the cities of refuge reflect God's character in terms of justice and mercy? 2. In what ways does the provision for foreigners in the cities of refuge challenge us to think about inclusivity in our communities today? 3. How can the concept of the avenger of blood be understood in the context of modern justice systems? 4. What parallels can we draw between the cities of refuge and the refuge we find in Christ? 5. How can we, as a community of believers, ensure that we are upholding justice and mercy in our interactions with others? Joshua 20 Bible Study Questions 1. How does the establishment of the cities of refuge reflect God's justice and mercy? 2. What can modern societies learn from the concept of a city of refuge? 3. How does the concept of the avenger of blood compare to our current understanding of justice? 4. How does the city elders' role in accepting the manslayer reflect community responsibility? 5. Why was it necessary for the manslayer to stay in the city until the death of the high priest? 6. How do the cities of refuge promote fairness and prevent vengeance? 7. What significance does the equal treatment of Israelites and foreigners in these cities carry for us today? 8. How can the idea of cities of refuge inform our views on refugee and asylum policies today? 9. How does the mandate of standing trial before an assembly uphold the principle of public accountability? 10. How does the concept of cities of refuge contrast with current penal systems and concepts of justice? 11. What can we learn from the cities of refuge about God's protection and providence? 12. How might the concept of cities of refuge guide us in dealing with people who have made 1. mistakes in our own lives? 13. Why do you think the death of the high priest was chosen as the time when the manslayer could return home? 14. In what ways does the instruction for establishing cities of refuge show God's foresight and wisdom? 15. How does the concept of refuge resonate with the broader Biblical theme of God being our refuge? 16. How does this system ensure that the punishment is proportional to the crime committed? 17. How does the process of a fugitive presenting his case to the city elders highlight the importance of listening and understanding in our relationships today? 18. Why do you think these specific cities were chosen as cities of refuge? 19. How does the process of designating cities of refuge demonstrate faith in action? 20. In what ways can we create metaphorical 'cities of refuge' in our personal lives and communities today? Links Joshua 20:9 NIV Joshua 20:9 NLT Joshua 20:9 ESV Joshua 20:9 NASB Joshua 20:9 KJV Joshua 20:9 Commentaries Bible Hub