Joshua 20:4 “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.”
God displays His character in every action and instruction.
In this case, His mercy was built into the plans for Israel.
These cities of refuge display His concern for justice.
In a sinful culture, the accused are sometimes immediately condemned, with no regard as to their actual guilt or innocence.
This refuge was meant for those who may have inadvertently killed someone or committed manslaughter.
God chose to grant them a place of safety and fair trial.
They would have to sit before the congregation to be judged (see the next two verses), but God gave the people a system within which they could operate, maintaining a Godly level of due process.
His wise and equitable guidelines serve as a model for many of today’s justice systems around the world.
Joshua 20:4 “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.”