Chapter commentary
Joshua Chapter 20
1
Jos 20:1-6.
English original
Jos 20:1-6.
THE LORD COMMANDS THE CITIES OF REFUGE.
1-3. The Lord spake unto Joshua . . . Appoint out for you cities of refuge--(See
Nu 35:9-28; De 19:1-13).
The command here recorded was given on their going to occupy their allotted settlements. The sanctuaries were not temples or altars, as in other countries, but inhabited cities; and the design was not to screen criminals, but only to afford the homicide protection from the vengeance of the deceased's relatives until it should have been ascertained whether the death had resulted from accident and momentary passion, or from premeditated malice. The institution of the cities of refuge, together with the rules prescribed for the guidance of those who sought an asylum within their walls, was an important provision, tending to secure the ends of justice as well as of mercy.
4
Untitled
4. 那逃到逃城的人，要站在城門口——城門口是公眾聚集之所，他到了那裏，便將自己遭難的經歷向長老陳明；長老有義務收留他，供給他養生之需，直等到地方官長
(書 20:6)
仔細查明案情、作出判決為止。若查明確有罪，誤殺人者便被交在報血仇的人手中；若情有可原，他就可以留在逃城之內，得以脫離追趕者復仇的毒手；但他一旦冒險越出城牆，便喪失了這免死的特權。
English original
4. he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city--It was the place of public resort, and on arriving there he related his tale of distress to the elders, who were bound to give him shelter and the means of support, until the local authorities
(Jos 20:6),
having carefully investigated the case, should have pronounced the decision. If found guilty, the manslayer was surrendered to the blood-avenger; if extenuating circumstances appeared, he was to remain in the city of refuge, where he would be safe from the vindictive feelings of his pursuers; but he forfeited the privilege of immunity the moment he ventured beyond the walls.
6
Untitled
6. 等到大祭司死了——大祭司的死使誤殺人者從其罪中得著完全的釋放，只因他曾受聖膏油所膏
(民 35:25)，
那是聖靈的象徵；因此地上大祭司的死，便成了天上大祭司之死的預表
(來 9:14、15)。
English original
6. until the death of the high priest--His death secured the complete deliverance of the manslayer from his sin, only because he had been anointed with the holy oil
(Nu 35:25),
the symbol of the Holy Ghost; and thus the death of the earthly high priest became a type of that of the heavenly one
(Heb 9:14, 15).
7
Jos 20:7-9.
書 20:7-9。
以色列人按名設立逃城
7-9. 他們就設立……城邑——共有六座；約旦河西三座，河東三座。這些城首先乃是希伯來人刑律上的一種安排，因這百姓的特殊情形而不可或缺
(參
民 35:11；
申 19:2)。
同時，這些城在預表上也用以指明罪人歸向基督的道路
(來 6:18)。
English original
Jos 20:7-9.
THE ISRAELITES APPOINT BY NAME THE CITIES OF REFUGE.
7-9. they appointed . . . cities--There were six; three on the west, and three on the east, of Jordan. In the first instance, they were a provision of the criminal law of the Hebrews, necessary in the circumstances of that people (see on
Nu 35:11;
De 19:2).
At the same time they were designed also typically to point out the sinner's way to Christ
(Heb 6:18).
書 20:1-6。
主吩咐設立逃城
1-3. 耶和華曉諭約書亞說……你要設立逃城——
(參
民 35:9-28；
申 19:1-13)。
此處所記的命令，是在他們將要進入所分地業時頒下的。這些庇護所並非像別國那樣的廟宇或祭壇，而是有人居住的城；其用意不是為庇護罪犯，而是為使誤殺人者得著保護，免遭死者親屬的報復，直到查明那死亡是出於意外和一時的衝動，還是出於蓄意的惡念。逃城的設立，以及為尋求庇護之人所定的規則，乃是一項重要的安排，既能確保公義，也能確保憐憫。