Joshua 20:1
New International Version
Then the LORD said to Joshua:

New Living Translation
The LORD said to Joshua,

English Standard Version
Then the LORD said to Joshua,

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Joshua,

King James Bible
The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,

New King James Version
The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying,

New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,

NASB 1995
Then the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,

NASB 1977
Then the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,

Amplified Bible
The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,

Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD spoke to Joshua,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD spoke to Joshua, “

American Standard Version
And Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,

Contemporary English Version
One day the LORD told Joshua:

English Revised Version
And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said to Joshua,

Good News Translation
Then the LORD told Joshua

International Standard Version
Then the LORD told Joshua,

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Joshua,

NET Bible
The LORD instructed Joshua:

New Heart English Bible
The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,

Webster's Bible Translation
The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying,

World English Bible
Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH speaks to Joshua, saying,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah speaketh unto Joshua, saying,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will speak to Joshua, saying,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord spoke to Josue, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: “Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them:

New American Bible
The LORD said to Joshua:

New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THEN the LORD said to Joshua,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to Yeshua
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD spoke unto Joshua, saying:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Six Cities of Refuge
1Then the LORD said to Joshua, 2“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,…

Cross References
Numbers 35:9-15
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, / designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. ...

Deuteronomy 19:1-13
When the LORD your God has cut off the nations whose land He is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their cities and houses, / then you are to set apart for yourselves three cities within the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess. / You are to build roads for yourselves and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that any manslayer can flee to these cities. ...

Exodus 21:12-14
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. / If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. / But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

Hebrews 6:18
Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

Acts 17:30-31
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. / For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

Psalm 46:1
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

Isaiah 4:6
a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain.

1 Chronicles 6:57-60
So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, / Hilen, Debir, / Ashan, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh, together with their pasturelands. ...

Leviticus 25:32-34
As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the cities they possess. / So whatever belongs to the Levites may be redeemed—a house sold in a city they possess—and must be released in the Jubilee, because the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the Israelites. / But the open pastureland around their cities may not be sold, for this is their permanent possession.

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:24
So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. / Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

John 10:28-29
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. / My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.


Treasury of Scripture

The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying,

spake

Joshua 5:14
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

Joshua 6:2
And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

Joshua 7:10
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?

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Joshua Speaketh
Joshua 20
1. God commands
7. and the children of Israel appoint the six cities of refuge














Then the LORD said to Joshua,
*Biblical Context:* This phrase introduces a divine command, indicating that the instructions come directly from God. Throughout the book of Joshua, God frequently communicates with Joshua, guiding him as the leader of Israel after Moses' death. This divine communication underscores Joshua's role as God's chosen leader to fulfill His promises to Israel.

*Historical and Cultural Context:* Joshua was the successor of Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land. The context here is the period after the conquest of Canaan, where the land is being distributed among the tribes of Israel. The establishment of cities of refuge, which is the subject of the following verses, is part of the legal and societal structure God is instituting for His people.

*Connections to Other Scripture:* This phrase echoes the frequent communication between God and His leaders throughout the Old Testament, such as with Moses (Exodus 3:4) and later with prophets like Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4). It highlights the continuity of God's guidance and the importance of obedience to His commands.

*Types of Jesus Christ:* Joshua is often seen as a type of Christ, as his name in Hebrew, Yehoshua, is the same as Jesus in Greek. Just as Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land, Jesus leads believers into the spiritual rest and inheritance promised by God. This divine communication can be seen as a foreshadowing of the intimate relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ, who often spoke of doing the will of His Father (John 5:19).

*Prophecy:* While not a direct prophecy, the establishment of cities of refuge, which follows this command, can be seen as a prophetic symbol of Christ as our refuge and sanctuary, providing safety and salvation for those who seek Him.
Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who communicates His will and guidance to His people.

2. Joshua
The leader of Israel after Moses, tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land and establishing God's laws and commands.

3. Cities of Refuge
Although not mentioned directly in this verse, the context of Joshua 20 involves the establishment of cities of refuge, which were designated places for those who committed unintentional manslaughter to seek asylum.
Teaching Points
Divine Guidance
God actively communicates with His people, providing direction and instruction. We should seek His guidance in our daily lives through prayer and Scripture.

Leadership and Obedience
Joshua exemplifies faithful leadership by obeying God's commands. As believers, we are called to lead others by following God's Word and setting a godly example.

Justice and Mercy
The cities of refuge illustrate God's balance of justice and mercy. We are called to uphold justice while extending mercy and grace to others.

God's Provision
Just as God provided cities of refuge for the Israelites, He provides spiritual refuge for us in Christ. We can find safety and peace in Him amidst life's challenges.Verse 1. - Cities of refuge. The original is more definite, the cities of refuge. So LXX. Whereof I spake to you. In Exodus 21:13; Numbers 35:9; Deuteronomy 19:2. Here, again, Joshua is represented as aware of the existence of the Pentateuch. It must, therefore, have existed in something like its present shape when the Book of Joshua was written. The words are partly quoted from Numbers and partly from Deuteronomy; another proof that these books were regarded as constituting one law, from the "hand of Moses," when Joshua was written.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

said
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Joshua,
יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites


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OT History: Joshua 20:1 Yahweh spoke to Joshua saying (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 19:51
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