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  1. יהושוע כ:ט
  2. אֵלֶּה הָיוּ עָרֵי הַמּוּעָדָה לְכֹל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלַגֵּר הַגָּר בְּתוֹכָם לָנוּס שָׁמָּה כָּל מַכֵּה נֶפֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָה וְלֹא יָמוּת בְּיַד גֹּאֵל הַדָּם עַד עָמְדוֹ לִפְנֵי הָעֵדָה:
    Those were the towns designated for all the Israelites and for aliens residing among them, to which anyone who killed a person unintentionally might flee, and not die by the hand of the blood avenger before standing trial by the assembly. [JPS translation]

  3. Suggested Discussion Questions:

    1. Why were these cities of refuge designated?

    2. In what way is having a city of refuge like this an act of social justice?

    3. Does everyone deserve a fair trial? Why? Why not?

    4. Why do you think cities of refugee instituted, as opposed to prohibiting the institution of the blood avenger (a family member who had the right to kill the manslaughterer)?

  4. Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)