Joshua 21:21 Meaning and Explanation
“For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →They give the Kohathites Shechem in the hills of Ephraim as a city of refuge, along with Gezer.
What Does Joshua 21:21 Mean?
Shechem, deep in Ephraim's hill country, becomes a city of refuge. This was holy ground, where Abraham first built an altar and where Joshua would gather Israel to renew the covenant; now it shelters the endangered manslayer.
A place heavy with covenant memory is also a place of mercy for the desperate. The town where promises were renewed is also where the fleeing find safety. So the ground of God's covenant and the ground of His refuge are one and the same, both pointing to the shelter He provides.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 21:21
What does Joshua 21:21 mean?
They give the Kohathites Shechem in the hills of Ephraim as a city of refuge, along with Gezer.