With the entire land allotted to all the tribes, the Lord then gives further instructions to Joshua regarding cities of refuge (20:1–9). Cities of refuge are first mentioned in Exodus 21:12–13, with further instructions regarding them reported in Numbers 35:6–33 and Deuteronomy 19:1–13. These are essentially centers of asylum where individuals who have unintentionally killed another can go and seek protection from avengers. For ancient Israel allowed blood vengeance: a close relative of a murder victim could seek the life of the victim’s killer without such an act of vengeance being considered murder (cf. Num. 35:16–21, 27). But the law also distinguishes between premeditated murder and unintentional manslaughter; only those guilty of the former deserve death (Num. 35:16–25; Deut. 19:4–6,…