Joshua 20 recounts for us an action that speaks to a shift in the understanding of justice for the Hebrew people. Originally the basic eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, life for a life was the guiding principle in all matters. Here we see that God distinguishes a killing that was intentional from one that was accidental. For us, that seems to be an obvious distinction but in that culture, the oldest male relative was bound by law to seek out lifeblood for lifeblood. In other words, he was to kill the person responsible for his relative's death, whether intentional or not.This provision of cities of refuge enabled one who had killed accidentally to be protected against revenge until a trial could determine his guilt. Here we see a step from justice toward mercy. In time .... there will be an even bigger step ... from mercy to grace. Keep reading ....Blessings and love, Pastor Jan.