Joshua 20:3

Unawares and unwittingly. Literally, “by mistake in not knowing.” Num. 35:22-25 and Deut. 19:4, 5, supply illustrations of what is meant here. These terms stand in general for unpremeditated acts that resulted in the death of an individual. The willful murderer, even if he should seek protection in one of these cities, was, after examination, to be promptly punished. God had declared that such should be taken even from His altar, that they might be executed (Ex. 21:14).

Avenger of blood. In the KJV whenever this word go’ el, “avenger,” in its participial form, as here, appears with the word “blood,” it is translated “avenger,” or “revenger,” but in all other cases it is translated “redeemer,” “kinsman,” “near kinsman,” “next kinsman,” “kinsfolk.” This word occurs in such texts as Job 19:25; Isa. 47:4; 48:17; 54:5, in reference to the Lord. To the Hebrew mind such a designation of God would call attention to the work of the kinsman in his right of redemption (see on Num. 35:12). To what extent the figure is to be transferred to Christ is not made clear. The cities of refuge themselves were a symbol of the refuge provided in Christ (PP 516).