Guiding Questions: Joshua 20

Exploring Judaism

This is part of the Tanakh Yomi Project.

What is the concept of the “blood redeemer”? Was there no judiciary? No “police force”? Why would a “guiltless person” (that is, one who caused the death of another entirely in error) be compelled to flee from the “blood redeemer”?
According to Joshua 20:6, how long did the killer by error (note the term “rotzayah” which implies murder, irrespective of the accidental nature of same) — remain in the city of sanctuary? Was it until judgment?
Or was it until the death of the “high priest”?
And, according to this chapter, were the cities of refuge only for the Israelites or could others take advantage of their protection?

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Exploring Judaism

Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).
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Perek Yomi materials originally produced by the USCJ and Dr. Morton K. Siegel.
We are grateful to be able to share this material.

Author

Exploring Judaism

Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

Post categories: Joshua, Neviim (Prophets), Tanakh Yomi, Torah

Post tags: Joshua 20, Perek Yomi (USCJ)

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Exploring Judaism is a home for the TorahRefers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, also called the Five Books of Moses, Pentateuch or the Hebrew equivalent, Humash. This is also called the Written Torah. The term may also refer to teachings that expound on Jewish tradition. of Conservative Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. There is always something to learn and explore.