In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, and they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name. Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot. And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it. But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse thirteen of Joshua we learn how, “they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge” where we read,
Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs,
to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,
The verse reads, “Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest” which means “therefore they, the children of Israel, granted, bestowed and assigned to the offspring and progeny belonging to Aaron whose name means ‘light bringer’ and was the brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest and spiritual ruler and leader” “Hebron with her suburbs” or “Hebron whose name means ‘association’ and was a city in south Judah approximately twenty miles south of Jerusalem and approximately twenty miles (30 km) north of Beersheba and near where Abraham built an altar alongside and accompanied by her, Hebron’s, common and open country or pasture”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of “Israel” assigned to the offspring belonging to “Aaron who was the high priest and spiritual leader” “Hebron” accompanied by the open pasture lands that surrounded it.
The verse continues, “… to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “to be a city of refuge” which means “to exist as a dwelling place and place of wakening pertaining to asylum” “for the slayer” or “on behalf of the avenger, killer and one who puts to death another human being”; “and Libnah” whose name means “pavement” and was “a royal city of the Canaanites in the southwest captured by Joshua; allocated to Judah and made a Levitical city; site unknown” “with her suburbs” or “alongside and accompanied by her, Libnah’s, common an open country or pasture”. Joshua or the writer said “Hebron and Libnah” along with their pasture lands were to be dwelling places of asylum for the person who inadvertently kills another person.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how “Hebron and Libnah” accompanied by their open pastures were given to the offspring of “Aaron” who was the chief spiritual leader over “Israel”. God was providing the “cities of refuge” to the “Levites” through Joshua, and they were to be used by the person who inadvertently kills another person. God’s provision for accidental deaths was being addressed, and because we have “sin” in our lives that leads to death, (See Romans 3:23; 6:23) He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we surrender to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to live according to that truth to be His witnesses in the world. (See John 3:16:16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)
Next time we learn about, “Jattir” and “Eshtemoa””, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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