Cities Appointed for All the Children of Israel - Joshua 20:9

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “the LORD also spoke unto Joshua, saying, speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge”, on behalf of a person who kills another person without prior malice, … “and on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh”, and in chapter twenty and verse nine of Joshua we learn how, “these were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger” where we read, 

These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourns among them, that whosoever kills any person at unawares might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.

The verse reads, “These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourns among them,” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “these were the cities” which means “the following existed as the dwelling places or places of wakening” “appointed for all the children of Israel” or “chosen and designated on behalf of each, every and the whole of the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails” and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “and for the stranger” which means “and on behalf of the sojourner, newcomer and foreigner” “that sojourns among them” or “who abides, dwells, remains and gathers in the midst and middle of them, the children of Israel”. Joshua or the writer shared how the previously named “cities of refuge” were chosen on behalf of the offspring of “Israel” and foreigners who were to live in their midst. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “that whosoever kills any person at unawares might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “that whosoever kills any person at unawares” which means “so whatever person who slays any human being without knowledge, understanding, inadvertently or in ignorance” “might flee there” or “would be able to take flight, run and hurry there, the city of refuge”, “and not die” which means “and in no way or manner be killed, executed or put to death” “by the hand of the avenger of blood” or “through the means of the power, might and ability belonging to the kinsman-redeemer or revenger pertaining to bloodshed”, “until he stood before the congregation” which means “till such time he, the slayer, arose and was established in front of and in the presence of the assembly or gathering”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “cities of refuge” were appointed on behalf of the person who killed another person inadvertently so they could take flight to those locations and avoid being killed by a kinsman revenger till such time that they were brought to trial for the slaying. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn that the “cities of refuge” were chosen not only for the people of “Israel”, but also for people who were foreigners in the midst of them. Should a person kill another person inadvertently, they could run to these “cities”, plead their cause and avoid being killed by the kinsman revenger until they were tried for their situation. God knows we have all sinned and come short of His glory, (See Romans 3:23) and those sins lead to death. (See Romans 6:23) He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be resurrected from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and help us to rely upon Him as our “refuge” regardless of what comes into our lives. (See Psalm 24;2; John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time we begin a new chapter learn, “then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest”, 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".