Dwelling Until Judgment - Joshua 20:6

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 if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime”, and in chapter twenty and verse six of Joshua we learn how the LORD told Joshua, “he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment” where we read, 

And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from where he fled.

The verse reads, “And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and he shall dwell in that city” which means “and he, the slayer, will live and abide within that dwelling place of refuge”, “until he stand before the congregation” or “till such time that he, the slayer, rises and appears in front and in the presence of the gathering, company or assembly” “for judgment” which means “on behalf of justice, ordinance and for the act of deciding a case”, “and until the death” or “and till such time of the expiration of life and cessation of breathing” “of the high priest” which means “belonging to the chief spiritual leader, principal and official” “that shall be in those days” or “who exists within the time period or season”. Joshua or the writer shared how the person who kills another person and runs to the “city of refuge” was to remain living there till such time as they were judged by the assembly and till the chief spiritual leader died.

 

The verse continues, “then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from where he fled.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “then shall the slayer return” which means “at that time will the killer whether by murder, premeditation or accident go or turn back”, “and come unto his own city” or “and enter or go forth to his, the slayer’s, own personal dwelling place or place of wakening”, “and unto his own house” which means “and to his, the slayer’s, own personal habitation or abode”, “unto the city” or “to the dwelling place or place of wakening” “from where he fled” which means “from which he, the slayer, took flight and ran away”. Joshua or the writer said the “slayer” would be able to go back to his own personal dwelling place and home from which he took flight after being judge by the assembly and when the chief “priest” died. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how there was order and justice to be carried out for the person who killed another person accidentally. The assembly would hear the case, and if it was determined that the death was not intentional, when the chief priest died, the person who killed another person would be able to return to their own dwelling place and home. Of course Jehovah God always knows the truth, and even when we have done wrong accidentally or intentionally, He gave the provision of His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of us all and raised Him from the dead after three days so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “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 give us refuge until we go to be in Heaven with Him. (See Psalm 23:6 46:1) 

Next time we learn how, “they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali”, 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".