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, whereof I spoke unto you by the hand of Moses. That the slayer that kills any person unawares and unwittingly may flee there: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. And when he that does flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them”, and in chapter twenty and verse five of Joshua we learn how the LORD told Joshua, “if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand” where we read,
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.
The verse reads, “And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and if the avenger of blood” which means “and whether and in case the next of kin and revenger pertaining to bloodshed” (See Numbers 35:15-24) “pursue after him” or “attends closely, follows and runs behind him, the person who kills another person”, “then they shall not deliver the slayer” which means “at that time they, the elders within the city of asylum, will not in any way surrender or give over the person who kills another person” “up into his hand” or “over in his, the revenger of bloodshed’s, power, might and authority”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God instructed “Joshua” and the “elders” that in case the person who desires to take revenge upon the killer comes running after him, the “elders” were not to give this person over to their power and might.
The verse goes on to say, “because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “because he smote his neighbor unwittingly” which means “since and on account that he, the person who kills another person, hit, beat, struck and killed his, the person who kills another’s, fellow citizen or another person”, “and hated him not beforetime” or “and did not despise, loathe or abhor him, the person who was killed, in advance or prior to the time they were killed”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God said they were not to hand over the slayer since they did not despise the other person in advance of that time.
When we consider the words in this verse, we discover what the leaders within the “cities of asylum” were to do when the revenger of bloodshed follows a killer who appeals to place of refuge. When the person assigned to take revenge on the person who killed another person would be chasing after them, the elders within the “cities of refuge” were not to give the killer over to them if they did not hate them in advance. In a similar manner, God knows everything about everyone, and because we all have sin in our lives, He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins and raised Him from the dead after three days. (See John 3:16) When we submit to Him as our “Savior and Lord” (Our refuge), 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 the ability to live under His protection and provision all the days of our lives. (See Psalm 23; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)
Next time we learn how the LORD told Joshua, “he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment”, 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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