Kibzaim and Bethhoron - Joshua 21:22

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs, and the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim. For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs, …”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-two  of Joshua we learn about, “Kibzaim … and Bethhoron” where we read, 

And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.

The verse reads, “And Kibzaim with her suburbs, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Kibzaim” whose name means “two gatherings” and was “a Kohathite Levitical city in Ephraim at Mount Ephraim”  “with her suburbs” or “alongside and accompanying her, Kibzaim’s, open and common land”. Joshua or the writer added “Kibzaim” and it’s common land to the list of dwelling places given to the “Levites” by the tribe of “Ephraim”. 

The verse goes on to say, “… and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and Bethhoron” whose name means “house of hollowness” and was “a town on the mountains of Ephraim”, “with her suburbs” or “alongside and accompanying her, Bethhoron’s, open and common land”: “four cities” which means “four dwelling places or places of wakening”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Bethhoron” and it’s common land was also among the “four” locations given to the “Levites” by the “tribe of Ephraim”. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn about two more “cities” and their common land that was provided to the “Levites” through the “tribe of Ephraim”. “Kibzaim and Bethhoron” and their common lands were to be used as “cities of refuge” for the people of Israel. God spread these places out for the people of Israel, and because He loves them, God gave them a place in which they could flee in case they inadvertently killed another person. God knows our need for refuge as well because of the sin in our lives that causes separation from Him and leads to death. (See Romans 3:23; 6:23) When He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and raised Him from the dead, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and given His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to live according to that truth so our lives will be pleasing to Him. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time we learn about, “Eltekeh and Gibbethon”, 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".