Shechem with Her Suburbs - Joshua 21:21

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“, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-one of Joshua we learn how, “they gave them Shechem with her suburbs” where we read, 

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,

The verse reads, “For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “for they gave them Shechem” which means “because, since and on account that they, the tribe of Ephraim, granted, bestowed and assigned upon them, the Kohathite Levites, Shechem whose name means ‘back or shoulder’ and was a city in Manasseh; located in a valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, thirty-four miles (54 km) north of Jerusalem and seven miles (10.5 km) south-east of Samaria” “with her suburbs” or “alongside and accompanied by her, Shechem’s, open and common land” “in mount Ephraim” which means “within the rising above the plain known as Ephraim whose name means ‘double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful’ and was second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh, and the progenitor of the people of Ephraim””, “to be a city of refuge” or “to exist as a dwelling place of asylum” “for the slayer” which means “on behalf of a person who kills another person”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “tribe of Ephraim” provided the dwelling place of “Shechem” along with it’s common land within the rising above the plain known aa “Ephraim” to exist as a dwelling place of asylum to someone who kills another person by accident or inadvertently. 

The verse continues, “and Gezer with her suburbs, …” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and Gezer” or Gazer whose name means “portion” and was “a Levitical city on the border of Ephraim” “with her suburbs” or “alongside and accompanied by her, Gezer’s, open and common land”. Joshua or the writer said “Gezer” and it’s common land were given by the “tribe of Ephraim” to the “Levites”. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover the names of two of the dwelling places and their common land that were given to the “Levites” by the “tribe of Ephraim”. “Shechem and Gezer” along with their common lands were to be used as “cities of refuge” by the “Levites”, and they would be available to the person who accidentally kills another person. One by one these locations of asylum were being placed all over the land of “Israel”, and because they would become necessary, Jehovah God chose where they would be. God has made His salvation from the penalty of sin which is death, (See Romans 3:23; 6:23) to be available all over the world through His Son Jesus who died for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. (See John 3:16) When we believe and trust in 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 help us bear witness of Him wherever He places us in the world. (See 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time we learn about, “Kibzaim … and Bethhoron”, 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".