Lesson 7 Joshua 20-24. Inheritance for the Levites Joshua 20:1-21:42 Cities of Refuge Josh 20:1-9 The next thing to do was to select cities of refuge

Lesson 7

• Joshua 20-24

Inheritance for the Levites Joshua 20:1-21:42

• Cities of Refuge Josh 20:1-9• The next thing to do was to select cities of

refuge for the people on the west side of the Jordan

• These cities were to provide a temporary haven for anyone involved in a killing where there was a question

• Even a murderer could flee there and be spared from the avenger of blood temporarily Deu.19:11-12

Joshua 20

• 1The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, 2Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: 3That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

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Joshua 20• This is what the person had to do when he

reached the gates of the city of refuge.

• 4And when he that doth 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.

Inheritance for the Levites• This was a place of safety only until the trial

could be held

• If the person was found guilty he would be turned over to the avenger of blood. (nearest of kin to the victim who would slay him)

• If the killing was found to be an accident he would have to remain in the city until the death of the high priest. Numbers 35:9-34

• The cities on the west were: Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron

Kedesh in hill-country of Naphtali

Shechem in hill-country of Ephraim

Hebron in hill-country of Judah

Inheritance for the Levites• Cities of refuge on the East side of Jordan

were: Golan, Ramoth-gilead and Bezer

• The cities on the East side were set aside before Moses died Deut. 4:41-43

• With cities on both sides, there was one within reach of any Israelite, or foreigner living in Israel who accidentally killed someone and needed to flee for protection. Deut. 19:6-10

• These cities were part of the Levite inheritance Numbers 35:6-7, Deut. 19:1-3

Golan in Bashan of Manasseh

Ramoth-gilead in Gad

Bezer in the plain of Ruben

Cities of the Levites Joshua 21:1-42

• All the tribes now had their land

• The heads of the tribes of Levi came to Eleazar and Joshua at Shiloh

• Saying: “The Lord commanded by Moses to give us cities to live in, and fields around them.”

• The Lord commanded they get 48 cities

• The Levites were not given a normal portion of land because the offerings made to the Lord were their inheritance Josh. 13:14; 14:4

Levite cities

Levite Cities

Cities of the Levites Joshua 21:1-42

• 1500 feet on each side of the city was for the Levites fields and cattle

• This did not include the cities Nu. 35:1-5

Cities of KohathitesJoshua 21:4-5, 8-19,20-26

• They received 13 cities

• In Simeon, Judah, Benjamin

• They are Hebron, Libnah, Debir, Beth-shemesh, Gibeon, Geba, Anathoth

• Hebron was for the priest but the surrounding villages and fields belong to Caleb. Joshua 21:11-12

• The remainder of Kohath who were not priest received 10 cities

Cities of KohathitesJoshua 21:4-5, 8-19,20-26

• They were in Ephraim, Dan, ½ Manasseh on the west side of Jordan

• These cities were: Shechem, Gezer, Beth-horon, Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Aijalon, Taanach

• These were all in the central portion of the land

Cities of the GershonitesJoshua 21:6, 27-33

• Gershonites received 13 cities

• In Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and ½ Manasseh in Bashan

• The only cities well known among these is Golan in Bashan and Kedesh in Naphtali

Cities of the MeraritesJoshua 21:7, 34-40

• The Merarites received 12 cities

• In Ruben, Gad and Zebulum

• Better known cities were Jokneam, Bezer, and Ramoth-gilead, Mahanaim, Hesbon

Summary of the Cities of the Levites Joshua 21:41-42

The Levites received a total of 48 cities which included the cities of refuge and the fields surrounding for them to keep livestock

Trans-Jordanic Tribes return homeJoshua 22: 1-34

• Joshua calls all the men from the east side of Jordan to him

• “You have kept everything Moses commanded”

• “You have followed all my orders”

• “You have not abandoned your brothers in war”

• It is time for you to go back to your land and families to the land Moses gave you

• “Hold fast to the Lord and serve Him with all your heart and soul”


• Joshua blessed them and sent them away

• These men were returning home with much wealth from spoils of war such as: silver, gold, livestock, clothes, bronze, iron

• Joshua instructed them to “share with your brothers who stayed behind to care for your families while your were gone” Num. 32:16-27

• So the fighting men from Ruben, Gad and ½ tribe of Manasseh left Shiloh and returned to the land of Gilead to their possession.


• Remember that only 40,000 of the soldiers of the Trans-Jordanic tribes had crossed the Jordan to fight. Josh. 4:12-13

• Ruben and Gad together had over 80 thousand men of war Num. 26

• ½ Manasseh had about 25,000 who went• So 60-65,000 men from East of Jordan did not

help take the promised land• Those men who stayed to protect the families

did not have opportunity to gain all the wealth and spoils of war, thus Joshua said share


• Reaching the Jordan River the men decided to build a large altar

• The tribes on the West side heard of them building and altar and reported it to Joshua

• Many men of war from the West side gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them

• Before going to war they sent Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the high priest with 10 princes to inquire about the altar


• “What do you mean by building an altar “this is outrageous”

• Do you not remember the trespass against God at Peor? Num. 25

• We have not cleansed ourselves of that transgression to this day

• Today you rebel against Jehovah and tomorrow His wrath will be upon all Israel

• If the land is unclean then come over and take a possession on the West side


• Remember the sin of Achan and how all Israel suffered from the wrath of God

• The men from the East side answered: “The Mighty One God, Jehovah, He knows!”

• If this is in rebellion we have built this altar• Let God exact the penalty against us if we have built

this for contentious purposes.• In time to come your descendants may say to our

descendants, “You have nothing to do with Jehovah, the God of Israel, you are no part of Israel and not of the promised land.”


• We thought we would build an altar not for burnt offerings but as a witness between us from now on.

• If question arises then our children can say that this altar is built after the pattern of the Lord’s altar to be a witness that we do have a part in the worship of Jehovah.

• To rebel against God was not in our minds when we built this altar


• When Phinehas and the princes heard the response from the men on the East side they were pleased

• Today we know that Jehovah is in our midst, because you have not sinned against Jehovah by doing this deed for the right purpose you have delivered our hand of the Lord.

• They returned to the West side and delivered a report and all were pleased

• The monument was called Ed meaning witness

Land of Promise fulfilledJoshua 21:43- cp 24:33

• God made a promise to Abraham in Gen. 12:7• The promise was he would give this land to Abram’s

descendants• God gave unto Israel all the land which he swore to

give to their fathers Josh. 21:43• They now have possessed the land and dwelt in it.• The Lord gave them rest from their warfare• There was not a man of all their enemies who could

stand against them• Josh. 21:45There failed not ought of any good thing

which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

• See Numbers 34:1-15; Deut. 19:8-9

Joshua’s Charge to the leaders of Israel Josh. 23:1-16

• After a long time, when Jehovah had given Israel rest from her enemies, Joshua calls the leaders of the tribes to him.

• “I am old and advanced in years”• You have seen all that Jehovah has done to

your enemies• He fought for you and gave you this land• Each of the tribes have their inheritance some

of the land must still be conquered so finish your task to drive out other nations


• You must be courageous to do all that God has spoken in the law.

• Do not turn aside from it at all• Do not go among these nations or have

anything to do with them or their gods• God has driven out strong nations before you• He will continue to help you if you follow him

and love him above all else• Do not intermarry with these nations, if you do

Jehovah will no longer drive out your enemies


• These nations will become a snare to you until you have perished off this good land

• Joshua said, “I am today going the way of all the earth”

• Not one thing has failed to come to pass that God has promised

• Evil will come upon you if you forsake the Lord and serve other gods

Joshua’s parting charge to IsraelJoshua 24:1-28

• Your ancestors lived beyond the River Euphrates

• They served other gods• God called Abraham and brought him into this

land of Canaan he multiplied his descendants on this land

• He also gave Esau a land for his possession• Jacob and family went to Egypt• God brought you up out after many years


• You came to the Red Sea and the Lord opened up the sea and you crossed on dry land

• God destroyed the Egyptians as they crossed

• You have seen what He did in Egypt and for you as you dwelt in the wilderness

• He brought you to the land of the Amorites

• You fought them and He delivered them to you

• Balak rose up and fought you using Balaam the son of Beor to curse you- God would not listen


• God blessed you instead of cursing you

• You crossed over Jordan and came to Jericho

• You saw the hand of Jehovah deliver them into your hands

• Jehovah also has given the land of Canaan into your hand as an inheritance

• He gave you land you had not worked and cities you did not build and vineyards and olive-yards you did not plant


• Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him sincerely and genuinely

• Turn away from the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia and Egypt

• Serve Jehovah

• You make the choice whom you will serve the gods of your ancestors, the land where you are now or of the Amorites.

• Me and my house, we will serve the Jehovah


• The people answered “It would be unthinkable to us to serve any other god because it was Jehovah who brought us here

• You cannot serve the Lord because he is a jealous God and will not put up with your transgressions

• If you forsake Him to follow other gods He will destroy you

• Their reply was we will serve the Lord• Now put away your foreign gods and serve Him• Covenant made with the people

Death of JoshuaJoshua 24:29-31

• Joshua died at the age of 110 years

• They buried him in Timnath-serah in the hill-country of Ephraim

• Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders after Joshua that had known the mighty works Jehovah did for Israel

Bones of Joseph buriedJoshua 24:32-33

• The bones of Joseph which Israel had brought out of Egypt were buried which was requested by Joseph in Egypt Gen. 50:25; Ex. 13:19

• They were buried in Shechem in the parcel of ground Jacob had brought from the sons of Hamor for a 100 pieces of money (this was in Manasseh’s territory)

Joseph bones buried

Eleazar Dies Joshua 24:33

• Eleazar the son of Aaron died and they buried him in the hill of Phinehas

• This was in the hill-country of Ephraim

End of Lesson

Documents

Lesson 7 Joshua 20-24. Inheritance for the Levites Joshua 20:1-21:42 Cities of Refuge Josh 20:1-9 The next thing to do was to select cities of refuge