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SIX cities of refuge that are selected throughout Israel. A city of refuge was first commanded by Moses during the wilderness wanderings. Now Joshua is carrying out the LORD’s command. Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20). “Manslayer” – someone who commits the act of murder - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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• SIX cities of refuge that are selected throughout Israel.
• A city of refuge was first commanded by Moses during the wilderness wanderings.
• Now Joshua is carrying out the LORD’s command.
Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20)• “Manslayer” – someone who commits the act of
murder • Only those who murdered someone without
INTENT or UKNOWINGLY could flee to a city of refuge
• “Avenger of blood” – otherwise known as redeemer
• Life belongs to God, who has AUTHORITY in issues of life and death.
• The “avenger” would exercise authority on God’s behalf – early forms of capital punishment.
Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20)• The “manslayer” would FLEE to a city of
refuge and stand at the entrance of the GATE and plea his case before the ELDERS of the city.
• If the “avenger of blood” comes the “manslayer” would not be released into this custody but would find REFUGE in the city.
• He could only return HOME after he has stood before the CONGREGATION for judgment, and the death of the HIGH priest.
Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20)• The death of the High Priest, intercessor for all
Israel, evidently restored harmony and signaled the safe release of the manslayer to his hometown.
• Death of the OT high priest anticipated the death of our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, whose blood makes full atonement for all people.
• See the books of Hebrews
Cities of Refuge
• 6 of the 48 cities designated to the Levities would be cities of refuge
• The fact that these were Levite cities places a special BURDEN for judgment and justice on the priestly tribe.
• The locations of these six cities, no more than 30 miles from any spot in the land, made it possible for one fleeing to arrive at a city of refugee within hours.
• These cities lie in a horseshoe pattern beginning in the northwest and ending in the northeast.
The Levitical Allotment (chapter 21)Then the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers' houses of the
tribes of the people of Israel. 2 And they said to them at Shiloh in the land of
Canaan, “The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given cities to dwell in, along with their pasturelands for our livestock.” 3 So by command of
the LORD the people of Israel gave to the Levites the following cities and pasturelands out of their
inheritance.
41 The cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the people of Israel were in all forty-eight cities with their pasturelands. 42 These cities
each had its pasturelands around it. So it was with all these cities. 43 Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the
land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. 44 And
the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies
had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one word of all the
good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass
The Levitical Allotment (chapter 21)
• The LORD is FAITHFUL and FULFILLS his promise to give the land.
• A tone of praise and thanksgiving resonates as the author reflects Joshua’s own words.
• The LORD has given Israel REST by defeating their enemies, providing security, and given them land after 40 years of wandering.
• This REST anticipates the more valuable rest found only in Jesus and received through FAITH.
The Eastern Tribes Return Home• Joshua gathers together the 2 ½ tribes that will now
live on the EAST side of the Jordan River. (22.1)• He commends them … (22.2-3)– You have kept all the commands of Moses – You have obeyed my voice – You have not forsaken your brothers – You have kept the charge of the Lord
• No go HOME to your land and the promised REST God will now give you (22.4)
• He will give a COMMAND (22.5) and a blessing (22.6)
Eastern Tribes Altar of Witness
Eastern Tribes Altar of Witness
• On their way home the 2 ½ tribes built an altar of “imposing size”
• This was not small, secret altar. Everybody would have known about it. (22.10)
• When the people of Israel – 9 ½ tribes hear about it they become very ANGRY
• So they gather forces at SHILO and prepare to make war against the EAST TRIBES.
• Why?
Deuteronomy 13:12 – 15 12 “If you hear in one of your cities, which
the LORD your God is giving you to dwell there, 13 that certain worthless fellows have gone out among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, 14 then you shall inquire and make
search and ask diligently. And behold, if it be true and certain that such an abomination has been done
among you, 15 you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, devoting it to destruction, all
who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword.
The Tribal Elders Confrontation3 Then the people of Israel sent to the people of
Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son
of Eleazar the priest, 14 and with him ten chiefs, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, every one
of them the head of a family among the clans of Israel. 15 And they came to the people of Reuben,
the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they said to them,
‘What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this day from following the LORD by building yourselves an altar this day in rebellion
against the LORD? (22.16)
• They go into a long series of evil actions by the nation of Israel and sins that still need to be dealt with
• And they are frightened that this REBELLION will bring God’s wrath upon the land.
• So they plead for the tribes not to rebel against the LORD by building for yourselves an altar where the LORD’s tabernacle stands. (22.19)
The Tribal Elders Confrontation
22 “The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in
rebellion or in breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today 23 for building an altar to turn away from following the LORD. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain
offerings or peace offerings on it, may the LORD himself take vengeance. 24 No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do
with the LORD, the God of Israel? 25 For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of
Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the LORD.’ So your children might make our children cease to worship
the LORD.
The EASTERN Response
26 Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, 27 but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the LORD in his presence with our burnt offerings
and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, “You have no portion in
the LORD.”’ 28 And we thought, ‘If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we should say, “Behold, the copy of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for
burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you.”’ 29 Far be it from us that we should rebel against
the LORD and turn away this day from following the LORD by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice,
other than the altar of the LORD our God that stands before his tabernacle!”
The EASTERN Response
• No breach of faith has been found • The report was good and Israel blessed the LORD
