Joshua 20
-The six cities of refuge are now designated in the
territory under Israeli control, which were spoken as a command of God through
Moses (Numbers 35:6-34, Deuteronomy 4:41-43; 19:1-21). Three had been
apportioned on the eastern side of the Jordan and were reaffirmed, those being Bezer in the wilderness of the tribe of
Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead of the
tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan of
the tribe of Manasseh. The western side of the Jordan received these last three,
north to south, as cities of refuge: Kedesh
in Galilee in the hill country of the tribe of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of the tribe of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (Hebron) in the hill
country of the tribe of Judah. These were places where a manslayer could go for
protection when they unintentionally killed a person without any premeditation
as they fled from avengers of blood in passionate situations. They could dwell
in the midst of these cities until a proper trial could take place to grant
complete justice in the society. The manslayer could stay in that city until
the death of the high priest or his judgment was made by the congregation.
After that, he had to go back to his own house in his own city from which he
fled. “These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Israel and for the
stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally
may flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands
before the congregation (Joshua 20:1-9).
-*Application* I think we can all agree that a just society
is the one that we all prefer. Accidents happen and things occur sometimes that
we do not intend. This gets to the heart of the matter here if we contemplate
it. What is our intention? Is it for good, or evil? If we didn’t mean to do
something, even when it goes terribly wrong, God forgives and has a great mercy
system set up. His ultimate refuge for us is certainly in Jesus Christ. Let us
remember that today as we journey through this life. Unintended consequences
can be remedied.
Verse to Memorize:
Joshua 20:9
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