Joshua 20:9

_THESE WERE THE CITIES APPOINTED FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND FOR THE STRANGER THAT SOJOURNETH AMONG THEM, THAT WHOSOEVER KILLETH ANY PERSON AT UNAWARES MIGHT FLEE THITHER, AND NOT DIE BY THE HAND OF THE AVENGER OF BLOOD, UNTIL HE STOOD BEFORE THE CONGREGATION._ Cities. There were six; three on the west, and three on the east of Jordan. In the first instance they were a provision of the criminal law of the Hebrews, necessary in the circumstances of that people (see the note at Numbers 35:9; Deuteronomy 19:1); and at the same time they were designed also typically to point out the sinner's way to Christ (Hebrews 6:18)....

7-9 These cities, as those also on the other side Jordan, stood so that a man might in half a day reach one of them from any part of the country. God is ever a Refuge at hand. They were all Levites' cities. It was kindness to the poor fugitive, that when he might not go up to the house of the Lord, yet he had the servants of God with him, to instruct him, and pray for him, and to help to make up the want of public ordinances. Some observe a significance in the names of these cities with application to Christ our Refuge. Kedesh signifies holy, and our Refuge is the holy Jesus. Shechem, a shoulder, and the government is upon his shoulder. Hebron, fellowship, and believers are called into the fellowship of Christ Jesus our Lord. Bezer, a fortification, for he is a strong hold to all those that trust in him. Ramoth, high or exalted, for Him hath God exalted with his own right hand. Golan, jo...

Verse Joshua 20:9. _FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND FOR THE STRANGER_] As these typified the great provision which God was making for the salvation of both Jews and Gentiles, hence the _stranger_ as well as the Israelite had the same right to the benefits of these cities of refuge. Is HE the God of the _Jews_ only? Is HE not also the God of the _Gentiles_? _UNTIL HE STOOD BEFORE THE CONGREGATION._] The judges and elders of the people, in trying civil and criminal causes, always _sat_; the persons who came for judgment, or who were _tried_, always _stood_; hence the expressions so frequent in Scripture, STANDING _before the Lord_, the _judges_, the _elders_, c. IT is worthy of remark that the cities of refuge were given to the _Levites_ see the following chapter. The _sacrificial_ system

EXPOSITION THE CITIES OF REFUGE.— JOSHUA 20:1 CITIES OF REFUGE. The original is more definite, the cities of refuge. So LXX. WHEREOF I SPAKE TO YOU. In Exodus 21:13; Numbers 35:9; Deuteronomy 19:2. Here, again, Joshua is represented as aware of the existence of the Pentateuch. It must, therefore, have existed in something like its present shape when the Book of Joshua was written. The words are partly quoted from Numbers and partly from Deuteronomy; another proof that these book

THESE WERE THE CITIES APPOINTED FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... For the common use of them all, and not for that tribe only in which they stood: AND FOR THE STRANGER THAT SOJOURNETH AMONG THEM; not only for the proselytes of righteousness, but for the proselytes of the gate also, as well as for the natives of Israel; Christ is a refuge for Jews and Gentiles, for all sinners that flee to him: THAT WHOSOEVER KILLETH ANY PERSON UNAWARES MIGHT FLEE THITHER; and find shelter and safety: AND NOT DIE BY THE HAND OF THE AVENGER OF BLOOD; getting thither before he could overtake him: UNTIL HE STOOD BEFORE THE CONGREGATION: either before the congregation, the elders of the city, or court of judicature in the city of refuge, or before the court of his own city, from whence he fled, if summoned thither....

7. THE CITIES OF REFUGE CHAPTER 20 _ 1. The ordinance repeated (Joshua 20:1)_ 2. The cities named (Joshua 20:7) The reader will find the meaning of the ordinance of the cities of refuge in Numbers and Deuteronomy, so that we do not need to repeat it here. But only three cities are mentioned in the Pentateuch. Here the three cities in the land are added. Kedesh was in Naphtah, Kedesh means “sanctuary,” and Naphtali means “wrestler-struggler.” Christ is the refuge for the struggling sinner. Shechem means “shoulder,” and is the type of service. He who is the perfect servant, who ministered and gave His life, is the place of refuge. Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, is the third, and Hebron means “communion.” This we find in Him. Bezer (defense), Ramoth (heights) and Golan (rejoicing) wer

JOSHUA 20. THE CITIES OF REFUGE. The cities of refuge (p. 113) were not appointed till after the Deuteronomic reform under Josiah in Joshua 6:21. In early times the asylum or refuge for the manslayer was the altar at the local sanctuary. This is seen from the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 21:14): If a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour to slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from my altar that he may die. See also 1 Kings 1:50, where Adonijah, in fear of his life, flees to the altar for safety. When the law of the single sanctuary was promulgated in Dt., other provision had to be made for asylum; hence the institution of the cities of refuge. As Dt. says that Moses commanded the institution of these cities, a later wr

KILLETH ANY PERSON. smiteth. soul". Hebrew. _nephesh._ See App-13....

The Selection of the Cities of Refuge 7. _And they appointed_ Rather, they SANCTIFIED, SET APART FOR A SACRED PURPOSE. The Cities of Refuge were intended to preserve the People and the Land of Jehovah from blood-guiltiness. Hence the appointment to so high a purpose carried with it also the idea of solemn consecration. "They seuerden," Wyclif translates it in the first edition, "thei ordeyneden" in the later edition. The cities selected were three on either side of the Jordan, almost equally remote from each other, (_a) On the West._ (_b) On the East._ 1. _Kedesh_, in Naphtali. 1. _Golan_, in Bashan. 2. _Shechem_, in Mount Ephraim. 2. _Ramoth-Gilead_, in Gad. 3. _Hebron_, in Judah. 3. _Bezer_, in Reuben. It requires only to look at the map to see how wisely these spots were marked out, so as to make a "City of Refuge" easy of access from all parts of the la

_VER._ 9. _THESE WERE THE CITIES APPOINTED,_ &C.— It is to be observed, that the six cities of refuge were given as a portion to the Levites. See the following chapter. So that those who were unhappily forced to retire thither, met with persons there whose authority could screen them from violence, whose wisdom could direct their proceedings, and whose piety might be useful to them in a variety of instances, during the stay they were obliged to make there till the death of the high-priest. REFLECTIONS.—1. The cities of refuge were a common blessing for every Israelite, whose unhappy lot it might be to need their protection; and therefore it was every man's interest to have this provision made as soon as they had settled the division of the land. _Note;_ The Gospel has provided for sinners, in Christ Jesus, a surer refuge from the avenging wrath of God; the soul that flies thither shall n...