Living in the Promised Land: A study in the book of Joshua
To view this online as a video:
Lesson Nineteen: Cities of Refuge
A. Introduction
1. Greetings
Also if you haven’t yet subscribed to our YouTube channel please click that red button on the right below this video and join us, and also click ‘Like” if you don’t mind. That way we will reach more folks like you down the road.
2. Overview. [For those online, see this book overview from The Bible Project (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqOqJlFF_eU )
B. Today’s lesson: Chapters 20
Last week we ended a lengthy section of the book which to many looked merely legal and like an atlas. It was the distribution of the conquered land of Canaan to the 12 tribes of Israel. But it was much more than a geography lesson.
Now today we zoom in on something about what are titled the Cities of Refuge. And next week we will look at the 48 cities of the Levites. In other words, we are staying with the field of study titled Geography. But it’s much more than that. By examination of the term itself, ‘refuge’ implies an escape and a protection from harm, and that’s intriguing in itself. We will look at the causes of the need for escape and what that escape allows and doesn’t allow. And what lessons we can learn from this notion of refuge itself.
You will need a pen and paper as today I’m going to give you many Bible references as we study justice from a holy perspective, and this will lead us down the road to the study of Just War. But that’s for another day.
First we look at the history of the Cities of Refuge. Write down these verses, please, and you can read them with ease later after this study. Exodus 21.12-13, “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee.
Numbers 35.6, “The cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee to; and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities.
Deut. 4.41-42, Then Moses set apart three cities across the Jordan to the east, that a manslayer might flee there, who unintentionally slew his neighbor without having enmity toward him in time past; and by fleeing to one of these cities he might live:
19.3, “You shall prepare the roads for yourself, and divide into three parts the territory of your land which the LORD your God will give you as a possession, so that any manslayer may flee there.
Deut. 19:11-13 “But if there is a man who hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and rises up against him and strikes 1him so that he dies, and he flees to one of these cities, then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. You shall not pity him, but you shall purge the blood of the innocent from Israel, that it may go well with you.
2 Sam. 3.27 Joab and Abner and the Joab killed Abner at the horns of the altar. A microcosm of the city of refuge and it was there in Hebron, the authorized refuge city. Shame befell Joab as a result.
What do we see in these texts? These are the conditions of the refuge status.
1) The man cannot have been lying in wait for the murderous episode. (Ex. 23)
2) They are to be run by the Levites who shall remain impartial (Num)
3) The man had to kill the other unintentionally and not hated him previously (De. 4)
4) The government is responsible for good highways and roads to make it easier for the accidental murderer to get to the cities (De. 19)
5) This is not a place for fake news. It’s the responsibility of the elders (at the gates) to determine impartially the previous thoughts of the murderer (De. 19.11)
The word used for refuge is only used with Cities of. That is, the word you might know in the rest of the Bible for refuge (and there are several, although one stands out most of the time) is not the same as the word for refuge here. Miklat is only used with Cities and carries the idea of hiding, a place of protection. In modern Hebrew the three root letters Koof, Lamed and Tet add up interestingly to input, absorption and reception, even recording. Fascinating how languages morph. And when I say that, I want to emphasize something about translations of the Bible. Some look to ancient words and say, aha, that word should be translated as xxx or yyy because that’s how it’s used in the 21st Century. But that’s now how languages work. We have to listen to their context and that includes the usage of the terms in their days. I hear many ‘scholars’ on the internet showcasing their knowledge and merely wrapping the ancient information in modern garb and it doesn’t work. Let the text speak.
OK, so miklat means refuge and it meant refuge in those days and these six Levitical cities are places of protection. They were established by God under Moses. And Joshua fulfills that establishment. This is one of those major themes we see in the whole book of Joshua. He is the one who fulfills what God said to Moses. He gets it done.
The idea of justice is central to Judaism in those days and in Talmudic times and I believe still runs in the hearts of Jewish people in these days. Listen to these Bible citations about justice:
Zeph. 3.5, The LORD is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame. (God is our example and he makes justice to happen, eventually)
John 5.30, "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (Yeshua is like Joshua was to Moses. He gets it done. What the Father wants, Yeshua enacts)
Romans 2.1-2, Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. (IN due course, God’s justice will be brought to the earth, and no one will have an excuse)
Psalm 103.6, The LORD performs righteous deeds, And judgments for all who are oppressed. (Eventually, whether it’s Juneteenth or Sorry Day here in Oz, the oppressed will have their day in court, meaning they will be awarded their due)
Deut. 16.20 Justice, justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you. (You want a good home, a good territory, a good living? Live in justice to your neighbour, to your family, to your boss, to your clients, to all those in the land)
Psalm 82.3-4 Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. (this speaks for itself)
Let me give you more for your further study: Prov. 21.3, Isa. 56.1, Romans 13.7, Col. 4.1.
Impartiality is required to be a just person. As in Job 34.18-19, Matt. 5.45, Acts 10.34-35, Romans 10.12 and 1 Peter 1.17. Lev. 19.15, Malachi 2.9, 1 Tim. 5.21, James 2.4
Please, read these texts, and meditate on them. Let’s be just. Full of justice and right living. Full of compassion and blindness from partiality. This Bible is given for our instruction and it’s not only a history and in this case geography lesson. It’s about how we are to live our lives.
Where are those cities of refuge. 3 in the land west of the Jordan River and 3 east of the Jordan River. Here is the map.
We learn that Moses authored the plan, Joshua accomplished it. The Levites and priests were situated to make it a continual location of justice which all Israel was to seek and in which to live.
Note one last item, will you, in the final verse of our text. Verse 9.
9 These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever 1kills any person unintentionally may flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation.
The appointment of the 6 cities was not only for Israel. It was for aliens in the future. Justice was not to be meted out only to Jewish people but was for all people. I really appreciate that little phrase “for the stranger who sojourns among them.” God is ever teaching our people that we are not to live in a vacuum and to include all people in the information and the life of our God.
One final point, if I may, in a metaphoric consideration.
FB Meyer made the point about the cities and the Jewish people. It’s possible a bit harsher than you want to hear but hear him please, to the end.
“The Jews especially have acted the part of the manslayer. They killed the Prince of Life, but they did it in ignorance (Acts 3.17,18). Therefore, they have lost their heritage; but they exist still as prisoners of hope, finding refuge among the cities of the priests, until such time as the Lord Jesus shall wrap up the present age as a worn-out vesture, and shall inaugurate that new and glorious reign in which he shall take to himself the kingdom. Then Israel shall return, each to his own house, and unto the city, from whence he fled.” (page 182)
What Meyer says is that the Jewish people acted in ignorance, quoting Peter in Acts 3, and thus have a chance for refuge in the last days. Isn’t that a beautiful sentiment? Of course, not every Jew of all time is guilty of the sins of those few Jewish leaders at the time of the crucifixion. But Meyer’s consideration is wonderful as a “prisoner of hope” for us as a people. Our sins CAN be forgiven. Our lives can be repaired. We can run to him who is our refuge and our shelter.
Hear these boasts by various biblical authors:
2Sam. 22:3 my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.
Psa. 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psa. 16:1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
Jer. 17:17 Be not a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster.
Invitation
Dear friends, have you fled to the Lord for refuge from the storms of life? Do you know that Yeshua is our Strong Tower and help in times of weakness? He is more than capable and more than ready to help us, each of us, if we run to him. Will you do that just now? Would you be willing to take a stand for him who took a stand and died on a Roman cross for you? We love Yeshua because in his death he accomplished salvation for all people. He took the curse we deserved to give us his righteousness which he deserved. Forgiveness is available because of the death of our messiah.
If you’d like to receive him today, just now, join me as we pray.
Say something like this: “Father in Yeshua’s name, forgive me my sin, I was wrong to dismiss you and to disbelieve in you. I need your mercy. I deserve punishment but you are kind and merciful and I receive your grace. I repent. I receive Yeshua as my saviour and Lord. I will live because of my faith in Messiah Yeshua. Amen.
If you prayed that, please let us know of your profession by writing straightaway, won’t you? Bob@JewsforJesus.org.au We’d love to hear from you.
Conclusion
We are delighted you have joined us today. Please join us next week and learn with the others how you can stay on track in 2021 and beyond. I hope to see you next week as we continue our studies in Joshua. You will certainly see yourself in the readings and the lessons. Next week we will look at chapter 21, in what I call “Levite cities to the rescue” and see what lessons we can draw for ourselves from the scenes there!
Hope to see you then… until then, Shabbat shalom!
Bibliography
Butler, Trent C., Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 7. Joshua. Word, Waco, 1983.
Davis, Dale Ralph, Joshua: No Falling Words, Christian Focus, Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland, 2019.
Hess, Richard. Tyndale Commentary Complete.
Meyer, F.B., Joshua and the Land of Promise, Christian Literature Crusade, Ft Washington PA, 1977.
Pritchard, James, “The Bible reports on Gibeon.” Penn Museum, Expedition, 1961. Volume 3, Issue 4.
Sanders, J. Oswald, Promised-Land Living, Moody Press, Chicago, 1984.
Thompson, Frank Charles, Chain Reference Bible, Kirkbride Bible Co, Indianapolis, 1964.
Toms, Paul, This land is your land. Gospel Light Publishing, Glendale CA, 1977.
Wiersbe, Warren. Be Strong: Putting God's Power to Work in Your Life. David C. Cook Publishing, Colorado Springs, 2010.
-------------------
D-Groups for this week
1) Monday 11 am Sydney time. Led by James Howse
2) Monday 7 pm, Sydney time, led by James White
(Contact our office for zoom details)
If you’d like to host a D-Group either online or in person, please contact bob@jewsforjesus.org.au for further details. It’s time to step up. Ponder this—who will be in your D-Group?
The Book of Joshua: Outline.
C. Entering the Land (Chapters 1-4)
a. Chapter 1: A funeral and a promise (Leadership Lesson 1)
b. Chapter 2: A harlot saves the day
c. Chapter 3: Go against the flow (Part 1)
d. Chapter 4: Go against the flow (Part 2)
D. Taking the Land (5-12)
a. Chapter 5: Roll away iniquity: a study in sacraments
b. Chapter 6: Joshua fit d’battle ob Jericho
c. Chapter 7: Getting it very wrong: Achan and his mistakes
d. Chapter 8: Combat and Covenant
e. Chapter 9: Common sense is not so common
f. Chapter 10: Southern dominance
g. Chapter 11: How not to win
h. Chapter 12: God is faithful
E. Possessing the Land (13-21)
a. Chapter 13: Inheritance lessons
b. Chapter 14: Caleb as an example with a side of contentment
c. Chapter 15: Geography lesson
d. Chapter 16: God’s ways are not our ways
e. Chapter 17: Promise vs compromise
f. Chapter 18-19: Apportionment continued
g. Chapter 20: Cities of Refuge
h. Chapter 21: Levite cities to the rescue
F. Retaining the Land (22-24)
a. Chapter 22: Can an altar alter anything?
b. Chapter 23: Staying on edge
c. Chapter 24: Three funerals and Renewing the covenant
The Seven Nations
1. Amorite
2. Canaanite
3. Girgashite
4. Hittite
5. Hivite
6. Jebusite
7. Perizzite
Josh. 20:1 Then the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 ‘He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and state his case in the hearing of the elders of that city; and they shall take him into the city to them and give him a place, so that he may dwell among them. 5 ‘Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, then they shall not deliver the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbour without premeditation and did not hate him beforehand. 6 ‘He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the manslayer shall return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled.’”
Josh. 20:7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8 Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. 9 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment