Joshua 20 and 21

 Read Joshua 20 and 21.

Who? Joshua, all Israel, the tribe of Levi

What? The cities of refuge and all the other Levite cities are designated

Where? Throughout all of Israel, including both east and west of the Jordan (SEE MAP)

When? After all the land is allotted to the twelve tribes

Why? The cities of refuge are to maintain grace with justice, the cities of the Levites are to give them a place to live and also to scatter those who teach the Law of God throughout Israel

How? Joshua and Eleazar designate the cities of refuge west of the Jordan, Moses designated the cities of refuge east of the Jordan

The cities of refuge are designated in order that, while justice is served, it is also tempered with grace.  The Old Testament differentiates between intentional and unintentional sin (see Leviticus 4; 5:15-18; Numbers 15:22-29; 35:22; Deuteronomy 4:41-42; 19:4; Ezekiel 45:20; and Hebrews 9:7).  Intentional sin is usually punished by banishment or death.  Unintentional sin has consequences, but those consequences are not as severe.  The sacrifices made for atonement were for unintentional sin.  These cities of refuge are for unintentional sin.  The circumstances for the use of the cities of refuge are very specific and are for accidental death or some cases of manslaughter only (see Numbers 35:9-28 and Deuteronomy 19:1-10).  The one who caused the death is still held responsible, but capital punishment is not an option for them as it is for murderers (see Exodus 21:12-14).  The one who caused the death of a human being, an image bearer of God, one who has a soul, is sentenced to stay in the city of refuge he flees to until the death of the high priest.  He cannot go back to his family or leave the city at all until then.  

One who causes a death must flee to a city of refuge because “the avenger of blood” will be coming after him to put him to death.  The avenger of blood is a relative who has been assigned the task of meeting out justice for the death of their relative.  There was no municipal government in Israel, no justice system to make rulings and carry out sentences.  The justice the avenger of blood carries out takes the form of capital punishment in the case of murder and the avenger of blood is the one to carry out that sentence.  This justice is based on God’s Law.  When a city of refuge is needed, the situation is different.  This is not for cases of murder, but accidental death or manslaughter.  In these cases, the avenger of death does not need to kill the one who caused the death of his relative.  These cities give provision for justice while restraining vengeance.  

When one who has caused a death flees to a city of refuge, he must first stop at the city gate and present his case before the elders.  In the ancient world, all city business, trials, etc. happen at the gate of a city because the leaders would congregate there.  The man slayer would present his case to the elders and, if they decided it was indeed a case of accidental death or manslaughter, they would allow him into the city and protect him from the avenger of blood.  Because these are Levite cities, the implication is that the Law of God is here and the leaders would be following His Law and giving rulings based on God’s Law.  The main thing they would look at would be intent.  There must be no previous evidence of hate or malice between the man slayer and the one who has died.  There must also be no premeditation on the part of the man slayer.  The ruling is about motive even more than what actually happened.

There are six cities of refuge assigned throughout all of Israel.  They are assigned such that anyone in Israel could get to a city of refuge with relative ease.  Note that Moses had assigned three cities east of the Jordan before his death (Deuteronomy 4:41-43).  Strangers who live within Israel are also allowed to use the cities of refuge.  Israel has a history of taking care of the foreigner living among them (Exodus 12:48-49, 20:10, 22:21, 23:9 and 12).  

After the cities of refuge are assigned, the rest of the cities of the Levites are given.  God had commanded Moses to assign cities to the Levites throughout the land of Israel (Numbers 35:1-8).  The Levites show their faith in God’s promises by approaching the leaders of Israel with the request that their cities be assigned.  Once again, birth order is ignored as God’s sovereign purposes reign.  Kohath was Levi’s second son, but, because it is the family of Aaron and, therefore, the family of the priestly line, they are shown preference and given their allotment first.  Gershon is Levi’s firstborn son and Merari is his third born.  These cities are assigned to the Levites, but the tribes that received them as allotments retain their possession.  The Levites live in these cities and care for them, but they do not own them.  The cities of refuge are mentioned again in this chapter because they are Levite cities.  Also, Gibeon is given as a Levite city because the people of Gibeon are slaves who have been assigned to serve the Levites in the house of God (Joshua 9:23).  

The final verses of Joshua 21 give a summary of the book of Joshua so far.  This summary focuses on God’s faithfulness to keep all of His promises, including the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the promise made in Joshua 1:5 to Joshua and the people.  The Reformation Study Bible (edited by R.C.Sproul) notes, “the book of Joshua speaks of both the fulfillment of God’s promises (11:23, 21:45) and the incompleteness of the actual possession of the land (e.g., 13:1, 23:4-5).  While the book of Joshua testifies to Israel’s experience of the Lord’s faithfulness, the land of Canaan will only be fully settled after the death of Joshua.”

Question 1: Find the cities on a map.  What is the purpose of the cities of refuge?  Why do the Levites have cities scattered throughout Israel?  

(We have answered this one thoroughly in the notes above.)

Question 2: Where is our refuge? What do we need refuge from?

God is our refuge (see Psalm 46).  We need refuge from sin and from the world.  He is our help in trouble.  Jesus is our refuge because in Him we have salvation, which is our ultimate refuge from our own sin.

Question 3: What is our inheritance? Cf. 1 Peter 1:3-4

Our inheritance is salvation which then leads to eternal life with God.  We are heirs of God and coheirs with Christ (see Romans 8:16,17; Hebrews 1:14).

Applications:

We need to check our motives.  Accidents and mistakes happen, but are we planning our sin, choosing to remain in it once we recognize it as sin?  Are we in rebellion against God by choice, by design, intentionally disobeying Him?  We need to repent and watch ourselves.  Unintentional sin has consequences, but intentional sin is so much worse.  Whenever we find sin in our lives, unintentional or intentional, we need to repent and choose obedience instead.

God’s Law needs to be scattered throughout our lives.  We need to be marinating in the Word at all times so that our hearts remain soft and we remain aware.

We need to take refuge in Christ in salvation.  If you have not chosen to repent and believe, to submit to Christ as Lord, why not?  Take a hard look at yourself and make a decision for Him.  

We need to take refuge in God no matter why we are suffering.  If our suffering is due to our own sin, we need to repent and get back on track.  If our suffering is due to others’ sin or sin in the world, we need to cling to the promises of God and know that He is our refuge and strength.  Looking to anything or anyone other than God for help in our suffering almost always leads to sin and makes things worse.  Fix your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-3).