Josué 20

Josué 20

Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission Paul J Bucknell - Biblical Foundations for Freedom LAND ALLOTMENTS (Joshua 13-21) Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission Click charts to enlarge Charts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission JOSHUA A BOOK ON SPIRITUAL WARFARE and REST HOW TO POSSESS YOUR POSSESSIONS CONQUEST OF THE PROMISED LAND DIVISION OF THE PROMISED LAND CLOSE OF JOSHUA'S LIFE ACTION ALLOCATION APPEAL Josh 1:1-5:15 Josh 6:1-12:24 Joshua 13:1-21:45 Josh 22:1-24:33 WARLORDS IN CANAAN LANDLORDS IN CANAAN ENTERING CANAAN CONQUERING CANAAN DIVIDING CANAAN SECURING THE LAND SETTLING THE LAND Preparation Conquest Possession Consecration ca. 1 Month ca 7 Years ca. 18 Years See also more detailed Chart by Charles R Swindoll Joshua 20:1 Then the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, spoke: Jos 5:14 6:2 7:10 13:1-7 Joshua 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Outline of Joshua 20: CHARGE TO DESIGNATE CITIES OF REFUGE - Joshua 20:1-6 ACTUAL DESIGNATION OF THE CITIES OF REFUGE - Joshua 20:7-8 THE PROVISION OF CITIES FORMALIZED - Joshua 20:9 Then the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying - Note that this is a divine decree and even at his advanced age Joshua is still communicating with Jehovah. Advanced age should never be an impediment to communing with the God of the Universe. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary - Verses 1-6. When the Israelites were settled in their promised inheritance, they were reminded to set apart the cities of refuge, whose use and typical meaning have been explained, Numbers 35; Deuteronomy 19. God's spiritual Israel have, and shall have in Christ and heaven, not only rest to repose in, but refuge to secure themselves in. These cities were designed to typify the relief which the gospel provides for penitent sinners, and their protection from the curse of the law and the wrath of God, in our Lord Jesus, to whom believers flee for refuge, Hebrews 6:18. Joshua 20:1-9 True Shelter The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 Today's Scripture & Insight: Joshua 20:1-9 In March 2014 a tribal conflict broke out in my hometown area, forcing my father’s household, along with other refugees, to take cover in the region’s capital city. Throughout history, people who have felt unsafe in their homelands have traveled to other places searching for safety and something better. As I visited and talked with people from my hometown, I thought of the cities of refuge in Joshua 20:1-9. These were cities designated as places of safety for those fleeing from “relatives seeking revenge” in the case of an accidental killing (v. 3 nlt). They offered peace and protection. People today still seek places of refuge, although for a variety of reasons. But as needed as these sanctuaries are, supplying shelter and food, they cannot completely meet the needs of refugees and fugitives. That rest is found only in God. Those who walk with God find true shelter and the safest protection in Him. When ancient Israel was sent into exile, the Lord said, “I have been a sanctuary [safe haven] for them in the countries where they have gone” (Ezek. 11:16). With the psalmist, we can say confidently to the Lord, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” (32:7). By: Lawrence Darmani Nothing can shake those who are secure in God’s hands. Joshua 20:2 "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, Designate: Ex 21:13-14 Nu 35:6,11-14 Dt 4:41-43 Dt 19:2-13 Ro 8:1,33,34 Heb 6:17-20 refuge: Nu 35:15-24 Joshua 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Genesis 9:5-6 (MURDERERS WOULD PAY FOR THEIR CRIME WITH THEIR OWN BLOOD) “Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man. (CITIES OF REFUGE PROVIDED MERCY IF THE KILLING WAS NOT INTENTIONAL). Numbers 35:33-34+ (HERE IS THE PROBLEM WITH KILLING - OH HOW AMERICA NEEDS TO HEAR THESE WORDS! SEE ABORTION STATS USA) (So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. 34 ‘You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the LORD am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel.’” Exodus 21:12-14+ (THE ALTAR WAS THE "REFUGE" WHEN THE TRIBES LIVED IN ONE LOCATION AND BEFORE THEY ENTERED THE LAND) - 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. 14“If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die. Hebrews 6:17-20+ (A NEW TESTAMENT PARALLEL TO THE OT CITIES OF REFUGE) In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. YAHWEH COMMANDS CITIES OF REFUGE Yahweh is speaking to Joshua and is now commanding him to fulfill of His instructions which were given on at least 3 previous occasions (clearly this is very important to God), once in Numbers and twice in Deuteronomy (Nu 35:6,11-14, Dt 4:41-43 and Dt 19:2-13). Warren Wiersbe emphasizes that "Even before the Law of Moses was given, God had laid down the basic rule that those who shed blood should pay for their crime with their own blood (Gen. 9:5–6). This principle was enunciated repeatedly in the Law, but God made a distinction between murder and manslaughter (Ex. 21:12–14; Lev. 24:17; Num. 35:16–21; Deut. 19:11–13). “Blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. Therefore do not defile the land which you inhabit” (Num. 35:33–34, NKJV)." (Be Strong -- Joshua: Putting God's Power to Work in Your Life) Campbell gives some historical context on why cities of refuge were so important - The fact that these cities are discussed in four books of the Old Testament marks them as being of great importance. It is apparent that God wished to impress on Israel the sanctity of human life. To put an end to a person’s life, even if done unintentionally, is a serious thing, and the cities of refuge underscored this emphatically. In the ancient world blood revenge was widely practiced. The moment a person was killed, his nearest relative took responsibility for vengeance. This ancient rite of vendetta was often handed down from one generation to another so that increasingly larger numbers of innocent people died violently. The need in ancient Israel for the refuge that these special cities provided is evident. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament) Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'Designate the cities of refuge (miqlat; Lxx = phugadeuterion - place of refuge), of which I spoke to you through Moses - Keep the historical context in mind to help understand the value of the cities of refuge -- in short, ancient Israel had no police force, no local sheriff, no jails, etc. Justice for killing someone was undertaken by the family, by the so-called avenger of blood. The concept of cities of refuge was given by God to prevent a person from being "avenged" who had not committed intentional murder. Today we refer to such killing by the term manslaughter. Yahweh had spoken to Moses on three occasions about these special cities of asylum - Exodus 21:12–14+, Numbers 35:6-34+, and Deuteronomy 19:1–13+ Clearly this was an important principle to the LORD, and underscores His desire to show mercy and assure that justice is carried out in the land, so that the land is not polluted and defiled (Nu 35:33-34+). This regulation distinguished Israel and thus Israel's God, for this was not the practice of the pagan, godless nations around them. And notice from the map that in God's infinite wisdom and mercy He commanded Joshua to space these six cities throughout in the land, 3 on either side of the Jordan River, so that they would be within easy reach of anyone who seeking refuge from the avenger of blood. "Since the Holy Land is about the size of the state of Maryland, you can see that nobody was very far from a city of refuge." (Wiersbe)