Joshua, chapter 23 & 24, brief comments

 

Joshua 23:1 ¶  And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. 2  And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age: 3  And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you. 4  Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. 5  And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you. 6  Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; 7  That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: 8  But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day. 9  For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. 10  One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

 

Hear Joshua’s last will and testament as you read it. Importantly he reminds the Israelites of what God had done for them and what He still planned to do.

 

Joshua 23:11 ¶  Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God. 12  Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: 13  Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. 14  And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. 15  Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. 16  When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

 

There are also consequences for forgetting what God has done and disobeying Him. Notice verse 16 says when, not if. In the next chapter he also expresses his pessimism.

 

Joshua, chapter 24

 

Joshua 24:1 ¶  And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. 2  And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. 3  And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. 4  And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. 5  I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out. 6  And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea. 7  And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season. 8  And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you. 9  Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you: 10  But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand. 11  And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand. 12  And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow. 13  And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat. 14  Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

 

In verse 2 on the other side of the flood is not a reference to the Great Flood of Noah’s time but, in the context, a reference to the dwelling place of Abraham and his father. Ur, the city they lived in before traveling east was on the Euphrates River near the Persian Gulf but the site is much further inland than it was then. Although the site of Ur is west of the Euphrates River, Abraham’s journey to Haran in what is now southern Turkey would have taken him across the river possibly from Ur and then further north.

 

Joshua 24:15 ¶  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. 16  And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; 17  For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: 18  And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God. 19  And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. 20  If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. 21  And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD. 22  And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. 23  Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel. 24  And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. 25  So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26  And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. 27  And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God. 28  So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.

 

Joshua’s declaration in verse 15 is classic. We could easily say, “choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods of wealth and materialism, entertainment, sports, or sex: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

 

Verses 19 and 20 show Joshua’s pessimism as before and how little confidence he has in the Israelites’ ability or willingness to obey God. Not only does Joshua doubt their commitment but when the Israelites declare their intention to obey Joshua still has to order them to put away the foreign gods that they are honoring among them in verse 23. Clearly, idolatry was already present and apostasy was already in play. Joshua knew his people.

 

Joshua 24:29 ¶  And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 30  And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash. 31  And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel. 32  And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. 33  And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.

 

This sort of wraps some things up and concludes an important episode in Israel’s existence with the death of Joshua and Eleazar. Apostasy will make things get very bad as we will see in events that are reflected in every nation and kingdom of mankind throughout history.

 

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Joshua, chapter 22, brief comments

 

Joshua 22:1 ¶  Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 2  And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you: 3  Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God. 4  And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan. 5  But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. 6  So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents. 7  Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them, 8  And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren. 9  And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

 

Briefly, I just want to say that the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh did what they were supposed to do and have been released by Joshua to return to their possessions, but conflict caused by a misunderstanding is brewing as conflict often does when one does not understand the intentions of another.

 

Joshua 22:10 ¶  And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to. 11  And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel. 12  And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them. 13  And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, 14  And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel. 15  And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,  16  Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD? 17  Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD, 18  But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel. 19  Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD’S tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God. 20  Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.

 

The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar for a memorial, a remembrance, and a reminder of who they are to serve, in the border of Jordan as we will see in the next passage but the rest of the tribes are incensed believing they are committing idolatry, something they will do eventually.

 

Joshua 22:21 ¶  Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, 22  The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,) 23  That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it; 24  And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of

Israel? 25  For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. 26  Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: 27  But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD. 28  Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or

to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you. 29  God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.

 

The significance of this altar as a witness to their fidelity and of their belonging to the whole people of Israel. They reaffirm their part in the worship of the one true God.

 

Joshua 22:30 ¶  And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them. 31  And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD. 32  And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again. 33  And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt. 34  And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.

 

Phinehas had turned away God’s wrath in Numbers 25 by killing an Israelite and the Midianitish woman he was consorting with. Here, he is happy to report that apostasy has not taken place and that these tribes have not defied the Lord God.

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Joshua, chapter 21, very brief comments

 Joshua 21:1 ¶  Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel; 2  And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle. 3  And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs. 4  And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities. 5  And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities. 6  And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities. 7  The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. 8  And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

 

Joshua 21:9 ¶  And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name, 10  Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot. 11  And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about

it. 12  But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession. 13  Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs, 14  And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs, 15  And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs, 16  And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes. 17  And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs, 18  Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities. 19  All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs. 20  And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim. 21  For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs, 22  And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities. 23  And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs, 24  Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities. 25  And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities. 26  All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained. 27  And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities. 28  And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs, 29  Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities. 30  And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs, 31  Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities. 32  And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities. 33  All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs. 34  And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of

Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs, 35  Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities. 36  And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs, 37  Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities. 38  And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs, 39 

Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all. 40  So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities. 41  All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs. 42  These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.

 

In verses 1 and 2 the Levites ask for cities to dwell in as they were promised. Out of the tribes they are given cities and their environs, called suburbs, for their cattle. We use the term suburbs today for smaller towns and municipal entities outside of larger cities but here we can see that it refers to an area outside of a town that would support cattle.

 

Joshua 21:43 ¶  And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. 44  And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45  There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

 

For a brief period of time the Israelites have success and more importantly peace in their conquest of Canaan. This will change in the time of the Judges as we will see. 

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Joshua, chapter 20, brief comments

 

Joshua 20:1 ¶  The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, 2  Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: 3  That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4  And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. 5  And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime. 6  And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

 

Cities of refuge were detailed in the books of Moses.

 

Exodus 21:13  And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

 

“Numbers 35:1 ¶  And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 2  Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them. 3  And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts. 4  And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about. 5  And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities. 6  And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. 7  So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. 8  And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.

 

The Levites receive cities, towns we would say, and had no provision for tillage or farming, as Matthew Henry noted, because they were supported by the tithe and increase of others. However, there was room for their animals to dwell in. Cities of refuge are mentioned here and explained in the next passage.

Exodus 21:13  And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

 

Numbers 35:9 ¶  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 10  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 11  Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. 12  And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. 13  And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge. 14  Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge. 15  These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. 16  And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 17  And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 18  Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 19  The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. 20  But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die; 21  Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him. 22  But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait, 23  Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm: 24  Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments: 25  And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. 26  But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; 27  And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: 28  Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession. 29  So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 30  Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. 31  Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. 32  And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. 33  So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. 34  Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

 

I think this is really clear. These cities where a person guilty of manslaughter or accidental killing could flee would not provide protection for an intentional murderer. It appears that this is a remedy to keep blood feuds from developing because of unintentional killings. A kinsman who wants revenge will not be permitted to take the life of someone who is judged to have committed the offense unintentionally.

We can picture in our minds how the cities of refuge to which the manslayer fled typifies Christ to whom we flee. We come to Christ and are under God’s protection. But, be careful how far you take that as types always fall apart at some point. For instance, you can be forgiven even if you murdered someone deliberately in your past. There is no sin that keeps you from God’s forgiveness if you seek it with tears and repentance. Still might not keep you from getting killed by a relative of the victim or locked up for life but we’re talking about eternity. Nevertheless David appealed to the greatness of his own sin and to God’s name’s sake for mercy.

Psalm 25:11  For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.”

 

Reference to the cities of refuge is also made in Deuteronomy, chapters 4 and 19.

 

Joshua 20:7 ¶  And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. 8  And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. 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.

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Joshua, chapter 19, brief comments

 Joshua 19:1 ¶  And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah. 2  And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, or Sheba, and Moladah, 3  And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem, 4  And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah, 5  And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah, 6  And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages: 7  Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages: 8  And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. 9  Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.

 

Although this might seem strange the tribe of Simeon got their inheritance from a part of Judah’s which was too large for Judah’s tribe. Simeon did not produce important people or cause great events to happen. Back in chapter 15:20-63 it appears that Judah had more than it could handle. Judah didn’t complain.

 

Joshua 19:10 ¶  And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid: 11  And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam; 12  And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia, 13  And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah; 14  And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel: 15  And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages. 16  This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

 

Zebulun’s border is toward the sea as per verse 11. Note Jacob’s prophecy.

 

Genesis 49:13 ¶  Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.

 

 

Joshua 19:17 ¶  And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. 18  And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, 19  And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath, 20  And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, 21  And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez; 22  And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages. 23  This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

 

Joshua 19:24 ¶  And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. 25  And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, 26  And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath; 27  And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand, 28  And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon; 29  And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib: 30  Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages. 31  This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

 

Joshua 19:32 ¶  The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families. 33  And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan: 34  And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising. 35  And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth, 36  And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor, 37  And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor, 38  And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages. 39  This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.

 

Matthew 4:13  And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:14  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,15  The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

 

Alluding to this verse;

 

Isaiah 9:1 ¶  Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2  The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

 

Joshua 19:40 ¶  And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. 41  And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh, 42  And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, 43  And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, 44  And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, 45  And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon, 46  And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho. 47  And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father. 48  This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.

 

Dan is going to be a problem, as we will see in Judges. Note the prophecy from Jacob.

 

Genesis 49:17  Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

 

In Revelation, chapter 7, Dan is not listed and Manasseh takes that tribes place so something has happened that prevents Dan from being included at the end time. I believe the answer to why Dan was excluded in the list in Revelation will be found in Judges. So we will see.

 

Dan is not satisfied with what they have been given. This is a problem for the Christian in America who is never satisfied with the blessings God has given them and always want more, more, more.

 

1Timothy 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

 

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

Joshua 19:49 ¶  When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them: 50  According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein. 51  These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.

 

Joshua waits until everyone else’s inheritance is divided before he accepts his own. In the army I was told that the order was men first, mission second, materiel last and that the officer should wait to receive his chow after his men had gotten theirs. This is a fundamental of leadership, one often forgotten by narcissistic and selfish leaders.

 

The final note is that this was all done at Shiloh where the tabernacle was set up.

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Joshua, chapter 18, very brief comments

 

Joshua 18:1 ¶  And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.

 

Shiloh is a significant place as the location of the tabernacle of the congregation in Israel.

 

1Samuel 1:3a  And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh…

 

Jeremiah 7:12  But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.

  

Joshua 18:2 ¶  And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. 3  And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you? 4  Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me. 5  And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north. 6  Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God. 7  But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them. 8  And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh. 9  And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh. 10  And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.

 

Other than this command to get to work an interesting thing here is in verse 10. It was understood that there was no such thing as chance or luck but that any casting of lots was disposed of by God. We talk about luck, chance, randomness, and the odds all day long but the reality is that no flip of the coin or roll of the dye is out of God’s control.

 

Joshua 18:11 ¶  And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph. 12  And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven. 13  And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron. 14  And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of

the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter. 15  And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah: 16  And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel, 17  And was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, 18  And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah: 19  And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast. 20  And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This

was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families. 21  Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz, 22  And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel, 23  And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah, 24  And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages: 25  Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, 26  And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah, 27  And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah, 28  And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

 

The tribe of Benjamin will play an important role not only in a horrific controversy in Judges but also as the tribe from which King Saul and the Apostle Paul will come from. 

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Brief comments on Joshua, chapter 17

 Joshua 17:1 ¶  There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan. 2  There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families. 3  But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4  And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father. 5  And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan; 6  Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.

 

Some verses that pertain to verse 1 in chapter 17 here are;

 

Genesis 41:51  And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.

 

Genesis 50:23  And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.

 

Numbers 26:29  Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.

 

This is a reference to the tribe, identifying it by its founders, who are not still alive at this writing.

 

Commentators in the past have said that the descendants of Machir and Gilead, the Gileadites received this possession because they were warlike and brave, and possibly also because of their numbers being able to subdue and occupy the land. The rest of the children of Manasseh did get an inheritance as well.

 

See previous comments on this demand from the daughters;

 

“Numbers 27:1 ¶  Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 2  And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 3  Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered

themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons. 4  Why should the name of our father be done away from among his

family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father. 5  And Moses brought their cause before the LORD. 6  And the LORD spake

unto Moses, saying, 7  The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause

the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. 8  And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to

pass unto his daughter. 9  And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. 10  And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father’s brethren. 11  And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.

 

Provision is made for inheritance through daughters or other near relatives when there are no sons to keep the inherited land within a tribe and in spite of the fact that the father died in his own sin whatever that was although it was certainly not in the rebellion of Korah. The complication we will learn in chapter 36 is that if those daughters marry outside of their tribe the inheritance goes with them to the other tribe as the heads of the tribes understood the rule but God clarified that the inheritance was not to change tribes and that a daughter must marry within her tribe. We’ll discuss this more when we get to chapter 36.

Numbers 36:5 ¶  And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well. 6  This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry. 7  So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. 8  And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. 9  Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance. 10  Even as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad: 11  For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father’s brothers’ sons: 12  And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father. 13  These are the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.

 

The solution to this problem is laid out by Moses. The daughters of Zelophehad can inherit their father’s property but it must remain in the tribe to whom it belongs.”

Joshua 17:7 ¶  And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah. 8  Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim; 9  And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea: 10  Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east. 11  And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries. 12  Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. 13  Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.

 

Notice the following;

 

Judges 1:27  Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

 

Here is the danger of these failures.

 

Exodus 23:32  Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.

And it’s not just a spiritual danger but a political one as well as in Deborah’s song.

 

Judges 5:19  The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.

 

Joshua 17:14 ¶  And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto? 15  And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. 16  And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel. 17  And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: 18  But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.

 

The children of Joseph can refer to Manasseh and Ephraim.

 

Joshua 14:4  For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

 

Joshua 16:4  So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

 

Manasseh and Ephraim are complaining, boasting about their greatness. Joshua gives them a fitting answer to chastise AND to encourage.