SIX cities of refuge that are selected throughout Israel. A city of refuge was first commanded by Moses during the wilderness wanderings. Now Joshua is carrying out the LORD’s command.

Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20) “Manslayer” – someone who commits the act of murder Only those who murdered someone without INTENT or UKNOWINGLY could flee to a city of refuge “Avenger of blood” – otherwise known as redeemer Life belongs to God, who has AUTHORITY in issues of life and death. The “avenger” would exercise authority on God’s behalf – early forms of capital punishment.

Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20) The “manslayer” would FLEE to a city of refuge and stand at the entrance of the GATE and plea his case before the ELDERS of the city. If the “avenger of blood” comes the “manslayer” would not be released into this custody but would find REFUGE in the city. He could only return HOME after he has stood before the CONGREGATION for judgment, and the death of the HIGH priest.

Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20) The death of the High Priest, intercessor for all Israel, evidently restored harmony and signaled the safe release of the manslayer to his hometown. Death of the OT high priest anticipated the death of our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, whose blood makes full atonement for all people. See the books of Hebrews

Cities of Refuge 6 of the 48 cities designated to the Levities would be cities of refuge The fact that these were Levite cities places a special BURDEN for judgment and justice on the priestly tribe. The locations of these six cities, no more than 30 miles from any spot in the land, made it possible for one fleeing to arrive at a city of refugee within hours. These cities lie in a horseshoe pattern beginning in the northwest and ending in the northeast.

The Levitical Allotment (chapter 21) Then the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel. 2 And they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, “The Lord commanded through Moses that we be given cities to dwell in, along with their pasturelands for our livestock.” 3 So by command of the Lord the people of Israel gave to the Levites the following cities and pasturelands out of their inheritance.

41 The cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the people of Israel were in all forty-eight cities with their pasturelands. 42 These cities each had its pasturelands around it. So it was with all these cities. 43 Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. 44 And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass

The Levitical Allotment (chapter 21) The LORD is FAITHFUL and FULFILLS his promise to give the land. A tone of praise and thanksgiving resonates as the author reflects Joshua’s own words. The LORD has given Israel REST by defeating their enemies, providing security, and given them land after 40 years of wandering. This REST anticipates the more valuable rest found only in Jesus and received through FAITH.

The Eastern Tribes Return Home Joshua gathers together the 2 ½ tribes that will now live on the EAST side of the Jordan River. (22.1) He commends them … (22.2-3) You have kept all the commands of Moses You have obeyed my voice You have not forsaken your brothers You have kept the charge of the Lord No go HOME to your land and the promised REST God will now give you (22.4) He will give a COMMAND (22.5) and a blessing (22.6)

Eastern Tribes Altar of Witness

Eastern Tribes Altar of Witness On their way home the 2 ½ tribes built an altar of “imposing size” This was not small, secret altar. Everybody would have known about it. (22.10) When the people of Israel – 9 ½ tribes hear about it they become very ANGRY So they gather forces at SHILO and prepare to make war against the EAST TRIBES. Why?

Deuteronomy 13:12 – 15 12 “If you hear in one of your cities, which the Lord your God is giving you to dwell there, 13 that certain worthless fellows have gone out among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, 14 then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently. And behold, if it be true and certain that such an abomination has been done among you, 15 you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, devoting it to destruction, all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword. 

The Tribal Elders Confrontation 3 Then the people of Israel sent to the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, 14 and with him ten chiefs, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, every one of them the head of a family among the clans of Israel. 15 And they came to the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they said to them,

‘What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this day from following the Lord by building yourselves an altar this day in rebellion against the Lord? (22.16)

The Tribal Elders Confrontation They go into a long series of evil actions by the nation of Israel and sins that still need to be dealt with And they are frightened that this REBELLION will bring God’s wrath upon the land. So they plead for the tribes not to rebel against the LORD by building for yourselves an altar where the LORD’s tabernacle stands. (22.19)

The EASTERN Response 22 “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against the Lord, do not spare us today 23 for building an altar to turn away from following the Lord. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself take vengeance. 24 No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 For the Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the Lord.’ So your children might make our children cease to worship the Lord. 

The EASTERN Response 26 Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, 27 but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, “You have no portion in the Lord.”’ 28 And we thought, ‘If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we should say, “Behold, the copy of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you.”’ 29 Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away this day from following the Lord by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle!”

No breach of faith has been found The report was good and Israel blessed the LORD