Day 78 · Part 5: The Promised Land
Cities of Refuge
In the Story
In context
The six cities of refuge were named: Kedesh in Naphtali, Shechem in Ephraim and Hebron in Judah, north to south, west of the Jordan, and Bezer, Ramoth in Gilead and Golan to the east (Joshua 20:7–8). Someone who had killed by accident told his case to the elders at the city gate and lived there until his trial and “until the death of the high priest” (20:4–6). The cities were for “the alien who lives among them” too (20:9).
The Levites received forty-eight cities with their pasture lands, by lot, from all the tribes (21:1–42). Then comes a summing up: “Nothing failed of any good thing which Yahweh had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass” (21:45).
Joshua sent Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh home across the Jordan, because they had kept their promise to Moses: “You have not left your brothers these many days” (22:1–6; Numbers 32:20–22). On the way they built a large altar by the Jordan, and the other tribes gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them (22:10–12). Phinehas and ten leaders went to ask why; it was not for sacrifices, they answered, but a witness, and the matter ended in peace (22:13–34).
that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil, where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:18–20 · Israel’s cities of refuge sheltered those who fled to them; Hebrews calls hope “an anchor of the soul” for those “who have fled for refuge.”
For families
The tribes east of the Jordan built their altar for their children’s sake: “a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us,” so “that your children may not tell our children in time to come, ‘You have no portion in Yahweh’” (Joshua 22:27).
The altar was meant to keep the children on both sides of the river together. What helps cousins who live far apart stay close?
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
Joshua 20
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Joshua 21
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Joshua 22
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A hymn for today
Rock of Ages · words by Augustus M. Toplady
- Rock of Ages, cleft for me,Let me hide myself in Thee;Let the water and the blood,From Thy wounded side which flowed,Be of sin the double cure,Save from wrath and make me pure.
- Not the labor of my handsCan fulfill Thy law's demands;Could my zeal no respite know,Could my tears forever flow,All for sin could not atone;Thou must save, and Thou alone.
- Nothing in my hand I bring,Simply to Thy cross I cling;Naked, come to Thee for dress;Helpless, look to Thee for grace;Foul, I to the fountain fly;Wash me, Savior, or I die.
- While I draw this fleeting breath,When mine eyes shall close in death,When I soar to worlds unknown,See Thee on Thy judgment throne,Rock of Ages, cleft for me,Let me hide myself in Thee.