Here we see the final stages being put into place to fully distribute this land of promise to the 12 tribes of Israel. First, there had to be cities of refuge established and cities for the priestly tribes of Levi. God's concern for their establishment tells us a lot about what is important to God. Justice and compassion lay at the heart of why the cities of refuge were established. There was no formal police force in ancient societies. Justice was sought by retribution from the family of the person wronged or decisions by elders of each community on accusations of wrongdoing. Cities of refuge were set up to protect a person who had unintentionally caused the death of someone. Without this place of refuge, a person accused of murder may not have lived long enough to stand trial before the elders. Family members of the person killed could have taken things into their own hands. Justice and compassion in the midst of an imperfect world were to be in place from the outset of this new nation that represented God to the rest of the world. Cities were also to be set up throughout the tribes of Israel for the priestly tribe of Levi. God had ordained that these priestly families were not to inherit anything in the land of Canaan as personal property. God promised them that He would be their reward, their inheritance. God therefore had each of the other 11 tribes give property to the Levites. This shows us the value God places on the ministry of the priesthood in bringing God and humanity together. These values must be transferred to our own time and place. We, as God's people, must be a people who are both a refuge to those in trouble and a genuine support to those who today, through Christ, bring God and humanity together. The establishment of these two types of cities brings us to one of the most glorious declarations of God's faithfulness that continues today. First, "all the land" God promised, they possessed. Second, "rest all around" was the environment in which they lived. God delivered all their enemies into their hands, and not a word of the Lord's promises had failed. This will always be the end result of God's eternal promises, His Word. It will never fail! 1 The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 And when he flees to one of those cities, and stands at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declares his case in the hearing of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city as one of them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. 5 Then if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, but did not hate him beforehand. 6 And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the slayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled.'" 7 So they appointed Kedesh in Galilee, in the mountains of Naphtali, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in the mountains of Judah. 8 And on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwelt among them, that whoever killed a person accidentally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.
"The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand." –Joshua 21:44
The Cities of Refuge
v. 1 cities of refuge – At this point the Israelites surveyed and divided the land. These verses explain the renewal of an order from God through Moses to set up places of refuge or protection for those involved in an accidental death or manslaughter (Num. 35:9-28, Deut. 19: 1-13). This gave people a place to flee for protection by city officials from angry family members of the deceased until a judgment of guilt or innocence could be made. Entrance of the gate of the city – traditionally where the elders (rulers) of the city made official and binding decisions for the people of that city v. 7 They appointed – The original word for appointed is "sanctified," as Christ sanctified Himself (John 17:19). These cities of refuge are a picture of Christ our refuge. These cities in the Promised Land were strategically located (three on the west of the Jordan River and three on the east) so that any one of them could be reached in half a day. As well, they were built on hills where they would be easily located. This signifies that God is our refuge close at hand. These cities belonged to the Levites who were set apart for ministry. Their names may have some significance to this picture of "Christ our refuge." | Kedesh – This word means "holy." Jesus is our holy refuge. Shechem – a shoulder — "and the government will be upon His shoulder" (Is. 9:6). v. 8 Bezer – a fortification — the Lord is our strong tower Hebron – fellowship — we are called to fellowship with God through Christ Golan – joy or exultation — the joy of the Lord is our strength Ramoth – high or exalted — God has exalted Jesus above every name principality or power and every knee shall bow to Him. |
Cities of the Levites 1 Then the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the children of Israel. 2 And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, "The LORD commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their common-lands for our livestock." 3 So the children of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their common-lands: 4 Now the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. And the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen cities by lot from the tribe of Judah, from the tribe of Simeon, and from the tribe of Benjamin. 5 The rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh. 6 And the children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
Joshua 21 The cities designated to the Levites v. 1 heads of the fathers – The distinguished leaders over all the family divisions of the tribe of Levi, these three distinct family lines were Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites. The descendants of Aaron formed a fourth group who acted as the priests. Aaron's descendants were both Levites and priests. The other three branches were Levites but not priests. v. 2 Shiloh – Its name meaning "place of rest," this city was in the land of Ephraim and was the temporary home of the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle. cities to dwell in – The Levites were not allotted a large portion of the Promised Land to be named after their tribe, but instead given cities to dwell in with common lands for their livestock. This was in accordance with the command of God through Moses in Numbers 35:2-5. v. 4 Kohathites – These were the descendants of Kohath, the second son of Levi. Their specific Levitical job description that distinguished them from the other two family lines of Levi was that they were given the responsibility to care for the most holy things of the Tabernacle. During the time of the children of Israel's journey in the wilderness, the Kohathites were responsible for breaking down the tent of meeting and packing all the most holy articles of the tabernacle for transport. As well, they were responsible for setting them up again when the cloud rested over a place, designating a new encampment for Israel. | children of Aaron – Aaron himself was a Levite. All his male descendants were to be the priests. Levites – These were the descendants of Levi, who was the third son of Jacob by Leah (Gen. 29:32-34). God specially set this tribe aside for His service (Num. 8:19; 18:2-6). Thirteen cites – The Kohathites were allotted a total of 13 cities and common lands for their livestock. The record of cities given out v. 6-42 – These verses contain the record of the 48 cities (v. 41) that were divided up unto the families within the tribe of Levi. Some of the cities listed here are in uncertain locations. The tribe of Levi was strategically spread out throughout the Promised Land to give all the children of Israel equal exposure to the godly influence of this priestly tribe. v. 6 children of Gershon – Gershon was firstborn son of Levi born before Jacob's family went to Egypt. His descendants were known as the Gershonites. This was the family line of the tribe of Levi, which was given responsibility to care for and transport the fabrics (i.e. the coverings, curtains, hangings and cords) of the tabernacle (Num. 3:25, 26; 4:25, 26). |
7 The children of Merari according to their families had twelve cities from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun. 8 And the children of Israel gave these cities with their common-lands by lot to the Levites, as the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses. 9 So they gave from the tribe of the children of Judah and from the tribe of the children of Simeon these cities which are designated by name, 10 which were for the children of Aaron, one of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for the lot was theirs first. 11 And they gave them Kirjath Arba (Arba was the father of Anak), which is Hebron, in the mountains of Judah, with the common-land surrounding it. 12 But the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his possession. 13 Thus to the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Libnah with its common-land, 14 Jattir with its common-land, Eshtemoa with its common-land, 15 Holon with its common-land, Debir with its common-land, 16 Ain with its common-land, Juttah with its common-land, and Beth Shemesh with its common-land: nine cities from those two tribes; 17 and from the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its common-land, Geba with its common-land, 18 Anathoth with its common-land, and Almon with its common-land: four cities. 19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their common-lands. 20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, the rest of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot from the tribe of Ephraim. 21 For they gave them Shechem with its common-land in the mountains of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the slayer), Gezer with its common-land, 22 Kibzaim with its common-land, and Beth Horon with its common-land: four cities; 23 and from the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with its common-land, Gibbethon with its common-land, 24 Aijalon with its common-land, and Gath Rimmon with its common-land: four cities; 25 and from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with its common-land and Gath Rimmon with its common-land: two cities. 26 All the ten cities with their common-lands were for the rest of the families of the children of Kohath.
v. 7 children of Merari – Merari, the third son of Levi, formed the third branch of the Levitical family (Gen. 46:11, Ex. 6:16, Num. 3:17). Merari's descendants were given the responsibility to care for the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, vessels, pins, and cords of the tabernacle (Num. 3:36, 37; 4:29-33). v. 11 Hebron – a city in south Judah approx 20 miles south of Jerusalem and 20 miles north of Beersheba Common land – the suburb given to the Levites along with each city for their livestock and sustenance (Josh. 14:4) | v. 12 But the fields…they gave to Caleb – The Lord had promised through Moses that Caleb would receive all the land that he had personally spied out as a reward for his faithful heart toward Him (Deut. 1:34-36). Later this was reaffirmed through Joshua (Josh. 14:13-15). v. 13 city of refuge for the slayer – God had commanded Moses to establish six "cities of refuge" to be spread throughout the Promised Land so that any who might accidentally kill another may flee for protection from retaliation until a fair trial (Num. 35:6, Josh. 20:3-5). v. 19 thirteen cities – The children of Aaron, who were the priests, were allotted 13 cities with their common lands for their livestock. |
27 Also to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, from the other half-tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), and Be Eshterah with its common-land: two cities; 28 and from the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its common-land, Daberath with its common-land, 29 Jarmuth with its common-land, and En Gannim with its common-land: four cities; 30 and from the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its common-land, Abdon with its common-land, 31 Helkath with its common-land, and Rehob with its common-land: four cities; 32 and from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Hammoth Dor with its common-land, and Kartan with its common-land: three cities. 33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their common-lands. 34 And to the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its common-land, Kartah with its common-land, 35 Dimnah with its common-land, and Nahalal with its common-land: four cities; 36 and from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its common-land, Jahaz with its common-land, 37 Kedemoth with its common-land, and Mephaath with its common-land: four cities; 38 and from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Mahanaim with its common-land, 39 Heshbon with its common-land, and Jazer with its common-land: four cities in all. 40 So all the cities for the children of Merari according to their families, the rest 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-eight cities with their common-lands. 42 Every one of these cities had its common-land surrounding it; thus were all these cities. The Promise Fulfilled 43 So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. 44 The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
v. 33 thirteen cities – The Gershonites were given a total of 13 cities with their common lands for their livestock. v. 40 twelve cities – The family line of Merari was allotted a total of 12 cities with common lands for their livestock. v. 41 forty-eight cities – This was the total count of cities given to all the families within the tribe of Levi, including the Gershonites, Kohathites, Merarites and all of Aaron's descendants. | The Children of Israel take possession of the Promised Land v. 43 took possession of it and dwelt in it – This is a fulfillment of God's promise to Abram in Genesis 15:18-2, as well as the Lord's promises to Moses. v. 44 according to all – According to God's promise (Deut. 7:22-24, 31:3-5; Josh. 1:13), Israel found a place of peace with no threat from their enemies. |
