365 Reflections

Joshua 20 is the fulfillment of Moses' command from the Lord for the Israelites to establish cities of refuge for anyone who may have killed someone by accident. The Law required there to be an avenger of blood from the family of a murdered person when the murder was pre-meditated. However, in cases where the murder happened accidentally, there was to be a merciful option for the guilty party. Joshua 20:2-3 (ESV) “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. Joshua 20:6 (ESV)  And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.’ ” In an ancient world, this concept was groundbreaking. Ret...

Deuteronomy 19:7–10 (ESV) Therefore I command you, You shall set apart three cities. 8 And if the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land that he promised to give to your fathers— 9 provided you are careful to keep all this commandment, which I command you today, by loving the Lord your God and by walking ever in his ways—then you shall add three other cities to these three, 10 lest innocent blood be shed in your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, and so the guilt of bloodshed be upon you. I have already spoken about the cities of refuge mentioned in Numbers 35 and how they serve as a type of Christ for sinners to avoid the wrath of sin and how at the death of the high priest, the man slayer might return home. So too in Christ, we have the right to return home since our high priest has died for us. Here in Deuteronomy God gives Moses an additional command concerning the cities. Remember ...