July 1, 2021
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Reading along with us in Joshua? Here’s today’s reading:
Joshua 20 (NIV)
Cities of Refuge
1Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.........Continue Reading
These cities of refuge is such a wise provision for a society. To recognize the distinction between purposeful and accidental killing is a necessary part of justice and yet the lose of life still affects people deeply independent of the cause. So these cities allow the opportunity for an objective evaluation of events while the accused is kept safe. The death of the current high priest is an interesting marker of time and brings with it a potential disruption of life that is representative of the disruption of life even in the case of someone killed accidentally.
Joshua 21
Joshua 20
And this distinction continues today with the concept of manslaughter.
God provides places of asylum for the innocent, and righteous judgment before the congregation.
Cities of refuge are such a nice picture of God’s protection and justice in action. Especially in these times when vengeance seemed to be so common.
1Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. 4When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state their case before the elders of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. 5If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. 6They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.”