8 And on the other side H5676 Jordan H3383 by Jericho H3405 eastward, H4217 they assigned H5414 Bezer H1221 in the wilderness H4057 upon the plain H4334 out of the tribe H4294 of Reuben, H7205 and Ramoth H7216 in Gilead H1568 out of the tribe H4294 of Gad, H1410 and Golan H1474 in Bashan H1316 out of the tribe H4294 of Manasseh. H4519
And out of the tribe of Reuben, H7205 Bezer H1221 with her suburbs, and Jahazah H3096 with her suburbs,
And on the other side H5676 Jordan H3383 by Jericho, H3405 on the east side H4217 of Jordan, H3383 were given them out of the tribe H4294 of Reuben, H7205 Bezer H1221 in the wilderness H4057 with her suburbs, H4054 and Jahzah H3096 with her suburbs, H4054
And unto the children H1121 of Gershon, H1648 of the families H4940 of the Levites, H3881 out of the other half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh H4519 they gave Golan H1474 in Bashan H1316 with her suburbs, H4054 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Beeshterah H1203 with her suburbs; H4054 two H8147 cities. H5892
And out of the tribe H4294 of Gad, H1410 Ramoth H7433 in Gilead H1568 with her suburbs, H4054 to be a city H5892 of refuge H4733 for the slayer; H7523 and Mahanaim H4266 with her suburbs, H4054
Namely, Bezer H1221 in the wilderness, H4057 in the plain H4334 country, H776 of the Reubenites; H7206 and Ramoth H7216 in Gilead, H1568 of the Gadites; H1425 and Golan H1474 in Bashan, H1316 of the Manassites. H4520
And the king H4428 of Israel H3478 said H559 unto his servants, H5650 Know H3045 ye that Ramoth H7433 in Gilead H1568 is ours, and we be still, H2814 and take H3947 it not out of the hand H3027 of the king H4428 of Syria? H758 And he said H559 unto Jehoshaphat, H3092 Wilt thou go H3212 with me to battle H4421 to Ramothgilead? H7433 H1568 And Jehoshaphat H3092 said H559 to the king H4428 of Israel, H3478 I am as thou H3644 art, my people H5971 as thy people, H5971 my horses H5483 as thy horses. H5483
Then the king H4428 of Israel H3478 gathered H6908 the prophets H5030 together, H6908 about four H702 hundred H3967 men, H376 and said H559 unto them, Shall I go H3212 against Ramothgilead H7433 H1568 to battle, H4421 or shall I forbear? H2308 And they said, H559 Go up; H5927 for the Lord H136 shall deliver H5414 it into the hand H3027 of the king. H4428
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 20
Commentary on Joshua 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 20
Jos 20:1-6. The Lord Commands the Cities of Refuge.
1-3. The Lord spake unto Joshua … Appoint out for you cities of refuge—(See Nu 35:9-28; De 19:1-13). The command here recorded was given on their going to occupy their allotted settlements. The sanctuaries were not temples or altars, as in other countries, but inhabited cities; and the design was not to screen criminals, but only to afford the homicide protection from the vengeance of the deceased's relatives until it should have been ascertained whether the death had resulted from accident and momentary passion, or from premeditated malice. The institution of the cities of refuge, together with the rules prescribed for the guidance of those who sought an asylum within their walls, was an important provision, tending to secure the ends of justice as well as of mercy.
4. he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city—It was the place of public resort, and on arriving there he related his tale of distress to the elders, who were bound to give him shelter and the means of support, until the local authorities (Jos 20:6), having carefully investigated the case, should have pronounced the decision. If found guilty, the manslayer was surrendered to the blood-avenger; if extenuating circumstances appeared, he was to remain in the city of refuge, where he would be safe from the vindictive feelings of his pursuers; but he forfeited the privilege of immunity the moment he ventured beyond the walls.
6. until the death of the high priest—His death secured the complete deliverance of the manslayer from his sin, only because he had been anointed with the holy oil (Nu 35:25), the symbol of the Holy Ghost; and thus the death of the earthly high priest became a type of that of the heavenly one (Heb 9:14, 15).
Jos 20:7-9. The Israelites Appoint by Name the Cities of Refuge.
7-9. they appointed … cities—There were six; three on the west, and three on the east, of Jordan. In the first instance, they were a provision of the criminal law of the Hebrews, necessary in the circumstances of that people (see on Nu 35:11; De 19:2). At the same time they were designed also typically to point out the sinner's way to Christ (Heb 6:18).