The Refuge Cities Named

Narrator: Chris Genthree
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Joshua 20
We read that God said the people should have cities of refuge. Those were cities where any person, who, by accident, caused another person to be hurt and die, could run to, and be kept safe from the one who would punish him.
There were to be six of these cities, each in a central part, and all the people were to be told about them.
The plan for these safe cities had been written down before they cone to Canaan. Yet Joshua might have forgotten to tell the people just which cities were for refuge. But the Lord did not forget, and reminded Joshua to appoint them.
The people who lived in the refuge cities were of the tribe of Levi, and the men took care of the Tent of God. Some of those men were to listen to the story of any man who ran to a refuge city, and judge if true, and keep him there where no one could hurt him.
The plan for the cities of refuge shows us how well God knew the troubles which the people would have, and how carefully He planned to save those who would do as He said.
We do not read after this of any who ran to a refuge city, but surely there were those who had such trouble and believed God’s way to save them, and would quickly run to the nearest refuge city.
But if anyone hated another person, and caused his death on purpose; that one could not stay in a refuge city, but must be punished for his sin (Num. 35:9-169And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 10Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 11Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. 12And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. 13And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge. 14Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge. 15These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. 16And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. (Numbers 35:9‑16); Deut. 19:1-111When the Lord thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the Lord thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses; 2Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it. 3Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither. 4And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbor ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; 5As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbor, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: 6Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. 7Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee. 8And if the Lord thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers; 9If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the Lord thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three: 10That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee. 11But if any man hate his neighbor, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: (Deuteronomy 19:1‑11)).
ML 05/22/1938