Post by Lee on Apr 17, 2014 1:38:48 GMT
The Cities of Refuge.
The shedding of blood avenged by the nearest male relative, it therefore became desirable to appoint cities where a man who had killed another might fly. The land was about 144 miles long, the cities would therefore be about 40 miles apart, no man would have to go above 20 miles to reach his refuge. When he reached the City of Refuge, the manslayer was tried, and if found guilty of murder, was given up to the avenger, if not, he had to remain in the city until the death of the High Priest (see Num. 35.). Christ is our City of Refuge, if we remain in him we are safe; outside death awaits us. Let us all abide in him (John 15:4, 6–7). The Lord will be a refuge to the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble (Psa. 9:9–10).
Joshua 21. records the appointment of the forty-eight Levitical cities. Thirteen of these were for the Priests, and were situated in the three tribes of Simeon, Judah, and Benjamin. This shews that God controlled the disposal of the lot with a view to the time when Jerusalem should be the capital and centre of Israel’s worship.
1901 Christadelphian p226
The shedding of blood avenged by the nearest male relative, it therefore became desirable to appoint cities where a man who had killed another might fly. The land was about 144 miles long, the cities would therefore be about 40 miles apart, no man would have to go above 20 miles to reach his refuge. When he reached the City of Refuge, the manslayer was tried, and if found guilty of murder, was given up to the avenger, if not, he had to remain in the city until the death of the High Priest (see Num. 35.). Christ is our City of Refuge, if we remain in him we are safe; outside death awaits us. Let us all abide in him (John 15:4, 6–7). The Lord will be a refuge to the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble (Psa. 9:9–10).
Joshua 21. records the appointment of the forty-eight Levitical cities. Thirteen of these were for the Priests, and were situated in the three tribes of Simeon, Judah, and Benjamin. This shews that God controlled the disposal of the lot with a view to the time when Jerusalem should be the capital and centre of Israel’s worship.
1901 Christadelphian p226