Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 20:9
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth [any] person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
9. These were the cities appointed ] “Civitates constitut,” Vulgate. “The citees ordeyned,” Wyclif.
for the stranger that sojourneth ] “And to comlyngis that dwellen among hem;” Wyclif. Observe that the Mosaic Law applied its merciful provisions not only to the members of the Elect Nation, as though they were a sacred “caste,” but to the “stranger” also that sojourned among them. The existence of such a class of “naturalized foreigners” in Israel is easily accounted for:
( a) The “ mixed multitude ” that came out of Egypt (Exo 12:38) formed one element;
( b) The remains of the Canaanites never wholly extirpated formed a second;
( c) Captives taken in war formed a third;
( d) Fugitives, hired servants, merchants formed a fourth. The census of these in Solomon’s time gave a return of 153,600 males (2Ch 2:17), which was nearly equal to about a tenth of the whole population.
that whosoever killeth any person ] Jewish commentators tell us how in later times, in order that the asylum offered to the involuntary homicide might be more secure, ( a) the roads leading to the Cities of Refuge were always kept in thorough repair, and required to be at least 32 cubits broad; ( b) all obstructions were removed that might stay the flier’s foot or hinder his speed; ( c) no hillock was left, no river was allowed over which there was not a bridge; ( d) at every turning there were posts erected bearing the words “ Refuge,” “ Refuge,” to guide the unhappy man in his flight; ( e) when once settled in such a city the manslayer had a convenient habitation assigned to him, and the citizens were to teach him some trade in order that he might support himself. See Kitto’s Biblical Cyclopdia, i. p. 527.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 9. For all the children of Israel, and for the stranger] As these typified the great provision which God was making for the salvation of both Jews and Gentiles, hence the stranger as well as the Israelite had the same right to the benefits of these cities of refuge. Is HE the God of the Jews only? Is HE not also the God of the Gentiles?
Until he stood before the congregation.] The judges and elders of the people, in trying civil and criminal causes, always sat; the persons who came for judgment, or who were tried, always stood; hence the expressions so frequent in Scripture, STANDING before the Lord, the judges, the elders, c.
IT is worthy of remark that the cities of refuge were given to the Levites see the following chapter. The sacrificial system alone afforded refuge; and while the suspected person was excluded from his family, c., he had the advantage of being with those whose business it was to instruct the ignorant, and comfort the disconsolate. Thus he had the means constantly at hand, by a careful use of which he might grow wiser and better secure the favour of his God, and a lot of blessedness in a better world. How wise, equal, and beneficent are all the institutions of God!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For the stranger; not only proselytes, but others also; because this was a matter of common right, that a distinction might be made between casual man-slayers and wilful murderers.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel,…. For the common use of them all, and not for that tribe only in which they stood:
and for the stranger that sojourneth among them; not only for the proselytes of righteousness, but for the proselytes of the gate also, as well as for the natives of Israel; Christ is a refuge for Jews and Gentiles, for all sinners that flee to him:
that whosoever killeth any person unawares might flee thither; and find shelter and safety:
and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood; getting thither before he could overtake him:
until he stood before the congregation: either before the congregation, the elders of the city, or court of judicature in the city of refuge, or before the court of his own city, from whence he fled, if summoned thither.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
9. And for the stranger A fore-shadowing of the provision for the salvation of the Gentiles through Christ. And not die by the hand of the avenger of blood. There was one important condition which must be constantly fulfilled the fugitive must not venture beyond the borders of his refuge (Num 35:27) until the death of the High Priest. Thus must the pardoned sinner by faith abide beneath the shelter of the atoning blood, or be irretrievably lost. Heb 6:6. These safeguards against interminable and bloody feuds are in striking contrast with the blood-revenge still existing in the East under Mohammedan law. “Two villages have disputed about a stray goat; there was first tremendous shouting, especially among the women, urging on their husbands and brothers to fight; then in a moment of excitement weapons were used, and blood was shed; and blood calls for blood. Thus every member of the family to the remotest degree is kept in constant dread. He stalks about, armed, at all hours and in all places with his goats on the mountain-side, with his donkey on the road, with his plough in the field; in seed-time and harvest, summer and winter, heat and cold. Imagination makes the ‘ avenger of blood’ follow him like a shadow, ever watchful for an unguarded moment to fall upon him. Many a family has this blood-revenge compelled to flee from house and home, and seek refuge among strangers; many a village it has left desolate, for none will live where the sentence of death hangs constantly over them. In the Koran this fearful law is commended: ‘O true believers, the law of retaliation is ordained to you for the slain; the free shall die for the free.’” Dr. Porter’s “Syria and Palestine.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unwittingly might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.’
The provision was for the sojourner as well as for true Israelite. A sojourner was a foreigner who came to live among Israel but did not wish to submit to circumcision and direct response to the covenant. He did not want directly to become an Israelite and dedicated worshipper of YHWH. His residence was not permanent, he ‘sojourned’. It was always open to him to become an Israelite if he so wished (Exo 12:48-49; Num 9:14), as the mixed multitude had before him (Exo 12:38).
The sojourner was expected to conform to local customs (Exo 20:10), was not to be taken advantage of (Exo 22:21; Exo 23:9; Deu 1:16) and was commended to the charity of his neighbours (Deu 24:19; Deu 26:13), but his children could be made bondmen (Lev 25:45) and he could be lent money at interest (Deuteronomy 20), unlike true Israelites. The law in general applied to him, especially the law of like for like (Lev 24:22). Like Israelites he was not to offer offerings or sacrifices except at the door of the Tent of Meeting (Lev 17:9).
The point we should note here is the certainty that the avenger of blood would be pursuing the manslayer to kill him. It was a sacred duty. Thus was provision made to ensure that the innocent received a fair trial. He was, however, necessarily punished by being confined to the city of refuge until the death of the High Priest. ‘Before the congregation.’ That is he was in some way judged by the whole of Israel, probably through their representatives, either the city authorities, the tribal authorities or the priests at the sanctuary before YHWH.
Chapter 21 The Establishment of the Levites Throughout Israel.
This chapter contains the approach of the Levites to the leaders, to have cities and suburbs given to them in accordance with the command of God by Moses. Grants were made by lot out of the different tribes, details of which are given. The chapter is concludes by observing, that God gave Israel all the land of Canaan, and gave them rest in it, according to his promise, and that nothing failed of all that God had promised.
We do not know the time scale for all these events. The first conquests had taken around five to seven years (based on the age of Caleb which was in round numbers – Jos 14:10). The further surveying of the land and its division according to the size of the tribes must then have taken quite some time, and we must leave time for advancement and settlement, the cutting down of forests, the establishing of the people in various parts of the land, the reconquest of cities, and the discovery that while the conquest had been a success, in that it had enabled this settlement, there remained yet much to be done.
At what stage Joshua 20 and Joshua 21 occurred we are not told. But it is clear that the central sanctuary was now set up at Shiloh and was regularly visited by the tribes. We need not doubt that under Joshua the regular feasts were held and the covenant constantly renewed, with the regular sacrifices being offered. Israel were becoming established in the land.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Ver. 9. These were the cities appointed, &c. It is to be observed, that the six cities of refuge were given as a portion to the Levites. See the following chapter. So that those who were unhappily forced to retire thither, met with persons there whose authority could screen them from violence, whose wisdom could direct their proceedings, and whose piety might be useful to them in a variety of instances, during the stay they were obliged to make there till the death of the high-priest.
REFLECTIONS.1. The cities of refuge were a common blessing for every Israelite, whose unhappy lot it might be to need their protection; and therefore it was every man’s interest to have this provision made as soon as they had settled the division of the land. Note; The Gospel has provided for sinners, in Christ Jesus, a surer refuge from the avenging wrath of God; the soul that flies thither shall not only be freed from fear of death, but be refreshed with the consolations of the divine favour and love. 2. The three cities on the other side Jordan, Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan, had been appointed by Moses. These on this side Jordan, were Kedesh in Naphtali, Hebron in Judah, and Shechem in Ephraim; and they were so situated, as to stand at the most convenient distances, that all the tribes might be near one or other of them. Note; Salvation is near, and Jesus a very present help to all who call upon him. These were all Levite cities, where, if the poor banished manslayer was cut off from his friends and relations, he had the best of company, and peculiar opportunities of spiritual improvement. Note; It will reconcile us to every providential change of situation, to think more of the mercies we enjoy than of the comforts we lose. The names of these cities are very significative; Kedesh, holiness; Shechem, a shoulder; Hebron, fellowship; Bezer, a fortress; Ramoth, high; and Golan, joy. Thus, in the perfection of our Redeemer’s merits, lies the security of the sinner’s hope; on his shoulder the government is laid, so that no enemy can hurt us; the sweetest communion is that which can be enjoyed through faith in him; his arms of love are a strong-hold, and his exaltation is the pledge of our own; for he shall bring all who have fled to him for refuge, and cleave to him, to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Reader! observe in this verse, how thy God, had an eye to the Gentile church, even from the beginning. The stranger is regarded, as well as the Israelite. May we not say upon it, as the Holy Ghost hath authorized us: Is Jesus the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes! of the Gentiles also. Seeing it is one God which justifies the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith. Oh! precious, precious salvation, which includes both in one and the same fold under one shepherd, Jesus Christ the righteous. Rom 3:30Rom 3:30 .
REFLECTIONS
MY soul! pass over all inferior considerations in the perusal of this Chapter, to attend to that grand, and most important one which the Holy Ghost hath here held up to thy view in the city of refuge, as a lively similitude of thy never-failing and always open refuge the Lord Jesus Christ. And do thou learn from the care which the blessed Spirit hath shown, in causing it to be among the first things regarded, in the division of Canaan, that its importance must have been great indeed. And as a whole chapter in the history of Joshua ‘ s victories is here appropriated to this subject, and no other suffered to make a part in it, do thou give it thy whole attention, and suffer nothing to break in upon thy meditation, until thou beholdest Jesus, as thy city of refuge to which thou art fled, and in whom thou art fully delivered from the wrath to come.
Yes, blessed Jesus! thou art, indeed, a refuge from every storm and a covert from every tempest. Raised up and appointed by our God and Father, thou shelterest poor sinners who through sin and ignorance and unbelief have destroyed their own souls, and savest them from the malice of hell, the threats of a broken law, and the avenging cries of their own awakened consciences. Haste then my soul, flee for thy life, take refuge in the person, the blood and righteousness of thy crucified Saviour; and as thy High Priest liveth forever, abide in him, and forget thine own home, and thy father’s house: for he is thy rest forever, and in him thou mayest dwell as thine eternal habitation.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 20:9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth [any] person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
Ver. 9. And for the stranger that sojourneth. ] Who dwelt with them for a time, and were not of the same religion: or such only as were proselyted.
Until he stood before the congregation.
a Diod.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
killeth any person = smiteth a soul”. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the cities: Num 35:15
until he stood: Jos 20:4, Jos 20:6
Reciprocal: Num 35:12 – from the avenger Rom 13:4 – revenger
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
20:9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth [any] person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the {e} congregation.
(e) Before the Judges.