Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying, “Command the sons of Israel that they give to the Levites from the inheritance of their possession cities to live in; and you shall give to the Levites pasture lands around the cities. - Numbers 35:1-2
Good morning. In last week’s message we studied about how the Promised Land was divided among the 12 tribes of Israel after the conquest of Canaan was complete. Every tribe, with the exception of Levi, was given a portion of the land as an inheritance in which to settle. Each tribal allotment contained numerous cities. Unlike their brethren, the Levites had been chosen to be the priests of God and caretakers of the tabernacle for all of Israel. They would also serve as teachers and religious leaders in local synagogues from town to town. They would therefore need to be dispersed among each of the other tribes. This morning we will discuss the tribe of Levi’s unique inheritance…
I. CITIES OF REFUGE (Joshua 20)
Moses had previously commanded the children of Israel to designate 6 cities of refuge within the Promised Land after they’d taken possession of it. These cities were to be spread abroad in various regions so as to be accessible to all parts of the land. They would serve as safe places where those who committed manslaughter could flee (Numbers 35:9-14). Manslaughter was defined as killing a person unintentionally or accidentally, without malice or premeditation.
According to the Law of Moses, whenever a person was murdered the family of the victim was entitled to appoint from among its members an “avenger”. This avenger was legally permitted to find and kill the person who had murdered their relative. This practice was based upon God’s requirement of a life for a life (Genesis 9:5-6). However, manslaughter is not the same as premeditated murder and there were provisions in the law for it.
Any person who killed someone could flee to a city of refuge where they would be safe from the avenger until a trial could be conducted by the congregation. If they were determined to be guilty of murder, they would be handed over to the avenger to be executed. If they were determined to have committed manslaughter they could remain in the city of refuge until the death of the current high priest as the sentence for their crime. After the high priest died, they were free to leave the city and the avenger had no legal standing against them. If, however, they left the city prematurely while the current high priest was still living the avenger was still justified to find and execute them.
In keeping with Moses’ earlier command, Joshua, Eleazar, and the tribal leaders designated 6 cities of refuge - 3 to the east of the Jordan River and 3 to the west. On the east, the first city was Kedesh, located in the inheritance of Nephtali, north of the Sea of Chinneroth. The second was Shechem, located in the hill country of Ephraim, in central Canaan. The third was Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, to the south. On the west of Jordan, the first city was Bezer, located on the wilderness plains of Reuben. The second was Ramoth, located in Gilead from the tribe of Gad. The third was Golan, in the land of Bashan that had been given to Manassah.
II. LEVITICAL CITIES (Joshua 21:1-42)
While still gathered at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1), the sons of Levi asked Joshua to appoint cities with corresponding pasture lands in which they could live and work (Numbers 35:4-5). So Joshua cast lots, as he had done earlier when dividing the land among the final 7 tribes, in order to determine the order of these appointments. The clans of Levi were named for his 3 sons: Kohath, Gershon, and Merari (Genesis 46:11).
The first lot fell to the Kohathites. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam were of the line of Kohath. Thus, the Levitical, or more specially the Aaronic, priesthood was a subset of the Kohathites. The sons of Aaron were given 13 cities within the lands of Judah, Benjamin, and Simeon. The remaining Kohathites, not of the line of Aaron, were given 10 cities within the lands of Dan, Ephraim, and the ½ tribe of Manasseh.
The second lot fell to the Gersonites. They were given 13 cities. These were located within the lands of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the ½ tribe of Manasseh beyond the Jordan River. The third lot fell to the Merarites. They were given 12 cities located among the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
The 6 cities of refuge, which we discussed earlier in this message, were included in the 48 cities given to the tribe of Levi discussed above (13+10+13+12=48). This means that there were 42 Levitical cities not also designated as cities of refuge. The Levitical cities can be broken down specifically by tribe(s) as follows, with the cities of refuge underlined:
A second, partial listing of these cities is recorded in 1 Chronicles 6:54-81. There are some slight discrepancies in the 2 complementary lists of Levitical cities, including the use of alternate names for some of these cities. Nevertheless, these minor differences in no way invalidate the main truth of either passage.
III. ISRAEL’S REST (Joshua 21:43-45)
Through the leadership of Moses and Joshua, God gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers. They were released from Shiloh to take possession of and settle in their respective territories. The LORD had enabled them to defeat all of their enemies and had fulfilled all of the good promises that He’d made to them. After the long conquest, which was filled with bloodshed and war, God gave the Israelites rest on every side.
CONCLUSION
As we close this morning’s message, I want to make 2 observations and applications. First, everyone has sinned against God. As such, we are all guilty and deserving of death. The avenger is seeking each of us, and given enough time he will find us. But Jesus is our city of refuge! We can run to Him for security and protection from the evil one. He will forgive our sins and give us salvation. Have you trusted in Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life?
Second, the Christian Church has been called to spread the message of Jesus throughout this lost world and to shine His light everywhere. Like the Levites, we are not to be isolated or confined to a particular place. He has dispersed us among the nations and is calling us to go and make disciples. How can we be more effective?
Good morning. In last week’s message we studied about how the Promised Land was divided among the 12 tribes of Israel after the conquest of Canaan was complete. Every tribe, with the exception of Levi, was given a portion of the land as an inheritance in which to settle. Each tribal allotment contained numerous cities. Unlike their brethren, the Levites had been chosen to be the priests of God and caretakers of the tabernacle for all of Israel. They would also serve as teachers and religious leaders in local synagogues from town to town. They would therefore need to be dispersed among each of the other tribes. This morning we will discuss the tribe of Levi’s unique inheritance…
I. CITIES OF REFUGE (Joshua 20)
Moses had previously commanded the children of Israel to designate 6 cities of refuge within the Promised Land after they’d taken possession of it. These cities were to be spread abroad in various regions so as to be accessible to all parts of the land. They would serve as safe places where those who committed manslaughter could flee (Numbers 35:9-14). Manslaughter was defined as killing a person unintentionally or accidentally, without malice or premeditation.
According to the Law of Moses, whenever a person was murdered the family of the victim was entitled to appoint from among its members an “avenger”. This avenger was legally permitted to find and kill the person who had murdered their relative. This practice was based upon God’s requirement of a life for a life (Genesis 9:5-6). However, manslaughter is not the same as premeditated murder and there were provisions in the law for it.
Any person who killed someone could flee to a city of refuge where they would be safe from the avenger until a trial could be conducted by the congregation. If they were determined to be guilty of murder, they would be handed over to the avenger to be executed. If they were determined to have committed manslaughter they could remain in the city of refuge until the death of the current high priest as the sentence for their crime. After the high priest died, they were free to leave the city and the avenger had no legal standing against them. If, however, they left the city prematurely while the current high priest was still living the avenger was still justified to find and execute them.
In keeping with Moses’ earlier command, Joshua, Eleazar, and the tribal leaders designated 6 cities of refuge - 3 to the east of the Jordan River and 3 to the west. On the east, the first city was Kedesh, located in the inheritance of Nephtali, north of the Sea of Chinneroth. The second was Shechem, located in the hill country of Ephraim, in central Canaan. The third was Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, to the south. On the west of Jordan, the first city was Bezer, located on the wilderness plains of Reuben. The second was Ramoth, located in Gilead from the tribe of Gad. The third was Golan, in the land of Bashan that had been given to Manassah.
II. LEVITICAL CITIES (Joshua 21:1-42)
While still gathered at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1), the sons of Levi asked Joshua to appoint cities with corresponding pasture lands in which they could live and work (Numbers 35:4-5). So Joshua cast lots, as he had done earlier when dividing the land among the final 7 tribes, in order to determine the order of these appointments. The clans of Levi were named for his 3 sons: Kohath, Gershon, and Merari (Genesis 46:11).
The first lot fell to the Kohathites. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam were of the line of Kohath. Thus, the Levitical, or more specially the Aaronic, priesthood was a subset of the Kohathites. The sons of Aaron were given 13 cities within the lands of Judah, Benjamin, and Simeon. The remaining Kohathites, not of the line of Aaron, were given 10 cities within the lands of Dan, Ephraim, and the ½ tribe of Manasseh.
The second lot fell to the Gersonites. They were given 13 cities. These were located within the lands of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the ½ tribe of Manasseh beyond the Jordan River. The third lot fell to the Merarites. They were given 12 cities located among the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
The 6 cities of refuge, which we discussed earlier in this message, were included in the 48 cities given to the tribe of Levi discussed above (13+10+13+12=48). This means that there were 42 Levitical cities not also designated as cities of refuge. The Levitical cities can be broken down specifically by tribe(s) as follows, with the cities of refuge underlined:
- Judah and Simeon: Hebron (which was shared with Caleb), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Holon, Debir, Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh - 9 cities.
- Benjamin: Gibeon, Geba, Anathoth, and Almon - 4 cities.
- Ephraim: Shechem, Gezer, Kibzaim, and Beth-horon - 4 cities.
- Dan: Elteke, Gibbethon, Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon - 4 cities.
- ½ Manasseh (East): Taanach and Gath-rimmon (Ibleam) - 2 cities.
- ½ Manasseh (West): Golan and Be-eshterah - 2 cities.
- Issachar: Kishion, Daberath, Jarmuth, and En-gannim - 4 cities.
- Asher: Mishal, Abdon, Helkath, and Rehob - 4 cities.
- Naphtali: Kedesh, Hammoth-dor, and Kartan - 3 cities.
- Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah, Dimnah, and Nahalal - 4 cities.
- Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz, Kedemoth, and Mephaath - 4 cities.
- Gad: Ramoth, Mahanaim, Heshbon, and Jazer - 4 cities.
A second, partial listing of these cities is recorded in 1 Chronicles 6:54-81. There are some slight discrepancies in the 2 complementary lists of Levitical cities, including the use of alternate names for some of these cities. Nevertheless, these minor differences in no way invalidate the main truth of either passage.
III. ISRAEL’S REST (Joshua 21:43-45)
Through the leadership of Moses and Joshua, God gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers. They were released from Shiloh to take possession of and settle in their respective territories. The LORD had enabled them to defeat all of their enemies and had fulfilled all of the good promises that He’d made to them. After the long conquest, which was filled with bloodshed and war, God gave the Israelites rest on every side.
CONCLUSION
As we close this morning’s message, I want to make 2 observations and applications. First, everyone has sinned against God. As such, we are all guilty and deserving of death. The avenger is seeking each of us, and given enough time he will find us. But Jesus is our city of refuge! We can run to Him for security and protection from the evil one. He will forgive our sins and give us salvation. Have you trusted in Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life?
Second, the Christian Church has been called to spread the message of Jesus throughout this lost world and to shine His light everywhere. Like the Levites, we are not to be isolated or confined to a particular place. He has dispersed us among the nations and is calling us to go and make disciples. How can we be more effective?
