Joshua 20 - Introduction
_A.M. 2560. B.C. 1444._ The laws concerning the cities of refuge, Joshua 20:1. The appointment of those cities, Joshua 20:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2560. B.C. 1444._ The laws concerning the cities of refuge, Joshua 20:1. The appointment of those cities, Joshua 20:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord also spake unto Joshua_ Probably from the tabernacle, at the door of which he and Eleazar and the princes had been making a division of the land, as the last verse of the preceding chapter informs us. _Appoint out for you_ The possessions being now divided among you, reserve some of them f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unwittingly_ Hebrew, _Through ignorance_, or _error_, or _mistake_, and _without knowledge._ The same thing is twice repeated, to cut off all expectations that wilful murderers might have of protection here. God having declared that such should be taken even from his altar, that they might be kille... [ Continue Reading ]
_The gate_ Where the judges used to sit. _His cause_ Shall give them a true relation of the fact, and all its circumstances. _They shall take him_ If they are satisfied in the relation he makes concerning the fact, otherwise it had been a vain thing to examine. _Give a place_ Which they might well a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stand_ Which was the posture of the accused and accusers. _The congregation_ The council appointed to judge of these matters, not the council of the city of refuge, for they had examined him before, (Joshua 20:4,) but of the city to which he belonged, or in or nigh which the fact was committed, as... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they appointed_ Concerning these cities, note, 1st, That they were all upon mountains, that they might be seen at a great distance, and so direct those who fled thither. 2d, That they were seated at a convenient distance one from another, for the benefit of the several tribes; for Kedesh was in... [ Continue Reading ]
_On the other side Jordan they assigned_ Or _had assigned_, or _given;_ for these cities were assigned by Moses before he died, Deuteronomy 4:41. They were not, however, properly speaking, invested with the privilege till now, when they were applied to the use for which Moses had designed them. _The... [ Continue Reading ]