Matthew Henry Commentary Joshua 20
Matthew Henry Commentary
Joshua 20
Matthew Henry Commentary
Joshua 20
"And Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Assign you the cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by Moses, that the manslayer that killeth any person unwittingly [and] unawares may flee thither: and they shall be unto you for a refuge from the avenger of blood. And he shall flee unto one of those cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city; and they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver up the manslayer into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unawares, and hated him not beforetime. And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the manslayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled." — Joshua 20:1-6 (ASV)
When the Israelites were settled in their promised inheritance, they were reminded to set apart the cities of refuge, whose use and typical meaning have been explained (Numbers 35; Deuteronomy 19). God's spiritual Israel have, and always will have, in Christ and heaven, not only rest in which to repose, but also refuge in which to secure themselves. These cities were designed to typify the relief which the gospel provides for penitent sinners, and their protection from the curse of the law and the wrath of God, in our Lord Jesus, to whom believers flee for refuge (Hebrews 6:18).
"And they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill-country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron) in the hill-country of Judah. And beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person unwittingly might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation." — Joshua 20:7-9 (ASV)
These cities, like those also on the other side of the Jordan, stood so that a person could reach one of them in half a day from any part of the country. God is always a Refuge close at hand. They were all Levites' cities.
It was a kindness to the poor fugitive that when he could not go up to the house of the Lord, he still had the servants of God with him, to instruct him, pray for him, and help to make up for the lack of public ordinances. Some observe a significance in the names of these cities with application to Christ our Refuge.
Kedesh signifies holy, and our Refuge is the holy Jesus. Shechem, a shoulder, and the government is upon his shoulder. Hebron, fellowship, and believers are called into the fellowship of Christ Jesus our Lord. Bezer, a fortification, for he is a stronghold to all those that trust in him.
Ramoth, high or exalted, for Him has God exalted with his own right hand. Golan, joy or exultation, for in Him all the saints are justified and shall glory.
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