MARCH 10

Chapters 18 and 19 cover the portion of the land given to
the other tribes. Seven tribes failed to claim their possession,
evidently because of a lack of faith and courage. The Tabernacle is
erected at Shiloh; Shiloh being the focal point of the twelve tribes
of Israel until the destruction of that city in the capture of the
Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines.

Chapter 20 again refers to the establishing of the cities of
refuge. The provision of these cities was according to the law of
Deuteronomy 19:1-13. You might also want to refer back to Numbers
35:1-34 regarding the cities of refuge. You will recall, and it is
repeated in today’s reading (verses 3 and 5), that “the avenger of
blood” was the deceased man’s nearest relative, upon whom the
responsibility fell of avenging his death. The gate of the city
(verse 4) was the place where the council of elders convened and
where town business was normally transacted. It was not merely an
entrance in the city wall, but an enclosed building built into the
wall with several chambers and several stories. As the person who
had accidentally killed someone came into the city, he must declare
his cause to the elders of the city. They would then take him into
the city and give him a place where he would dwell among them until
the time of judgment. At that time, if he was cleared of murder, he
could remain until the death of the high priest and was then allowed
to return to his own house in the city from whence he had fled. The
cities of refuge are specified in verses 7-9.