Joshua 20-21: Fulfilling Commandments

Joshua 20: Cities of Refuge
Joshua 21: Cities allotted to the Levites

Both of the chapters examined today are in fulfillment of older legislation from Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It is a logical ending to the story of the covenant that started way back in Genesis with Abraham. Today we come very close to the end of that story, and indeed the biblical author speaks of the fulfillment of that Abrahamic covenant.

Cities of Refuge: Joshua 20
The cities of refuge, ordered in Numbers and Deuteronomy are now established in the promised land. Anyone who accidentally kills another may flee to the nearest city and be protected from the avenger of blood. After a trial, the accidental killer may return to the town in which the killing occurred only once the high priest that presided at the time of the killing has died.

The cities include:

1. Kedesh in Galilee (Naphtali territory)
2. Shechem (Ephraim territory)
3. Kiriath-arba (AKA Hebron; Judah Territory
4. Bezer (beyond the Jordan in Reuben Territory)
5. Ramoth in Gilead (beyond the Jordan in Gad Territory)
6. Golan in Bashan (beyond the Jordan in Manasseh Territory)

Cities allotted to the Levites: Joshua 21
The Levites receive their land, which includes the cities of refuge. Each town is surrounded by pastureland in fulfillment with earlier legislation.

Finally all the land has been doled out; the promise of the first divine covenant - the one of land and progeny - has been fulfilled.

Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to their ancestors that he would give them; and having taken possession of it, they settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their ancestors; not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
(Joshua 21.43-45)

How long will this peace last? Not very long at all. But the Lord has indeed given Israel all that he has promised. It may have taken a few entire books to complete, but the original covenant of land and progeny, promised as far back as Abraham, has finally been fulfilled.