Commentary on Joshua, Commentary · Chapter 20
Chap. 20.
THE Lorde also spake vntounto Ioshue, saying:
2 Speake to the children of Israel, and say, Appoint you cities of refuge, whereof I spake vntounto you by the hand of Moses:
3 That the slayer that killeth any person by ignorance, and vnwittingly, may flee thither, and they shall be your refuge from the auenger of bloud.
4 And he that doeth flee vntounto one of those cities, shall stand at the entring of the gate of the citie, and shall shewe his cause to the Elders of the citie: and they shall receiue him into the citie vntounto them, and giuegive him a place, that he may dwell with them.
5 And if the auenger of bloud pursue after him, they shall not deliuer the slaier into his hand, because he smote his neighbour ignorantly, neither hated he him before time:
6 But he shall dwell in that citie, vntill he stand before the Congregation in iudgment, or vntill the death of the high Priest that shalbe in those dayes: then shall the slaier returne, and come vntounto his owne citie, and vntounto his owne house, euen vntounto the citie from whence he fled.
7 Then they appointed Kedesh in Galil in mount Nephtali, and Sechem in mount Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba) which is Hebron) in the mountaine of Iudah.
8 And on the other side Iordan towarde Iericho Eastwarde, they appointed Bezer in the wildernesse vponupon the plaine, out of the tribe of Ruben, and Ramoth in Gilead, out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the straunger that soiourned among them, that whosoeuer killed any person ignorantly, might flee thither, and not dye by the hand of the auenger of bloud, vntill he stoode before the Congregation.
1 And the Lorde spake, &c.) Whereas it came not in their minde to appoint the cities of refuge, vntill they were admonished againe, it seemeth that their slacknesse is couertly reproued: for this was decreed before by the commaundement of God beyond Iordan. When the like, and the verie same reason is here, wherefore doe they staie? why doe they not bring to an end that, which they had well begonne? considering that it was for great cause, that innocent persons should hauehave safe places of refuge appointed them, least the land should be defiled with bloud: for except that remedie had bene vsed, the kinsemen of them that were slaine, by rashly reuenging their death, would hauehave doubled the mischiefe. Surely the people ought not to hauehave bene slacke in prouiding to auoyde that, which might be a spot or defiling of the lande. Whereby we may see how slowe men are, not onelyonly to doe their duetie, but also to be carefull of their owne health, except God did often pricke them foreward, and prouoke them with the spurres of his exhortations. Howbeit, it appeareth by this, that their offence was but of negligence, that they are immediatly readie to obey, and doe not prolong the matter, nor hinder and staie so necessarie a busines with vnprofitable contentions. But what was the lawe of these Sanctuaries, we hauehave elsewhere declared. For by them was no impunitie geuen to wilfull murders, but if any man through error or chaunce had slaine a man that was not his enimie, he had safe refuge vntounto these cities, which were appointed for the same purpose. So God helped the poore wretches, where they were without fault, least they should hauehave suffered punishment vnworthily, when they had committed no wicked facte. In the meane time God of his clemencie graunted thus much to the brethren and kinsemen of them that were dead, that their sorrowe shoulde not be increased, by hauing them daily in their sight, by whom they were depriued of their friendes. Finally, the people was accustomed to detest all manslaughter, when such manslaiers as were acquitted of murder, should be banished from their house, and from their contrie, vntill the death of the high priest. For that temporall punishment did clearely shewe, how pretious mans bloud is in the sight of God. So the lawe, both to the whole state and euerie priuate member was iust, indifferent, and profitable. But we must note breefly, that euerie point is not here sette forth in order. For vppon this condition, he that had slaine a man by chaunce, might be preserued from danger, if first he appered in iudgement to answer the cause, and after it was throughly discussed and debated, he were acquitted of murder, as is more at large declared by Moses concerning this whole matterDeut. 1….
7 And they appointed, &c.) The verbe, KADESH which here is set, doeth signifie also To consecrate and appoint. Wherefore I iudge, that the citties were so chosen out, as serued best for the common profite. Whereby it is gathered, that they did truely moderate themselues, that priuate vtilitie gaue place to publique profite. But in the next Chapter, wee shall see, that Kiriatharba, which afterward was called Hebron, was translated to the Leuites, whereas before it was vnderunder the dominion of Caleb. Wherein the rare, yea the incomparable continencie of that holy man appeared, which willingly deliuered vp to other men, as well the citie, as the suburbes, which he might well hauehave challenged to himselfe, so soone as the lotte did shew, that such was the pleasure of God. And it was needefull, briefly to touch this chaunge, because God would hauehave the refuge to be only in the cities of the Leuites, that their innocencie might be defended among them with more fidelitie and authoritie.