Jos-Lesson 17

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JOSHUA 19, 20 and 21
Lesson #17
A PLACE OF REFUGE AND FULFILLED PROMISE

• Memory verse: Psalm 91:2
• JOSHUA 19

• Joshua 19 concludes the distribution of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes.
• Read Joshua 19:49-51
• Joshua’s inheritance:
• The city of Shiloh. The name Shiloh means = rest. The name is also another name for Jesus Christ. (Gen 49:10)
• For 300 years the tabernacle rested here in this city until the days of Samuel.
• Faithfulness to God has an important reward: exemplified by Joshua.
• The lessons from inheritance of the 12 tribes:
• =1= Reuben
• The general and prophetic characteristic of this tribe was instability. (Gen 49:4)
• Read Jam 1:6-8
• This instability led to this tribe’s rebellion in the wilderness. (Num 16:1)
• This tribe chose God’s permissive will and settled on the East side of the Jordan River.
• =2= Simeon
• The general and prophetic characteristic of this tribe was cruelty. (Gen 49:5-7)
• This tribe remained small and did not multiply as fast as other tribes. As a result they were eventually absorbed by the tribe of Judah that became more powerful.
• =3= Levi
• This tribe did not inherit a portion of land like the rest of the tribes because God was their inheritance. They became the priesthood.
• This tribe did gain cities in which to live and over which they were responsible. We will discuss these later.
• =4= Judah
• The defeat at Ai was due to a member of this tribe that robbed what belonged to God (Jos 7)
• To make up for this great sin, the tribe of Judah led an independent attack on the Canaanites in Judges 1:1-2.
• This tribe failed to conquer the city of Jerusalem, and this conquest waited for the time of King David.
• The kings of Israel were supposed to come from the tribe of Judah. (Gen 49:10) King David, King Solomon, and the kings of the Southern Kingdom were from the tribe of Judah.
• This tribe was one of the largest and most powerful of all the tribes. Generally speaking they remained true to God when the nation divided into the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom.
• =5= Zebulun
• This tribe never conquered all their land along the Mediterranean coast that God gave them. Instead they remained in the center of the nation around the Sea of Galilee.
• This tribe had a high reputation among the 12 tribes. (Jdg 4:14,18,35)
• =6= Issachar
• The land belonging to this tribe was very productive. The tribe developed an extensive trade business that was attractive to the Assyrian empire.
• Eventually this tribe paid tribute to the Assyrian empire. (Gen 49:15)
• =7= Dan
• The tribe of Dan was unable to conquer the land on the coast because of the Amorites and the Philistines, the majority moved to the extreme north and took land on the East side of the Jordan River.
• The Danites in the south lived with the Philistines and were eventually absorbed into the tribe of Judah.
• The tribe of Dan has a devious reputation based on Gen 49:17.
• It is believed that Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, came from the tribe of Dan to fulfill Gen 3:15.
• It is also believed that the Antichrist will come from the tribe of Dan to fulfill Jer 8:16.
• =8= Gad
• This tribe began in God’s permissive will on the East side of the Jordan River.
• Because of that they were plagued with enemy attacks and an infiltration of religious idolatry.
• Gen 49:19 indicated that this tribe would overcome eventually. This occurred when they helped David in his flight from King Saul and supported David’s administration as king.
• =9= Asher
• This tribe failed to conquer the Canaanites and chose to live among them. (Jdg 1:31-32)
• They later participated in the governments of King David and King Solomon.
• =10= Naphtali
• This tribe failed to conquer the Canaanites and chose to live among them.
• However, they became strong warriors in the time of Deborah and later in the time of David. (Jdg. 5:18 Jdg 7:23 1Chr 12:34)
• These were the first people West of the Jordan River taken into the Babylonian Captivity by the Assyrians.
• =11= Joseph
• The half tribe of Manasseh
• This tribe was given the largest amount of land. The eastern portion was given to them by Moses on the East side of the Jordan River. The western portion was given to them by Joshua on the West side of the Jordan River.
• They did not conquer all the land given to them and with the tribe of Ephraim, they complained to Joshua under the tribal name of Joseph for more land. (Jos 17:14-18) We learn that complaining does not increase the blessing.
• The daughters of Zelophehad inherited land within the tribe of Manasseh.
• The half tribe of Ephraim
• This tribe played a major role in the division of the nation into two kingdoms, the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the Northern Kingdom of Ephraim or Israel.
• Because the city of Samaria is located in this territory, it became the capital of the Northern Kingdom.
• A good beginning as a blessed son of Joseph is not an assurance of a good ending, exemplified by Ephraim’s role in the division of the nation.
• =12= Benjamin
• This tribe earned a good reputation and became brave warriors. (Gen 49:27 Jdg 3:15)
• They were fiercely loyal to King Saul but eventually became allied with Judah in the division of the nation.

• JOSHUA

20

• Read Joshua 20:1-9
• Background:
• In the Old Testament there existed a system called the Kinsman Redeemer (go-el).
• We see part of the system operating in the book of Ruth.
• The nearest kinsmen had the right and the responsibility to redeem the property and land for a widow. (Lev 25:48-49)
• The nearest kinsmen also had the right and the responsibility to marry the widow so that she could have children. Her firstborn child became the child of her dead husband.
• What we do not see in the book of Ruth is that the kinsman redeemer had the responsibility to avenge the death of a relative. He could hunt for the murderer and legally execute him. The cities of refuge were designed to limit unbridled revenge for accidental death.
• The six cities of refuge Num 35:6-34 [see a Bible map if you have one.]
• Who was welcome in the six cities of refuge?
• A person who committed manslaughter (unintentional murder)
• The person could be a Jew or a Gentile.
• What were the conditions? (Jos 20 Num 35:6-34 Exo 21:12-13 Deu 4:41-43 Deu 19:1-13)
• Notice that the 6 cities of refuge are a picture or illustration of the ministry of Christ. He is our kinsman-redeemer and our refuge (Psa 37:39-40):
• =1= The cities were a refuge from revenge by a family member. (Jos 20:3) Christ is a refuge from condemnation. (Rom 8:1)
• =2= The person shall declare his cause. (Jos 20:4) The unbeliever must declare Christ to be saved. (Rom 10:9-10)
• =3= The gates of the 6 cities were never locked. The way to Christ is always open to all. (2Pet 3:9)
• =4= The person shall be given a place to live. (Jos 20:4) Christ will make a place for you. (Joh 14:2)
• =5= The person shall be safe from the avenger. (Jos 20:5) The believer shall be safe from his adversary. (2Pet 5:7-10)
• =6= He shall get justice at judgment. (Jos 20:6)The believer will get justice at the judgment seat of Christ. (2Cor 5:10)
• =7= The person can live in the city until the death of the high priest. (Jos 20:6) We can remain in the presence of God forever because Christ, our high priest, will never die. (Heb 2:14-17 Heb 4:14-16 Heb 5:6)
• =8= Refuge is for the Jew or the Gentile. (Num 35:15) God does not show partiality of persons. (Rom 2:11)
• =9= A highway was built to each city. (Deu 19:3) Jesus Christ, is the way to salvation. (Joh 14:6)
• =10= Jewish tradition says that one day a year the people were to repair the highway and the signs pointing the way to the cities of refuge. Believers are to point the way to Christ continually so that those who seek refuge will find him.
• While these were six geographical cities, Jesus Christ represents all that they represent.
• The number six represents the number of man. Therefore these six cities represent man’s weaknesses for which we need a Savior to fulfill and sustain us.
• The six cities of refuge and their meanings:
• =1= Kedesh = means holy. Jesus Christ is the holy one.
• =2= Shechem = means shoulder. Jesus Christ is our strength on whose shoulder we can lean.
• =3= Hebron = means fellowship. Jesus Christ is our brother and friend.
• =4= Bezer = means stronghold or rock. Jesus Christ is our rock and strong fortress.
• =5= Ramoth-gilead = means exaltation. Jesus Christ is the exalted king who exalts us.
• =6= Golan = means joy. Jesus Christ is the joy of our salvation.
• What significance to us today are the 6 cities of refuge?
• Read Heb 10:19-23
• As we have seen, the 6 cities are a picture of the work of Christ on our behalf.
• The 48 cities of the Levites:
• Forty eight cities were given to the tribe of Levi in which to live. These 48 cities included the 6 cities of refuge and were scattered throughout the Promise Land.
• The tribe of Levi did not inherit land.
• Instead they were given 48 cities in which to live.
• Notice that because the cities were scattered throughout the land, the priests were scattered so as to be able to minister to the needs of the people.
• Application:
• With blessing of inheritance comes responsibility.
• Each of the three Levite families (the Kohath family, the Gershon family, and the Merari family) had their separate responsibilities for the tabernacle, its furniture, and its coverings.
• Each of the three Levite families had two cities of refuge to govern and maintain.
• Faithful fulfillment of responsibility brings a reward.

• JOSHUA 21

• Read Joshua 21:43-45
• All of God’s promises were fulfilled.
• This is the beauty of fulfilled prophecy through the 12 tribes, first given prophetically in Gen 49.

HOMEWORK
JOSHUA 22
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Joshua 19, 20, 21
• Consider your own responsibility of stewardship of your time, your talent, and your money.
• On what area of better stewardship do you need to work?
• Write your thoughts and progress this week:
• Preparation for Joshua 22
• Read Joshua 22:1-20
• What was the motive of the east bank tribes for building the altar?
• What was the disagreement about in the minds of the west bank tribes?
• What wrong actions were committed by the west bank tribes?
• What right attitudes do you find among the west bank tribes?
• Read Joshua 22:21-34
• What right actions were taken?
• What was the response of the east bank tribes?
• Why do you think there was a happy ending?
• What was the sixth memorial supposed to represent?

Memory verse: 1 John 2:10