Joshua 20

the foregoing tribes; of which it is to no purpose to inquire, the reason. - Vcr. 49. When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts. That is, after every tribe had their portion assigned to them. The children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them.] We cannot but observe the wonderful modesty of this great man, who received his portion last of all; and then, not by lot, but by their gift; ttho were already possessed of the whole land. Vcr. 50. According to the word of the Lord, they gave him the city which he asked.] God, indccd,had ordered that he should have a portion, and that he should choose it; but he was content to stay for it till every body else was served. We do not expressly read of this command; but many things were said and done which are not recorded. And ho being as faithful and upright as Caleb, (and, besides, chosen to b6 the captain of God’s people), we cannot but think, that when God ordered what Caleb should have, he gave the same “direction about Joshua. And so much is implied in those words of Caleb himself, when he demanded his portion of Joshua, (xiv. G.) " Thou knowest the thing the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea.” Even in Timnath-serah, in Mount Ephraim.] He did not choose the best place in all the country, but a convenient place in his own tribe; which was seated on the north side of a hill called Gaash; as w r e rc&d in the latter end of this book. A7id he built the city, and dwelt therein.] Repaired it, I suppose (for in all likelihood there was a city there before), and made a convenient habitation for his family and kindred. But w r e read nothing of them; for as he did not affect to make himself king of Canaan, so he contented himself with a little, and made no large provision for his posterity. We have no mention made of his sons or daughters; but (as Conrad. Pellicaniis spfcaks) all the Israelites’wcfe his children. *!! ~ " – Vcr. 51. These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest,’ and Joshua thesoh of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Sliiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:] It is usual, after so long an account, to recapitulate in what they had done, and by what authority; which he doth in this verse. So they made an tend of dividing the country.] Every tribe had the place of their settlement appointed to their satisfaction; so that there was no further division made of the land. 4’ »

Joshua 20:1

JJLND the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying. From the tabernacle, at the door of which he, and Eleazar, and the princes had been making a division of the land; as the last verse of the foregoing chapter tells us.

Joshua 20:2

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge. This was the proper time for it; when they were all met together to receive their several portions of land, after an exact survey of the country. Whereof I spake to you by my servant Moses.] In Numb. 1 xxxv. 9—11, &c. where ho treats of them at large; and repeats it again, Dcut. xix. 1, 2, &c.

Joshua 20:3

That the slayer that MUcth any person unawares, and unwittingly, mayjlee thither. Such places, every body knows, there were among the heathen; but commonly they were their temples, and their altars, as many have observed; particularly Joh. Gcntius lately, in his book Dq Victimis Humanis, par. iii. cap. 21. p. 483, &c. v But there were also some cities that had this privilege, as Dilherrus (who thinks herein the gentiles imitated the Jews) observes out of Tacitus, lib. iii. Annal. where he saith the principal cities of Greece contended before Tiberius about this matter, Dc Jure Asylorum. (Sec Dissert, dc Cacozclia Gentilium, cap. 3.) And they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood J] Protect such persons from him who studied to avenge the blood of the slain. Concerning whom, sec Numb. xxxv. 12 f

Joshua 20:4

And when he that doth flee nnto one of those cities shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city. Desiring to be admitted and protected there. And shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city.] That is, the judges, who sat in the gate beforemen-; tioned, (Deut. xvi. 18!) They shall take him into the city unto them.].Being satisfied he was such a person as he pretended. And give him a place that he may dwell among them,] Assign a convenient habitation for him; these cities being appointed by God for that purpose, and given unto those who inhabited them, on this condition, that they should en-: tertain such persons when they fled to them.'

Joshua 20:5

And if the avenger of blood pursue after him.1 Desiring he might be delivered up into his hands. Then they shall not deliver the slayer vp into his hqnds. But defend him from his assaults. Because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.] It\vas a casual slaughter, without any design of doing him hurt, as far as appeared to them..If the avenger pursued the slayer so closely, that they had not time to examine the matter at the gate of the city, they were not to let him stand there; but take him in (and afterward hear his cause, and judge it), lest the avenger should kill him before he was admitted into their city. Ver. G. And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before* the congregation for judgment.] The avenger might bring him before another tribunal, to be tried whether he killed the man by chance or not. (Sec Numb. xxxv. 24, 25.) And until the death of the high-priest, that shall be in those days.] If that court found him not guilty of wilful murder, he was restored to the city of refuge; but confined to live there till the death of the high-priest. (See in the? same place.) Then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and his own house, &c] See Numb. xxxv. 2S.

Joshua 20:7

And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in Mount Naphtali; and Shechem in Mount Ephraim, and Kirjath- Arba (which is Hebron) in the mountain ofJudah. It is commonly observed, that as these three cities were seated on high and eminent places, that they might be seen afar off; so they were at such a distance from each other, that all the country might more easily have the benefit of one or other of them. For Kedesh was in the north; and Hebron in the south; and Shechem between both. Thus they fulfilled the command of God, Dcut. xix. 8.