What is the meaning of Joshua 20:7? So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali • “So they set apart” points back to God’s earlier command (Numbers 35:6, 13-14: “Designate six cities to serve as cities of refuge”). The nation obeys, illustrating that divine instructions are meant to be carried out in detail. • Kedesh lay in “Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali,” the northern reach of Israel. By placing a refuge here, God ensured even the most remote Israelites could reach safety quickly—echoing Deuteronomy 19:3: “You are to build roads for yourselves and divide into three parts the land… so that any manslayer may flee there.” • Moses had anticipated this exact choice (Deuteronomy 4:41-43), naming Kedesh as a haven on the eastern side of the Jordan before the conquest even began. God’s foresight and Israel’s obedience intersect perfectly. • Spiritual takeaway: just as Kedesh stood ready for the accidental manslayer, Christ stands ready for sinners seeking mercy (Hebrews 6:18: “We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged”). Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim • Centrally located, Shechem made refuge accessible to the heartland tribes. God never leaves whole regions uncovered; His provision is geographically—and personally—close. • Shechem carries a deep covenant history: – Genesis 12:6-7: Abram built an altar here after God promised the land. – Joshua 24:1, 25: Joshua renewed the covenant here. • The city later became a Levitical dwelling (Joshua 21:21), intertwining refuge with priestly ministry—an early picture of Jesus our High Priest who simultaneously shelters and intercedes (1 John 2:1). • Standing midway between north and south, Shechem reminds us that God places His rescue “within reach of all who call on Him” (Romans 10:13). Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah • Hebron, formerly Kiriath-arba, occupied the southern heights. Along with Kedesh and Shechem, it completes a triad that blanketed the land north, center, and south. • Hebron resonates with patriarchal legacy: – Genesis 13:18: Abram settled by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron and built an altar. – Genesis 23:17-19: Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah here, securing a burial site that testified to faith in future resurrection. • As a refuge city and a Levitical town (Joshua 21:11-13), Hebron married justice and worship—protecting life while hosting praise. • The renaming underlines transformation: what was once “Kiriath-arba” (linked to giants, Joshua 14:15) becomes a sanctuary of grace, paralleling how Christ turns places of fear into havens of peace (Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble”). summary Joshua 20:7 records Israel’s faithful designation of three refuge cities—Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron—strategically spaced in north, center, and south. Each site blends rich covenant history with practical mercy, showcasing God’s flawless balance of justice and grace. By obeying the literal command, the nation provided swift safety for the innocent, and God painted a living portrait of the ultimate Refuge we now find in Christ. |
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