Ciudades de Refugio (Josué 20:6)

CIUDADES DE REFUGIO

Josué 20:6

Some observe a significance in the names of these cities with application to Christ our Refuge. Kedesh signifies holy, and our Refuge is the holy Jesus. Shechem, a shoulder, and the government is upon his shoulder. Hebron, fellowship, and believers are called into the fellowship of Christ Jesus our Lord. Bezer, a fortification, for he is a strong hold to all those that trust in him. Ramoth, high or exalted, for Him hath God exalted with his own right hand. Golan, joy or exultation, for in Him all the saints are justified, and shall glory.

Kedesh sanctuary.

(1.) A place in the extreme south of Judah (Josh.15:23). Probably the same as Kadesh-barnea (q.v.).

2.) A city of Issachar (1 Chr. 6:72). Possibly Tell Abu Kadeis, near Lejjun.

3.) A "fenced city" of Naphtali, one of the cities of refuge (Josh. 19:37; Judg. 4:6). It was assigned to the Gershonite Levites (Josh. 21:32). It was originally a Canaanite royal city (Josh. 12:22), and was the residence of Barak (Judg. 4:6); and

here he and Deborah assembled the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali before the commencement of the conflict with Sisera in the plain of Esdraelon, "for Jehovah among the mighty" (9, 10). In the reign of Pekah it was taken by Tiglath-Pileser (2 Kings 15:29).  It was situated near the "plain" (rather "the oak") of Zaanaim,

and has been identified with the modern Kedes, on the hills fully four miles north-west of Lake El Huleh.

It has been supposed by some that the Kedesh of the narrative, where Barak assembled his troops, was not the place in Upper Galilee so named, which was 30 miles distant from the plain of Esdraelon, but Kedish, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, 12 miles from Tabor.

06943 Qedesh {keh'-desh}  from 06942; TWOT - 1990d; n pr loc

 AV - Kedesh 11, Kedeshnaphtali 1; 12

 Kedesh = "holy place" 1) a city in the extreme south of Judah 1a) same as 'Kadesh' and 'Kadesh-barnea' 2) a city of Issachar allotted to the Gershonite Levites 3) a fortified Canaanite city allotted to Naphtali 4) a city of refuge in Naphtali

Shechem shoulder.

1.) The son of Hamor the Hivite (Gen. 33:19; 34).

2.) A descendant of Manasseh (Num. 26:31; Josh. 17:2).

3.) A city in Samaria (Gen. 33:18), called also Sichem (12:6), Sychem (Acts 7:16). It stood in the narrow sheltered valley between Ebal on the north and Gerizim on the south, these mountains at their base being only some 500 yards apart. Here

Abraham pitched his tent and built his first altar in the Promised Land, and received the first divine promise (Gen. 12:6,7). Here also Jacob "bought a parcel of a field at the hands of the children of Hamor" after his return from Mesopotamia, and settled with his household, which he purged from idolatry by burying the teraphim of his followers under an oak tree, which was afterwards called "the oak of the sorcerer" (Gen. 33:19; 35:4; Judg. 9:37). (See MEONENIM) Here too, after a while, he dug a well, which bears his name to this day (John 4:5, 39-42). To Shechem Joshua gathered all Israel "before God," and delivered to them his second parting address (Josh. 24:1-15). He "made a covenant with the people that day" at the very place where, on first entering the land, they had responded to the law from Ebal and Gerizim (Josh. 24:25), the terms of which were recorded "in the book of the law of God", i.e., in the roll of the law of Moses; and in memory of this solemn transaction a great stone was set up "under an oak" (comp. Gen.28:18; 31:44-48; Ex. 24:4; Josh. 4:3, 8, 9), possibly the old "oak of Moreh," as a silent witness of the transaction to all coming time.

Shechem became one of the cities of refuge, the central city of refuge for Western Palestine (Josh. 20:7), and here the bones of Joseph were buried (24:32). Rehoboam was appointed king in Shechem (1 Kings 12:1, 19), but Jeroboam afterwards took up his residence here. This city is mentioned in connection with our

Lord's conversation with the woman of Samaria (John 4:5); and thus, remaining as it does to the present day, it is one of the oldest cities of the world. It is the modern Nablus, a contraction for Neapolis, the name given to it by Vespasian. It lies about a mile and a half up the valley on its southern slope, and on the north of Gerizim, which rises about 1,100 feet above it, and is about 34 miles north of Jerusalem. It contains about 10,000 inhabitants, of whom about 160 are Samaritans and 100 Jews, the rest being Christians and Mohammedans.

The site of Shechem is said to be of unrivalled beauty. Stanley says it is "the most beautiful, perhaps the only very beautiful, spot in Central Palestine."

Gaza, near Shechem, only mentioned 1 Chr. 7:28, has entirely disappeared. It was destroyed at the time of the Conquest, and its place was taken by Shechem. (See SYCHAR)

 07927 Sh@kem {shek-em'}  the same as 07926; TWOT - 2386b  AV - Shechem 61, Sichem 1, Strong's synonym for consent 1; 63  Shechem = "back" or "shoulder" n pr m 1) son of Hamor, the chieftain of the Hivites at Shechem at the time of Jacob's arrival n pr loc 2) a city in Manasseh; located in a valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, 34 miles (54 km) north of Jerusalem and 7 miles (10.5 km) south- east of Samaria

Meonenim

(Judg. 9:37; A.V., "the plain of Meonenim;" R.V., "the oak of Meonenim") means properly "soothsayers" or "sorcerers," "wizards" (Deut. 18:10, 14; 2 Kings 21:6; Micah 5:12). This may

be the oak at Shechem under which Abram pitched his tent (see SHECHEM, the "enchanter's oak," so called, perhaps, from Jacob's hiding the "strange gods" under it (Gen. 35:4).

KIRJATH-ARBAcity of Arba, the original name of Hebron (q.v.), so called from the name of its founder, one of the Anakim (Gen. 23:2; 35:27; Josh. 15:13). It was given to Caleb by Joshua as his portion. The Jews interpret the name as meaning "the city of the four", i.e., of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Adam, who were all, as they allege, buried there.

07153 Qiryath `Arba` {keer-yath' ar-bah'} or (with the article interposed) Qiryath ha-'Arba` (Neh 11:25) {keer-yath' haw-ar-bah'}  from 07151 and 0704 or 0702;; n pr loc  AV - Kirjatharba 6, city of Arba 1, synonym 2; 9 Kirjath-arba = "city of Arba" 1) early name of the city which after the conquest was called 'Hebron'

07153 Qiryath `Arba` {keer-yath' ar-bah'} or (with the article interposed) Qiryath ha-'Arba` (Neh 11:25) {keer-yath' haw-ar-bah'}  from 07151 and 0704 or 0702;; n pr loc  AV - Kirjatharba 6, city of Arba 1, synonym 2; 9

 Kirjath-arba = "city of Arba" 1) early name of the city which after the conquest was called 'Hebron'

BEZERore of gold or silver. (1.) A city of the Reubenites; one of the three cities of refuge on the east of Jordan (Deut. 4: 43; Josh. 20:8). It has been identified with the modern ruined village of Burazin, some 12 miles north of Heshbon; also with Kasur-el-Besheir, 2 miles south-west of Dibon.

2.) A descendant of Asher (1 Chr. 7:37).

01221 Betser {beh'-tser}  the same as 01220;;  AV - Bezer 5; 5

 Bezer = "gold ore" or "remote fortress" n pr m 1) son of Zophah, one of the heads of the houses of Asher n pr loc 2) a city of refuge in Reuben in the downs on the east of the Jordan

Ramoth-gilead

heights of Gilead, a city of refuge on the east of Jordan; called "Ramoth in Gilead" (Deut. 4:43; Josh. 20:8; 21:38). Here Ahab, who joined Jehoshaphat in an endeavour to rescue it from the hands of the king of Syria, was mortally wounded (1 Kings 22:1-36). A similar attempt was afterwards made by Ahaziah and Joram, when the latter was wounded (2 Kings 8:28). In this city Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, was anointed by one of the sons of the prophets (9:1, 4).

It has with probability been identified with Reimun, on the northern slope of the Jabbok, about 5 miles west of Jerash or Gerasa, one of the cities of Decapolis. Others identify it with Gerosh, about 25 miles north-east of es-Salt, with which also

many have identified it. (See RAMATH-MIZPEH)

07216 Ra'mowth {raw-moth'} or Ramoth {raw-moth'}  pl. of 07215;; n pr loc

AV - Ramoth 4; 4  Ramoth = "heights" 1) a place in Gilead; site dubious 2) a Levitical city in Issachar

RAMOTH-GILEAD(heights of Gilead), one of the great fastnesses on the east of jordan, and the key to an important district. #1Ki 4:13| It was the city of refuge for the tribe of Gad, #De 4:43; Jos 20:8; 21:38| and the residence of one of Solomon's commissariat officers. #1Ki 4:13| During the invasion related in #1Ki 15:20| or some subsequent incursion, this important place had seized by Ben-hadad I., king of Syria. The incidents of Ahab's expedition are well known. [AHAB] Later it was taken by Israel, and held in spite of all the efforts of Hazael who was now on the throne of Damascus, to regain it.  AHAB - 151 #2Ki 9:14| Henceforward Ramoth-gilead disappears from our view. Eusebius and Jerome specify the position of Ramoth as 15 miles from Philadelphia (Amman). It may correspond to the site bearing the name of Jel'ad, exactly identical with the ancient Hebrew Gilead, which is four or five miles north of es-Salt, 25 miles east of the Jordan and 13 miles south of the brook Jabbok.

Golan

exile, a city of Bashan (Deut. 4:43), one of the three cities of refuge east of Jordan, about 12 miles north-east of the Sea of Galilee (Josh. 20:8). There are no further notices of it in Scripture. It became the head of the province of Gaulanitis, one

of the four provinces into which Bashan was divided after the Babylonish captivity, and almost identical with the modern Jaulan, in Western Hauran, about 39 miles in length and 18 in breath.   01474 Gowlan {go-lawn'}  from 01473;; n pr loc  AV - Golan 4; 4

 Golan = "their captivity: their rejoicing" 1) a town of Manasseh in the heights of Bashan east of the Jordan; a city of refuge.

CIUDADES DE REFUGIO

Josué 20:6

Lugares de asilo mencionados en Nm.35:9-34 y Jos. 20:1-9 (donde se les enumera). También se mencionan en Nm.35:6; Jos.21:13,21,27,32,38; 1Cr.6:57,67.  Estas pertenecían a las ciudades de los Levitas.  Dt.4:41-43;19:1-13 (cf. Ex.21.12-14).

            En la vida pública de Israel se aplicaba la ley de retribución que se especifica en la ley del Talión (Ex.21:23-25), se aplicaba en casos de derramamiento de sangre (Gen.9.5; Ex.21.12; Lv.24.17), el deber de castigar al asesino correspondía al go´el, el pariente varón más cercano (VENGADOR DE LA SANGRE).  Se distinguía el hecho de matar a un hombre deliberadamente o sin intención.  El que mataba sin intención podía encontrar asilo en algunas ciudades de refugio.  Se puede decir que estas servían mayormente par evitar los excesos que podían derivarse de la ejecución de lo que se denomina "venganza u odios de sangre", o sea enemistades de familia.

En Éxodo 21:12-14 hay una estipulación sobre este asunto.  Se consideraba el altar o el santuario como un asilo.  El que mata a sabiendas no encontrará refugio cerca del altar, el homicida no intencional si lo encontrará.  Pero el altar si lo encontrara muy distante, y además no puede quedarse permanentemente cerca del altar, en el santuario.  Se mencionan casos en que el altar ha servido como asilo en Israel 1R.1:50-53; 2:2834; Sal. 27:4-6; 61:4; Abdías 17, demuestran que esta práctica era muy conocida.

Israel señala 3 ciudades al Este del Jordán, y 3 ciudades al Oeste del río.  Según Josué 20, las siguientes ciudades de refugio fueron designadas en vida de Josué:

CEDES	GALILEA	NEFTALI	Santuario, ciudad con vallado
SIQUEM		EFRAIN	Hombro, responsabilidad, cargar con
QUIRIAT-ARBA	HEBRON	JUDA	Ciudad de cuatro, comunidad
BESER	DESIERTO	RUBEN	Fortificación
RAMOT	GALAAD	GAD	Alto o exaltado
GOLAN	BASAN	MANASES	Alegría o gozo triunfante

Porqué debía permanecer el homicida no intencional en la ciudad de refugio hasta la muerte del sumo sacerdote?.  Su culpa recaía sobre el sumo sacerdote y era expiada por la (inesperada) muerte del mismo sumo sacerdote.

Vengador de la sangre: (heb. gô'el haddam = redentor de la sangre).  lo constituía el sistema conocido como venganza de la sangre por daños personales, se le menciona en Génesis 9:5.  todos los integrantes del clan se consideraban de una misma sangre, pero la responsabilidad de vengar la sangre derramada recaía sobre el pariente más próximo, podía ser llamdo a redimir la propiedad o la persona de un pariente pobre o cautivo (Lv.25:25, 47:49; Rut 4:1). El código penal Mosáico autorizaba al vengador a ejecutar al asesino pero a nadie más (Dt.24:16; 2R.14:6; 2Cr.25:4).

PARIENTES

A la cabeza de la familia	Mispaha (parentela)
El padre	Ab
Funda una casa del padre	Bêt âb
O la casa de los padres	Bêt abôt