聖經365恩典之旅

 

本日經文提要( 約書亞記 20:1~ 22:34)

.耶和華設立逃城的目的為何?如何將逃城的概念應用在生活中?
.流便人，迦得人，和瑪拿西半支派等人，於靠近約但河邊，在迦南地屬以色列人的那邊築了一座壇，結果造成以色列人甚麼反應?
書20:1耶和華曉諭約書亞說：
書20:2你吩咐以色列人說：你們要照著我藉摩西所曉諭你們的，為自己設立逃城。
書20:3使那無心而誤殺人的，可以逃到那裡，這些城可以作你們逃避報血仇人的地方。
書20:4那殺人的要逃到這些城中的一座城，站在城門口，將他的事情說給城內的長老們聽，他們就把他收進城裡，給他地方，使他住在他們中間。
書20:5若是報血仇的追了他來，長老不可將他交在報血仇的手裡，因為他是素無仇恨，無心殺了人的。
書20:6他要住在那城裡，站在會眾面前聽審判，等到那時的大祭司死了，殺人的才可以回到本城本家，就是他所逃出來的那城。
書20:7於是以色列人在拿弗他利山地，分定加利利的基低斯，在以法蓮山地，分定示劍，在猶大山地，分定基列亞巴（基列亞巴就是希伯崙）
書20:8又在約但河外耶利哥東，從流便支派中，在曠野的平原，設立比悉，從迦得支派中，設立基列的拉末，從瑪拿西支派中，設立巴珊的哥蘭。
書20:9這都是為以色列眾人，和在他們中間寄居的外人所分定的地邑，使誤殺人的都可以逃到那裡，不死在報血仇人的手中，等他站在會眾面前聽審判。

書21:1那時利未人的眾族長，來到祭司以利亞撒，和嫩的兒子約書亞，並以色列各支派的族長面前。
書21:2在迦南地的示羅對他們說：從前耶和華藉著摩西吩咐給我們城邑居住，並城邑的郊野，可以牧養我們的牲畜。
書21:3於是以色列人照耶和華所吩咐的，從自己的地業中，將以下所記的城邑，和城邑的郊野，給了利未人。
書21:4為哥轄族拈鬮，利未人的祭司亞倫的子孫，從猶大支派，西緬支派，便雅憫支派的地業中，按鬮得了十三座城。
書21:5哥轄其餘的子孫，從以法蓮支派，但支派，瑪拿西半支派的地業中，按鬮得了十座城。
書21:6革順的子孫，從以薩迦支派，亞設支派，拿弗他利支派，住巴珊的瑪拿西半支派的地業中，按鬮得了十三座城。
書21:7米拉利的子孫，按著宗族，從流便支派，迦得支派，西布倫支派的地業中，按鬮得了十二座城。
書21:8以色列人照著耶和華藉摩西所吩咐的，將這些城邑，和城邑的郊野，按鬮分給利未人。
書21:9從猶大支派，西緬支派的地業中，將以下所記的城，給了利未支派哥轄宗族亞倫的子孫，因為給他們拈出頭一鬮，
書21:10見上節
書21:11將猶大山地的基列亞巴，和四圍的郊野，給了他們，亞巴是亞衲族的始祖，（基列亞巴就是希伯崙）
書21:12惟將屬城的田地，和村莊，給了耶孚尼的兒子迦勒為業。
書21:13以色列人將希伯崙，就是誤殺人的逃城，和屬城的郊野，給了祭司亞倫的子孫，又給他們立拿和屬城的郊野。
書21:14雅提珥和屬城的郊野，以實提莫和屬城的郊野。
書21:15何崙和屬城的郊野，底璧和屬城的郊野。
書21:16亞因和屬城的郊野，淤他和屬城的郊野，伯示麥和屬城的郊野，共九座城，都是從這二支派中分出來的。
書21:17又從便雅憫支派的地業中，給了他們基遍和屬城的郊野，迦巴和屬城的郊野。
書21:18亞拿突和屬城的郊野，亞勒們和屬城的郊野，共四座城。
書21:19亞倫子孫作祭司的，共有十三座城，還有屬城的郊野。
書21:20利未支派中哥轄的宗族，就是哥轄其餘的子孫，拈鬮所得的城，有從以法蓮支派中分出來的。
書21:21以色列人將以法蓮山地的示劍，就是誤殺人的逃城，和屬城的郊野，給了他們，又給他們基色和屬城的郊野。
書21:22基伯先和屬城的郊野，伯和崙和屬城的郊野，共四座城。
書21:23又從但支派的地業中，給了他們伊利提基和屬城的郊野，基比頓和屬城的郊野。
書21:24亞雅崙和屬城的郊野，迦特臨門和屬城的郊野，共四座城。
書21:25又從瑪拿西半支派的地業中，給了他們他納和屬城的郊野，迦特臨門和屬城的郊野，共兩座城。
書21:26哥轄其餘的子孫，共有十座城，還有屬城的郊野。
書21:27以色列人又從瑪拿西半支派的地業中，將巴珊的哥蘭，就是誤殺人的逃城，和屬城的郊野，給了利未支派革順的子孫，又給他們比施提拉和屬城的郊野，共兩座城。
書21:28又從以薩迦支派的地業中，給了他們基善和屬城的郊野，大比拉和屬城的郊野。
書21:29耶末和屬城的郊野，隱干寧和屬城的郊野，共四座城。
書21:30又從亞設支派的地業中，給了他們米沙勒和屬城的郊野，押頓和屬城的郊野。
書21:31黑甲和屬城的郊野，利合和屬城的郊野，共四座城。
書21:32又從拿弗他利支派的地業中，將加利利的基低斯，就是誤殺人的逃城，和屬城的郊野，給了他們，又給他們哈末多珥和屬城的郊野，加珥坦和屬城的郊野，共三座城。
書21:33革順人按著宗族所得的城，共十三座，還有屬城的郊野。
書21:34其餘利未支派米拉利子孫，從西布倫支派的地業中所得的，就是約念和屬城的郊野，加珥他和屬城的郊野。
書21:35丁拿和屬城的郊野，拿哈拉和屬城的郊野，共四座城。
書21:36又從流便支派的地業中，給了他們比悉和屬城的郊野，雅雜和屬城的郊野。
書21:37基底莫和屬城的郊野，米法押和屬城的郊野，共四座城。
書21:38又從迦得支派的地業中，將基列的拉末，就是誤殺人的逃城，和屬城的郊野，給了他們，又給他們瑪哈念和屬城的郊野。
書21:39希實本和屬城的郊野，雅謝和屬城的郊野，共四座城。
書21:40其餘利未支派的人，就是米拉利的子孫，按著宗族拈鬮所得的，共十二座城。
書21:41利未人在以色列人的地業中所得的城，共四十八座，並有屬城的郊野。
書21:42這些城四圍都有屬城的郊野，城城都是如此。
書21:43這樣，耶和華將從前向他們列祖起誓所應許的全地，賜給以色列人，他們就得了為業，住在其中。
書21:44耶和華照著向他們列祖起誓所應許的一切話，使他們四境平安，他們一切仇敵中，沒有一人在他們面前站立得住，耶和華把一切仇敵都交在他們手中。
書21:45耶和華應許賜福給以色列家的話，一句也沒有落空，都應驗了。

書22:1當時約書亞召了流便人，迦得人，和瑪拿西半支派的人來，
書22:2對他們說：耶和華僕人摩西所吩咐你們的，你們都遵守了，我所吩咐你們的，你們也都聽從了。
書22:3你們這許多日子，總沒有撇離你們的弟兄，直到今日，並守了耶和華你們神所吩咐你們當守的。
書22:4如今耶和華你們神照著他所應許的，使你們弟兄得享平安，現在可以轉回你們的帳棚，到耶和華的僕人摩西在約但河東所賜你們為業之地。
書22:5只要切切的謹慎遵行耶和華僕人摩西所吩咐你們的誡命律法，愛耶和華你們的神，行他一切的道，守他的誡命，專靠他，盡心盡性事奉他。
書22:6於是約書亞為他們祝福，打發他們去，他們就回自己的帳棚去了。
書22:7瑪拿西那半支派，摩西早已在巴珊分給他們地業，這半支派，約書亞在約但河西，在他們弟兄中，分給他們地業，約書亞打發他們回帳棚的時候，為他們祝福。
書22:8對他們說：你們帶許多財物，許多牲畜，和金，銀，銅，鐵，並許多衣服，回你們的帳棚去，要將你們從仇敵奪來的物，與你們眾弟兄同分。
書22:9於是流便人，迦得人，瑪拿西半支派的人，從迦南地的示羅起行，離開以色列人，回往他們得為業的基列地，就是照耶和華藉摩西所吩咐的得了為業之地。
書22:10流便人，迦得人，和瑪拿西半支派的人，到了靠近約但河的一帶迦南地，就在約但河那裡，築了一座壇，那壇看著高大。
書22:11以色列人聽說流便人，迦得人，瑪拿西半支派的人，靠近約但河邊，在迦南地屬以色列人的那邊築了一座壇。
書22:12全會眾一聽見，就聚集在示羅，要上去攻打他們。
書22:13以色列人打發祭司以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈，往基列地去見流便人，迦得人，瑪拿西半支派的人。
書22:14又打發十個首領與非尼哈同去，就是以色列每支派的一個首領，都是以色列軍中的統領。
書22:15他們到了基列地，見流便人，迦得人，和瑪拿西半支派的人，對他們說：
書22:16耶和華全會眾這樣說：你們今日轉去不跟從耶和華，干犯以色列的神，為自己築一座壇，悖逆了耶和華，這犯的是甚麼罪呢。
書22:17從前拜毘珥的罪孽還算小嗎，雖然瘟疫臨到耶和華的會眾，到今日我們還沒有洗淨這罪。
書22:18你們今日竟轉去不跟從耶和華麼，你們今日既悖逆耶和華，明日他必向以色列全會眾發怒。
書22:19你們所得為業之地，若嫌不潔淨，就可以過到耶和華之地，就是耶和華的帳幕所住之地，在我們中間得地業，只是不可悖逆耶和華，也不可得罪我們，在耶和華我們神的壇以外為自己築壇。
書22:20從前謝拉的曾孫亞干，豈不是在那當滅的物上犯了罪，就有忿怒臨到以色列全會眾麼，那人在所犯的罪中，不獨一人死亡。
書22:21於是流便人，迦得人，瑪拿西半支派的人，回答以色列軍中的統領說：
書22:22大能者神耶和華。大能者神耶和華，他是知道的。以色列人也必知道。我們若有悖逆的意思，或是干犯耶和華，（願你今日不保佑我們）
書22:23為自己築壇，要轉去不跟從耶和華，或是要將燔祭，素祭，平安祭獻在壇上，願耶和華親自討我們的罪。
書22:24我們行這事並非無故，是特意作的，說：恐怕日後你們的子孫對我們的子孫說：你們與耶和華以色列的神，有何關涉呢。
書22:25因為耶和華把約但河定為我們和你們這流便人，迦得人的交界，你們與耶和華無分了，這樣，你們的子孫，就使我們的子孫，不再敬畏耶和華了。
書22:26因此我們說：不如為自己築一座壇，不是為獻燔祭，也不是為獻別的祭，
書22:27乃是為你我中間，和你我後人中間作證據，好叫我們也在耶和華面前獻燔祭，平安祭，和別的祭事奉他，免得你們的子孫，日後對我們的子孫說：你們與耶和華無分了。
書22:28所以我們說：日後你們對我們，或對我們的後人這樣說：我們就可以回答說：你們看我們列祖所築的壇，是耶和華壇的樣式，這並不是為獻燔祭，也不是為獻別的祭，乃是為作你我中間的證據。
書22:29我們在耶和華我們神帳幕前的壇以外，另築一座壇，為獻燔祭，素祭，和別的祭，悖逆耶和華，今日轉去不跟從他，我們斷沒有這個意思。
書22:30祭司非尼哈與會中的首領，就是與他同來以色列軍中的統領，聽見流便人，迦得人，瑪拿西人所說的話，就都以為美。
書22:31祭司以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈，對流便人，迦得人，瑪拿西人說：今日我們知道耶和華在我們中間，因為你們沒有向他犯了這罪。現在你們救以色列人脫離耶和華的手了。
書22:32祭司以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈，與眾首領離了流便人，迦得人，從基列地回往迦南地，到了以色列人那裡，便將這事回報他們。
書22:33以色列人以這事為美，就稱頌神，不再提上去攻打流便人，迦得人，毀壞他們所住的地了。

Mar 8,2018-The Journey of Grace (67/365) Jos  20:1~ 22:34

 

  

 

 

Joshua 20

Cities of Refuge

20 Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. 4 When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state their case before the elders of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. 5 If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. 6 They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.”

7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8 East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh. 9 Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.

 

Joshua 21 

Towns for the Levites

21 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel 2 at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.” 3 So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

4 The first lot came out for the Kohathites, according to their clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. 5 The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh.

6 The descendants of Gershon were allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7 The descendants of Merari, according to their clans, received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.

8 So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

9 From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name 10 (these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them):

11 They gave them Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 12 But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.

13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah, 14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 15 Holon, Debir, 16 Ain, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands—nine towns from these two tribes.

17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba, 18 Anathoth and Almon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.

19 The total number of towns for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.

20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim:

21 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer, 22 Kibzaim and Beth Horon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.

23 Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 24 Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.

25 From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—two towns.

26 All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.

27 The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given:

from the half-tribe of Manasseh,

Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Be Eshterah, together with their pasturelands—two towns;

28 from the tribe of Issachar,

Kishion, Daberath, 29 Jarmuth and En Gannim, together with their pasturelands—four towns;

30 from the tribe of Asher,

Mishal, Abdon, 31 Helkath and Rehob, together with their pasturelands—four towns;

32 from the tribe of Naphtali,

Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands—three towns.

33 The total number of towns of the Gershonite clans came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.

34 The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given:

from the tribe of Zebulun,

Jokneam, Kartah, 35 Dimnah and Nahalal, together with their pasturelands—four towns;

36 from the tribe of Reuben,

Bezer, Jahaz, 37 Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands—four towns;

38 from the tribe of Gad,

Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim, 39 Heshbon and Jazer, together with their pasturelands—four towns in all.

40 The total number of towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, came to twelve.

41 The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands. 42 Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.

43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

 

Joshua 22

 
Eastern Tribes Return Home

22 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh 2 and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. 3 For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. 4 Now that the Lord your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

6 Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. 7 (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan along with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, 8 saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing—and divide the plunder from your enemies with your fellow Israelites.”

9 So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.

10 When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. 11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 12 the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.

13 So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 14 With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.

15 When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them: 16 “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? 17 Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord! 18 And are you now turning away from the Lord?

“‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. 19 If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God. 20 When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things,[a] did not wrath come on the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’”

21 Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: 22 “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day. 23 If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.

24 “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.

26 “That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ 27 On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’

28 “And we said, ‘If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the Lord’s altar, which our ancestors built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’

29 “Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle.”

30 When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of the Israelites—heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased. 31 And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is with us, because you have not been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand.”

32 Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites. 33 They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.

34 And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us—that the Lord is God.