To be united w/God and receive His forgiveness (justification/salvation) we must go to His house (18:1 “tent of meeting” = Literally, “tent of reunion” Deu 12:11; Jer 7:12; Joh
4:21 = God’s house of salvation/reunion wb all over the Gentile world).
“Let no man deceive himself. Outside of this house, that is, outside of the Church no one is saved.” – Origen (184 -253 A.D.)
What God has promised to His people: 1) is ready to be taken by His people (18:1 “lay subdued” = Conquered and ready to be possessed; 2Co
1:20 w/Heb 10:12-13), 2) will remain largely unrealized until we strive to take possession of it (18:2-3; 2Ti 2:5-6), 3) is incongruent w/laziness or procrastination (18:3 “How long will you put off” = How long will you be lazy? Pro 18:9; Heb 12:1; 2Pe
1:10 w/19; Eph 5:14-16), 4) will oftentimes require that we grow in knowledge and discernment to see what He specifically has for us (18:4-10; Phi 1:9-11; Heb 5:11-14; e.g. Mar
8:17).
All God’s people receive an inheritance (18:2-19:51; Act 20:32; Eph 1:11-18; 1Pe 1:4).
God gave Benjamin a place of spiritual stability, strength and support (18:11-28 w/Deu
33:12 “shoulders” = The place of stability, strength and support).
The sins of the fathers wb visited on the children unless the children do something to stop the curse (18:7a w/19:1-9 w/Gen 49:5-7 w/Exo 20:5 w/Exo 32:26-29).
God follows former prophecy (18:7, 11, 19:9, 11 w/Deu 33:12, 188-19 and Gen 49:5-7, 13).
“The tribe of Zebulon’s lot included the land which lay as far as the Lake of Genesareth, [Sea of Galilee] and that which belonged to Carmel and the [Mediterranean] sea” – Josephus (Antiquities)
No prosecution (no deprivation of life, liberty or property) without due process (20:1-6; The 5th Amendment is based on the God’s Law).
The elders and congregation are: 1) tasked w/protecting other members of the covenant community from wrongful accusations and punishment (20:1-3, 5, 9), 2) to establish and participate in a judicial system for God’s people (20:4, 6-9; 1Co 6:1-6), 3) to determine guilt based on intent and evidence (20:3a, 5b, 9a; Num
35:30 and Deu 19:15; 2Co 13:1-5).
Like the act itself, the punishment for manslaughter is also determined by God (20:6 “until the death of him who is the high priest at the time”; Exo 21:12-14).
Proximity to His Levites/pastors is one of the ways God blesses His people (21:1-4, 9-19 in comparison to 21:5-8, 20-41; The territory of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin were the only to survive the later apostasy – 1Ki
12:16).
What is to be given to God’s Levites/pastors includes what they need to do their job (
21:42).
God’s word and good promises to us include a permanent (or eternal): 1) dwelling place (21:43; 2Co 5:1), 2) victory over all our enemies (21:44; Most esp. the enemy of sin and death – 1Co 15:50-58).
God has already proven that He will bring “to pass” every single “word” and “all the good promises” that He has made to those who belong to “house of Israel” (
21:45).