I Am Your Portion & Inheritance Among the People of Israel

1. Cities of Refuge are established in Israel so individual blood vengeance was severely limited and an important distinction is created between a murderer and a manslayer.

a. Who is the avenger of blood?
b. The theological reason for the death penalty in Israel. (Numbers 35:34)
c. The person guilty of manslaughter was also punished, but his punishment was house arrest.
d. Capital crimes exceeded the Mosaic Covenant’s ability to atone for them. (Numbers 35:31-33)

2. The Levitical Cities, which included the six Cities of Refuge, were scattered throughout Israel and were a mark of privilege, and responsibility for the tribe of Levi.

a. Who is Levi? Answer: a man who brought shame. (Gen. 49:5-7)
b. How Levi’s descendants moved from shame to distinction. (Exodus 32)
c. The unique responsibilities of the Levites: to discern God’s will, to teach Israel, and to make offerings on behalf of Israel. (Deuteronomy 33:8-11)
d. God repeats special terms of endearment to the tribe of Levi. (Deuteronomy 10:8,9;18:6; Numbers 18:20; Joshua 13:14)
“ I am your portion & inheritance among the tribes of Israel”
e. Divine provision for Levi’s prosperity: sacrifice, tithes & cities.
f. Levi is scattered for the blessing of the rest of Israel.
g. The Levitical Cities at their inception and almost 1000 years later: Joshua 21 compared to 1 Chronicles 6.

3. The glory of the Levities is transferred & expanded in Christ’s priesthood and teaching ministry.