Reading the Bible Through

Joshua 18 - 20   First, I need  a map. Here we go:  Map of allotments Then, I keep wondering about the significance of the phrase "towns and their villages." How can a town have a village? What does this mean? Smaller settlements near towns?  I find the cities of refuge an interesting idea. 

Deuteronomy 17 - 19   Here we see that Israel will want a king. I think this is the first time we see that.  When it talks about false prophets here, I am reminded that we will see quite a few off them telling kings what the kings want to hear.  When I listen today to the part about witnesses at the end of the reading, I am reminded that Jesus was testified against by false witnesses. I am also realizing that these laws about who must die/capital punishment are part of what lead to death on the cross to fulfill what is done over and over by animal sacrifice. 

Deuteronomy 3 - 5   In many ways, this seems to be a summary of the previous books. Still, there is some new information added. I note that the Israelites stated that they could not continue to hear God speaking from the mountain, so Moses acted as intermediary. Before, God told them not to come near to the mountain he was speaking from. The fact that the Israelites did hear some of God speaking on the mountain makes the golden calf harder to understand in some ways. 

Numbers 33 - 35   I used to think the avenger of blood was a single, shadowy character. Now, it's my understanding that the avenger of blood is the role of a family member to avenge the blood of a murdered relative.