Justin Houtz

Hi. I’m Justin. I write code and things but enough about that…

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  • Daily Bible Study

    Joshua 20, Hebrews 3

    DateVersionReading Plan
    July 26, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

    Joshua 20

    Observation & Interpretation

    Josh. 20:1-3 – Appointment of the cities of refuge that was given through Moses for the manslayer who strikes another without intent to which they could flee (see. Exod. 21:12-14; Num. 35:9-15).

    Josh. 20:1 – Once again, and for the last time recorded in the book, the LORD addresses Joshua. (ESVEC – Comment)

    Josh. 20:2-6 – A consistent feature of the provision of the cities of refuge is that eligibility is restricted to manslaughter and thus does not apply to any other form of asylum seeking. (ESVEC – Comment)

    Josh. 20:4 – The manslayer would go to the gate of the city of refuge and explain his case to the elders of the city.

    Josh. 20:5 – The people/elders of the city were not to give the manslayer into the hand of the avenger of blood if the avenger of blood pursues him.

    • Emphasis on the absence of intentionality and maliciousness on the part of the manslayer

    Josh. 20:6 – The manslayer was to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest

    • The manslayer could then return to his own hom
    • Did he have to return? What if the avenger of blood was still angry or in pursuit? (answered below)

    Josh. 20:4-6 – Presumably the avenger was to accept the high priest’s death as a substitute for the guilt incurred by the shedding of innocent blood (CSB Notes)

    Josh. 20:9 – The cities of refuge were designated so that anyone who killed another unintentionally could flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until they stood before the congregation

    Application

    Josh. 20:1-9 – Those responsible for Jesus’ death are given much greater provision than asylum: for them—for us—there is the possibility of salvation. (ESVEC – Response)

    Hebrews 3

    Observation & Interpretation

    Heb. 3:1 – The author exhorts the holy brothers to consider Jesus

    Heb. 3:2-6 – Comparison and contrast between Moses and Jesus

    Heb. 3:3 – Comparing the greater worth of glory of Jesus to Moses with the greater glory of a builder of a house than the house itself

    Heb. 3:4 – Comparing/contrasting the builder of a house with the builder of all things, namely, God

    Heb. 3:5-6 – Comparing/contrasting Moses’ faithfulness in all God’s house as a servant to Christ’s faithfulness over God’s house as a son.

    Heb. 3:5-6a – The language describing Moses in Numbers 12:7 as the Lord’s “servant” “in all God’s house” signals his inferiority to Christ, who “is faithful over God’s house as a son.”

    Heb. 3:6 – Believers are God’s house, if we hold fast to our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

    • Similar conditionality seen in Heb. 3:14.

    Heb. 3:7-15 – An exhortation using multiple portions of Ps. 95 to not harden one’s heart that would lead to God’s provocation as well as a falling away from the living God.

    Heb. 3:12 – An evil, unbelieving heart leads to one’s falling away from the living God.

    • The brothers are to take measures with one another to ensure that an evil, unbelieving heart does not take hold.

    Heb. 3:12 – The Greek verb rendered “fall away” is aphistēmi, referring to a more deliberate departure than the verb rendered “drift away” (2:1). To fall away is nothing less than apostasy akin to the Israelites’ defiant rebellion in the wilderness (ESVEC – Comment)

    Heb. 3:16-18 – A series of questions and answers re: those who historically rebelled, sinned and were disobedient, which resulted in not entering God’s rest.

    Heb. 3:19 – Explains that unbelief was the cause for being unable to enter God’s rest.

    Resources

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