God also told His people that some of their cities must be set aside as safety zones, where a man could run and be safe from punishment if he had accidentally killed someone. For instance , if he was cutting down a tree and the head of the ax flew off the handle, killing someone standing to a city of safety. Otherwise the dead man’s brother or son or some other relative might try to kill him in revenge. But if he escaped and ran to the city of safety, no one could hurt him there. If anyone did, that person would himself be killed.
When a person who had accidentally killed someone arrived at the city of safety, he would tell the judges what he had done. They would take him into the city and give him a place to live. Then if the brother or the son of the man he had killed came and asked for him, they would protect him because he hadn’t meant to hurt or kill anyone.
But if some wicked murderer came to the city and asked for safety, the judges wouldn’t let him in, and he would be put to death for his sin.
The Lord said that when the people arrived in Canaan, they must bring the first of their grain and fruit to Him at harvest time each year. They would put it in a basket and bring it to the Tabernacle as a gift to the Lord, to thank Him for a good crop. The priest would place the basket in front of the altar, and the person bringing the gift would say, “I have brought the first of my harvest to You, O Lord, to thank You for giving me a good harvest.”
Then he would leave the basket of fruit or grain for the priests to eat. God had given this law because the priests had no farms or orchards of their own.
Moses told the people that on the very day they crossed the river and entered the Promise Land, they should build a monument of stones with the laws of God written on them for everyone to read.
Moses said that if the people of Israel obeyed the Lord, the Lord would make them the greatest nation on earth. He would bless them and their children, their land, and their cattle. Their enemies would be afraid of them and would stay far away.
But if the people of Israel didn’t obey God, then they would have constant trouble. The seed they [planted in their fields wouldn’t grow, locusts would come and destroy their growing grain, and worms would eat their grapevines. The people would be weak and sickly, and the Lord would send fierce warriors against them who would not pity the old or the young, but would take them all away as slaves to other countries.
Moses told the people that they must choose between the good and evil ways. He begged them to choose the good way so that they and their children would live long and well.
Then he presented Joshua to them as their new leader.
The Lord now summoned Moses and Joshua to the Tabernacle. He appeared to them there in the pillar of cloud, and consecrated Joshua as the new leader of Israel.
Moses wrote down God’s laws and ordered that every seven years the priests, elders, and all the people, including the children, must be called together to listen as these laws were read aloud to them. For they needed to hear them again and again and to remember to obey them. Moses gave the book of laws to the Levites, and told them to keep it inside the Ark.
After this the Lord told Moses to climb to the top of Mount Nebo to look across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Then he would die on the mountain, just as Aaron had died on Mount Hor.
Moses was and old man now, but still as strong as many young men. He said a last good bye to his people and climbed to the top of the mountain. There he looked across the Jordan at the Promised Land of Canaan, the land God had promised long before to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and to their descendants.
Then Moses died there on the top of the mountain, and the Lord buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, but no one knows where. He was 120 years old when he died, but he was well and strong until the day of his death.
After that, Joshua ruled the Israelis and they obeyed him as they had Moses. The Lord gave Joshua wisdom and made him able to teach and guide them. But never again until Jesus Christ came was there a man like Moses with whom the Lord talked face to face and for whom He did such miracles. But Jesus Christ did many more when He came.
Questions;
If a person Accidentally killed someone, what should he do to be safe?
Would murderers be safe in the cities of refuge too?
What did the farmers do at harvest time?
What can you do?
What happened to Moses?
Did God allow him to see the Promised Land?
Could he enter it?
Do you remember why?
Numbers Chapter 26 &27
"Only Life Changes" 