Deuteronomy 4:43

43 These were the cities: Bezer on the wilderness plateau for the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad; Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.

Deuteronomy 4:43 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:43

[Namely], Bezer in the wilderness
In ( Joshua 20:8 ) , it is added "upon the plain"; this perhaps was the wilderness of Moab, in the plains of it, the same with Bozrah, see ( Jeremiah 48:24 ) ( Deuteronomy 2:8 ) and in the Apocrypha:

``Hereupon Judas and his host turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness unto Bosora; and when he had won the city, he slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burned the city with fire,'' (1 Maccabees 5:28)

it was in the

plain country of the Reubenites,
or lay in that part of the country which was allotted to them, and which they gave to the Levites, ( 1 Chronicles 6:78 ) ,

and Ramoth in Gilead of the Gadites;
it lay in that part of Mount Gilead, and among the cities of it, which fell to the share of the tribe of Gad, and was by them given to the Levites, ( 1 Chronicles 6:80 ) , this city is frequently in Scripture called Ramothgilead; see ( 1 Kings 4:13 ) ( 22:20 )

and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites,
or "Gaulon", as the Septuagint, and from hence the country round about was called Gaulanitis; all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, was given to the half tribe of Manasseh, and out of it this city was given by them to the Levites, ( 1 Chronicles 6:71 ) , and appointed a city of refuge: now as these cities were typical of Christ, there may be something observed in the names of them as agreeing with him. "Bezer" signifies "a fortified place"; Christ is the fortress, mountain, and place of defence for his people, and strong hold to which the prisoners of hope turn, the strong tower whither the righteous run and are safe. "Ramoth" signifies "exaltations"; which may point both at the exaltation of Christ in human nature at the right hand of God, and the exaltation of his people by him, who are raised by him from a low estate to sit among princes, and to inherit the throne of glory, and by whom he is exalted in his person, office, and grace. "Golan" signifies "revealed" or" manifested": so Christ has been manifest in the flesh, and is revealed to sinners, when they are called by his grace; to whom they flee for refuge, and lay hold on him, the hope set before them.

Deuteronomy 4:43 In-Context

41 Then Moses set apart three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River.
42 Anyone who killed another person unintentionally, without previous hostility, could flee there to live in safety.
43 These were the cities: Bezer on the wilderness plateau for the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad; Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.
44 This is the body of instruction that Moses presented to the Israelites.
45 These are the laws, decrees, and regulations that Moses gave to the people of Israel when they left Egypt,
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