The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-10-14

Il .tben proclaim peace unto il. And il shall be-
il IL make thee answer Of peace, and open uuto
thee. then il shall be- that all the people that Is
and they shall serve thee. "-Dsut. Xxx, I0-l1.
and that IL Is reasonable to suppose that great
mutitudes awaited themselves Of this humane
offer and escaped Answer-This provision
did not apply to the doomed nations, as Is seen
by the succeeding verses: "Thus shalt thou do
unto all the cities which are not of the cities Of
these nations. But Of the cities Of these people,
which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an in
heritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that
brestheth; but thou shalt utterly destroy them;
namely, the Hittites and the Amenities, the Ca
NANTES and the Perizzites, the Invites and the
Jebusites; as the Lord thy God hath command
ed thee. Dent, XXX, l5-l7. This is sufficient
Iy conclusive; but allowing that the provision
applied to these nations-the history shows that
with very few exceptions none of the people
were spared. Rahab and her family at Jericho,
were saved as the just reward of her kindness TO
the spies, and the Gibeonites procured Temporal
ry immunity from the dreadful destiny by
russ de gusrTe.-Joshua TX, 3-l5. And the
conversation which passed between them and
the princes Of Israel before they entered into
covenant, proves plainly enough, that both par
ties understood the provision to relate, exclu-
sively. to foreign nations. They. as a Just pun
shment for their cunning craftiness, were DOOM
ed to be "Asrers Of GOOD and drapers Of rafer
for the house Of God" Their service was to
supply fuel and water for the tabernace-and
subsequently for the temple-but they were not
slaves-they retained rights inconsistent with
that relation, and the power to enforce them
(See I'd Samuel, XXI, 10y The account Of
them, as distinct people, here closes. and hav-
ing for generations endured the slow, consum-
ing curse, they at last swallowed up
The prediction was accomplished.
To the conclusion it may be objected,
2ty-That many of the inhabitants fled into
distant countnes, especially into Africa, where
they were permitted to live in peace, and that
from these refugees has descended the long line o.
slaves, which have for ages groaned beneath the
yoke, answer: LIST. It's probable that many did
save themselves BY flight, but it requires some.
thing more than conjecture to satisfy an honest
mind in a matter Of so much moment. an.
swei, IDLY. That il was the purpose Of infinite
wisdom and justice, as revealed to Moses, moi
only to drive them out Of the land of Canaan
but to pluck up and destroy them foTeyer-ant
that no counsel or strength could by any posi-
bIlity avert that destiny. The Gibeonites op
posed II, by stratagem, made covenant with
the chosen Of God, and by linking themselves Sc
closely with those appointed to destroy them, nj
doubt, supposed they had successfully warded IN,
blowout an unseen hand was upon them un
I'll withered and paTched, they peIishsd, Tn.
same hand was upon every refugee to execui,
that which God had before determined and age,
ago, the blood Of Canaan CEASED to foac in hama,
veinsl ! have thus, as briefly as possible exam
inetI this "StrOHghOld'' and brought to bear on
the light Of Divine truth; whether IT has beeI
taken, let the reader determine. With deel
conviction Of the correctness Of these views,
cannot close this communication without real
filming that the Bible furnishes no raTraHt 70
African sldrery. No, aOHeu God Of Justice,
| on, speed the moment On
When wrong shall &c aSe-and Liberty. and Love,
And Truth, and Right. thrOG ghOut the earth be know
As in their homo above.
| CLERos.
Under the Bridge, Oct. 10, 1s4s.