Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-10-30
NO, 81,
The SABBATH SCHOOL,.
International Lesson Comments FcI
November 2.
Subject: Cities of Refuge, Josh. Xxx, 10 -
Go,den Text, Psa. XVII, Memory
Verses, z, documentary on The
Days Lesson.


I. The Lord also spake unto Joshua
As soon as the tribes had received TIVE
portion of their Inheritance, the I0ni
directed that Joshua should carry out ti'
injunctions which Moses had leit rcSpc;'.
ing the cities of refuge for the accidental
homicide. Sec TX. 2l;l2-l5; Mum. 3j: 93t,
Dcut. 10: 2-l3
., "Appoint .. cities of refuge Prior
to the Mosaic age it was required OF tnc
nearest relative, rs a matter oil duty, tr
avcngc the death of one who had becn
slain. He was called the ''Gocl or
"Avengcr." Sometimes a whole family
took upon them this duty; 2 Sam, II; l.
Naturally many evils would take place ~
a result of this unccremonious,y melting CA
punishment on the offender, and 1T Wa
the aim of the Mosaic law, with at alto.
gether abolishing the long-estahii ed cn''
tom, to mitigate its evils as tai& as r''.
sihle."
3 "Unawarcs and nwittngivs4 That
is, by accident. or without guilty intent,
MAY flee thither.' The danger OF thn
ancient plan of Furnishing crime was tiF
justice would give place to revenge. ard
series of mutual r2tallations would end N
increasing murders instead of preventing
them. To avoid this danger the plan Of
cities Of refuge was instituted.
H. "lhe gate of the city The tribunal
of Justice was at the gate of the city. lhc
refugee was not kept out Of the city t1Il
his innocence was proved. but was permit
ted to enter and relate his cause and re-
ccivc the protection of the city. May
dwell among them When the refuge"
arrived at the city of refuge he was taken
under the protection OF the elders VINO
wore allowed to arrest him, il ne were ad'
Judged a wllful murderer. Afterward h"
r,,.t e.opJ in ;,,lrn,rnt hptnrp | hp rOOurC.
cation OF the magistrates. and II then con
demned he was to be delivered to tn"
avengcr of blood This would prevent
those abuses. which were generally made
of sanctuares among other nations III
which the most shameful criminals found
protection.
s. "If the pvengcr of blood pursue
When once sheltered, in one of these
cities, apd proven innocent OF intended
murder, the one who otherwise would
have had the right to put him to death. IN
the place where the murder took place,
now could not touch him, unless he should,
by his own choice, 90 from the city and be
found by the avenger who might then take
his life; The e1sy was a place i. Of ,Iroter.
walls.
g. "Shall dwell in that city" II cxoncr.
acd from wllul murder, he was safe, but
only SO long as he remained within the
city and its suburbs of one thousand cuujts
beyond the walls. Mum. So: 1928. lie
must remain there, away from his home
and business, till the death of the high
priest. This seeming hardship was necH$.
sary and Just, because there is usually
some fault or carelesSnesS in even acct
dental murders, and this great incOnvenl-
,nce would tend to carciuiness and safety.
Until the daath of the high priest" Re.
leaoe from this imprisonment could come
only through the death of Gods anolntcd
high priest. Mum. SO: %. Thus the
death of one might become the release of
many. Every refugee in each of the hi&
cities would at once obtain his liberty
:. and they appointed Rather, they
sanctiied, set apart for Il sacred purpo g,
The cities of refuge We're intended to pre-
serve the people and the land from blood
outlines; hence the appointment to 81
high a purpose carried with it the idea "t
solemn conservation Six cities were ny.
pointed for this purpose, three on either
side of the Jordan, easy OF access from ''t
parts of the land. None but LeviucH'
cities were chosen, and thus the refugees,
during their stay, would have the benefit
of the assistance and instruction of the
Lcvites The cities were on hills and coN,d
be seen afar off. They were so situated
that one of them could he reached from
any part of the country in halliday. Tho
roads to the cities were to be kept III good
repair; no hilock was left, no river or
stream was allowed over which there was
not bridge; the road was to be at least
thrty-two cuhtS three rods) broad, ard
every kind of obstruction was to be r..
moved that might hurt the foot or hinder
the speed of the fugitive. At every turn.
ing or branching OF roads posts were cree
ed bearing the words, Refuge! Refuge
to guide the fugitive in his flight. In.
fnitey greater pains has God taken to
lead guilty souls to the refuge OF the
atoning blood of Jesus Christ. "kedeSh.
There is some signlhcaton IN the names OF
the cities. kedesh means to separate or
set apart 1t implies the conservation ot
a person or thing. to the worship or ser
vice of God alone. Thus, as we look for
the comparison we see Jesus as the Holy
One of God. set apart for us as Saviour
from sin. This city was in the extreme
northern part of the promised land Ill
Galilee, on the west of Jordan. "Shec'
hem" Shoulder, hence its readiness to
bear burdens, sustain, etc. We read of
Christ, "And the government shall be upon
His shoulder; and His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God:
the everlasting Father, the Prince OF
Peace" lisa. 0: g. This city was in the
tribe of Ephraim, near the centre of the
promised land, west of Jordan. Hebron"
This signifies fellowship, friendly assoCla'
tion, to unite as friends. Through Christ,
sinners are brought into fellowship with
God Hebron was situated in the southern
part of Canaan and among the mountains
as was Kedesh, also west of Jordan.
8. "Bezer" A stronghold, a fortitica-
ton Jesus is stronghold, a fortress to
those who trust in Him. This city was
located east of Jordan, in the plain oppo.
site Jericho. "Ramoth.' Exaltations,
high or exalted. OF Jesus, His name is
above every other name He is exalted
to be the Saviour of the world. This city
was east of Jordan, about the middle of
the mountains of Giead "Golan." Re
joicing or exultation. In Jesus all believers
rejoice and are justified. He is their JOY
and their hope for salvation. This city was
the capital of district in the land OF
Bashan.
Q. And for the stranger" AS these
typted the great provision which God
was making for the salvation of both Jews
and Gentles, hence the stranger, as well
as the Israelite. had the same rights to
the benefits of these cities of refuge:
Until he stood before the congregation
The Judges and elders of the people, in
irving civil and criminal causes, always
sat: the persons who came for judgment,
or who were tried, always stood; hence
the expressions so frequent in scripture,
standing before the Lord, the judges, the
elders.