The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-10-29
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 2.


Golden Text. Psa. aivi. 1-Memoss
ver.ss. =. a.3-copmentary on the Dsy's
| Lsason.
I. The Lord also spake unto Joshua." "
A. soon ~ the tribes had received tho
portion OF their inheritance. the Lord
| directed that Joshua should carry out the
| iriunctions which Moses had left respect.
| ing the cities Of refuge for the accidental
homicide See Ex. 2l:l2-l5; Num-: 50: s'3a:
Deut. 10: s-l3.
>. Appoint. cities OF refuge" Prior
| to the Mosaic age it was required OF the
nearest relative, as a matter OF duty. to
avense the death Of one who had been
slain. He was called the Goer or
"Ayenyer." Sometimes q whole family
took upon them this duty. 2 Sam. IA: Z.
Naturally many evils would take place a.
| A result OF this unccremonious;y melting out
pupishment on the offender. and 1T was
the aim Of the Mosaic law. without alto
qether abolishing the congratulated Gus
tom, to mitigate its evils a. far a. pos
sble." >,
Unaware. and ,SHi. sSwi.'inslE" .,; ;,1sns Ins.
MAY Aee thither.' The danger Of tho
ancien. plan Of furnishing crime was thc!t
Justice would give place to revenge. and q
series of mutual rctaliations would end in
increasing murders instead of preventing
them. To avoid this danger the plan OF
cities OF refuge was instituted.
1. THE gate Of the city" The tribunal
Of Justice was at the Ute Of the city. The
refugee was not kept ont Of the city till
his innocence was proved. but was permit
ted 10 enter and relate. his cause and re.
ssvs the protection protection Of ss, the city ny r.ass Mss
arrived at the city Of refuge he was taken
under the protection Of the elders. who
were allowed u arrest him, il he were sd.
| Judged a wilful murderer. Aftervard be
must stand in judgment before the congre.
cation or the magistrates, and If then con.
demned he was to be delivered to tho
avenesr of blood. This would prevent
| those abuses, which were generally made
of sauctuarics among other nations. in
| which the most shameful criminals found
protection. =.
5. '.If the avenger OF blood pursue. I"
When once sheltered. in one Of these
cities, and 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, 60 from the city and be
| found by the avenger who might then take
his life. The city was a place Of protec.
ton while a man remained within its
walls.
6. shall dwell in that city" If exoner-
ated from wilful murder. he was safe. but
only 80 long as he remained within the
| city and its suburbs OF one thousand cubits
beyond the walls. Mum. IS: 1923. He
must remain there, away from his home
and business, till the death OF the high
priest. This seeming hardship was Eeces.
| han sa
some fault or carelessness in even acci-
dental murders. and this great inconveni-
.nce would tend to carefulness and safety.
Until the death of the high priest" Re-
lease from this imprisonment could come
only through the death of Gods anointed
high priest. Mum. Is: 25. Thus the
death OF one might become the release Of
many. Every refugee in each OF the six
| cities would at once obtain his liberty.
7. "And they appointed" Rather. they
sanctifed, set spart for sacred purpose.
The cities OF refuge were intended to pre-
serve the people and the land from blood
outlines; hence the appointment to 80
high q purpose carried with it the idea OF
solemn conservation. six cities were ap.
pointed for this purpose, three on either
parts of the land. None but Levitical
cities were chosen, and thus the refugees,
during their stay. would have the benefit
Of the assistance and instruction Of the
I.evites. The cities were ON hills and could
be seen afar Of. They were 10 situated
that one of them could be reached from
any part of the couotry in = halliday. The
roads to the cities were to be kept in good
repair; no hillock was left. no river or
stream was allowed over which there was
not bridge. the road was to be at least
thirty-two cubits ,threc rods) broad, and
every kind of obstruction was to be re-
moved that might hurt the foot or hinder
| the speed OF the fugitive. At every turn
ing or branching OF roads posts were erect.
ed bearing the words. Refuge! Refuge.
to guide the fugitive in his fight. In
finitely greater pains has God taken to
lead guilty souls to the refuge OF the
atoning blood OF Jesus Christ. "Kedesh. )"
There is some Specification in the names OF
the cities. Kedcsl means to separate or
yet apart. It implies the conservation OF
person, or thing. 10 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 o: the promised land il
(;alilce, on the vest Of Jordan. "Shec.
hem" Shoulder. hence its readiness to
, -
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. .: g. THIS city was in the
tribe OF Ephrain,. near the centre OF the
promised land, west of Jordan. Hebron"
This signifies fellowship. friendly associa.
lion. to unite a. friends. Through Christ,
sinners are brought into fellowship with
! God. Hebron was situated in the southern
! part OF Canaan and among the mountains
8. "Bezcr." 4 stronghold, a fortifca-
tion Jesus is \ stronghold. 4 fortress to
those who trust in Him. This city was
located east of Jordan. in the plain oppo-
.ite Jericho "Ramoth." Exaltations.
high or exalted. OF Jesus, His name is
above every oth.- name. He is exalted
to be the Saviour of the world. This city
va, east Of Jordan. about the middle OF
the mountains OF ;ilead. "Golan." Re.
joicing or exulta.ioa. In Jesus all believers
rejoice and are justified. He is their JOY
and their hope :or salvation. This city was
the capital " I district in the land OF
Bashan.
Q. And for the stranger" As these
typiticI the great provision which God
was making for the salvation OF both Jews
and Gentiics. hence the stranger. as well
a. the Israelite. had the same rights to
! the benefits II these cities Of refuge:
Until he stood before the congregat ton: y
The judges and elders Of the people. in
trying civil aud criminal causes. always
sat; The persons wno came for judgment.
or who were tried. always stood: hence
the expressions 40 frequent in scripture,
standing before the Lord, the Judges. the
elders.
|
To smssh q .eS0. 900 War Boas.
The British Admiralty has decided to