Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-10-31
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments POI
November z.
Subject: Cities OF Refuge, Josh. Xxx, 10
Golden Text, Pisa. XVII, Memory
Verses, z, documentary on the
Days Lesson.

/. "The Lord also spa1e unto joshua"
As soon as the tribes had received the
portion of their inheritance, the Lord
directed that Joshua should carry out the
iniunctions which Moses had left respect:
ing the cities of refuge for the accidental
homicide. See Elk. 2l:l2-l5; Mum. 30: S-34;
Deut 10: 2-l3. ;,
2. Appoint. cities of refuge" Prior
to the Mosaic age it was required OF the
nearest relative, as matter OF duty, TO
avenge the death of one who had been
slain. He was called the "Goer or
"Avenger." Sometimes a whole family
took upon them this duty. Sam, IA: 7.
Naturally hnany evils would take place as
a result of this unceremonious,y melting out
punishment on the offender, and ut was
the aim of the Mosaic law, without alto
cether abolishing the long established GUS
tom, to mitigate its evils as far as pos
sible."
3. "Unawares and unwittingly." That
is, by accident, or without guilty intent
"May flee thither." The danger of the
ancient plan of furnishing crime was thar
justice would give place to revenge, and
series of mutual retaliations would end IN
increasing murders instead of preventing
them. To avoid this danger the plan OF
cities of refuge was instituted.
4. "The gate of the city" The tribunal
of Justice was at the gate of the city. The
refugee was not kept out of the city till
his innocence was proved, but was permit
ted to enter and relate his cause and re-
ceive the protection of the city. May
dwell among them" When the refugee
arrived at the city Of refuge he was taken
under the protection of the elders, who
10 10
Judged a wilful murderer. Afterward he
must stand in judgment before the congre'
CATION or the magistrates, and if then con-
demned he was to be delivered to the
avenger of blood. This would prevent
those abuses, which were generally made
of sanctuaries among other nations, IN
which the most shameful criminals found
protection.
5. IF the avenger of blood pursue"
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 q man remained within Its
walls.
G. "Shall dwell in that CITY," If exoner-
ated from wilful murder, he was safe, but
only so long as he remained within the
city and it's suburbs of one thousand cublts
beyond the walls. Mum. 80: 1928. He
must remain there, away from his home
and business, till the death Of the high
priest. This seeming hardship was neces-
sary and just, because there is usually
some fault or carelessness in even accl-
dental murders, and this great inconvenl-
.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. SO: %. 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 apart for sacred purpose.
The cities of refuge were intended to pre-
serve the people and the land from blood
outlines; hence the appointment to so
high purpose carried with it the idea of
solemn conservation. Six cities were APP
pointed for this purpose, three on either
side of the Jordan, easy of access from all
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
Levites The cities were on hills and could
be seen afar off. They were SC. situated
that one of them could be reached from
any part of the country in halliday. The
roads to the cities were to be kept in 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
thirty-two cubts (three 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! REFUGEE
to guide the fugitive in his flight. In
fnitely 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. Kedesh means to separate or
set apart. 1t implies the conservation of
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 a Saviour
from sin. This city was in the extreme
northern part Of the promised land in
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. o. 6. This city was in the
tribe of Ephraim, near the centre of the
promised land, west of Jordan. Hebron"
This signifies fellowship, friendly associa-
ton, 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.
ton. Jesus is stronghold, 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 Gilead "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.
0. "And for the stranger" AS these
typifed the great provision which God
was making for the salvation Of both Jews
and Gentiles, 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
trying 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,