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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>N U M B E R S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Orders having been given before for the dividing of the land of Canaan
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among the lay-tribes (as I may call them), care is here taken for a
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competent provision for the clergy, the tribe of Levi, which ministered
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in holy things.
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I. Forty-eight cities were to be assigned them, with their suburbs,
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some in every tribe,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:1-8">ver. 1-8</A>.
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II. Six cities out of these were to be for cities of refuge, for any
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man that killed another unawares,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:9-15">ver. 9-15</A>.
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In the law concerning these observe,
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1. In what case sanctuary was not allowed, namely, that of wilful
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murder,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:16-21">ver. 16-21</A>.
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2. In what cases it was allowed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:22-24">ver. 22-24</A>.
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3. What was the law concerning those that took shelter in these cities
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of refuge,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:25-34">ver. 25</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Nu35_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Cities of the Levites.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1452.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan
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<I>near</I> Jericho, saying,
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2 Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the
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Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell
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in; and ye shall give <I>also</I> unto the Levites suburbs for the
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cities round about them.
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3 And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs
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of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for
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all their beasts.
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4 And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the
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Levites, <I>shall reach</I> from the wall of the city and outward a
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thousand cubits round about.
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5 And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side
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two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits,
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and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side
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two thousand cubits; and the city <I>shall be</I> in the midst: this
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shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.
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6 And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites
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<I>there shall be</I> six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint
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for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall
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add forty and two cities.
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7 <I>So</I> all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites <I>shall
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be</I> forty and eight cities: them <I>shall ye give</I> with their
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suburbs.
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8 And the cities which ye shall give <I>shall be</I> of the
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possession of the children of Israel: from <I>them that have</I> many
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ye shall give many; but from <I>them that have</I> few ye shall give
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few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites
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according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The laws about the tithes and offerings had provided very plentifully
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for the maintenance of the Levites, but it was not to be thought, nor
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indeed was it for the public good, that when they came to Canaan they
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should all live about the tabernacle, as they had done in the
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wilderness, and therefore care must be taken to provide habitations for
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them, in which they might live comfortably and usefully. It is this
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which is here taken care of.</P>
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<P>
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I. Cities were allotted them, with their suburbs,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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They were not to have any ground for tillage; they needed not to
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<I>sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns,</I> for their heavenly Father
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fed them with the tithe of the increase of other people's labours, that
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they might the more closely attend to the study of the law, and might
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have more leisure to teach the people; for they were not fed thus
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easily that they might live in idleness, but that they might give
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themselves wholly to the business of their profession, and not be
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entangled in the affairs of this life.
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1. Cities were allotted them, that they might live near together, and
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converse with one another about the law, to their mutual edification;
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and that in doubtful cases they might consult one another, and in all
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cases strengthen one another's hands.
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2. These cities had suburbs annexed to them for their cattle
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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a thousand cubits from the wall was allowed them for out-houses to keep
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their cattle in, and then two thousand more for fields to graze their
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cattle in,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
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Thus was care taken that they should not only live, but live
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plentifully, and have all desirable conveniences about them, that they
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might not be looked upon with contempt by their neighbours.</P>
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<P>
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II. These cities were to be assigned them out of the possessions of
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each tribe,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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1. That each tribe might thus make a grateful acknowledgment to God out
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of their real as well as out of their personal estates (for what was
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given to the Levites was accepted as given to the Lord) and thus their
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possessions were sanctified to them.
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2. That each tribe might have the benefit of the Levites' dwelling
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among them, to <I>teach them the good knowledge of the Lord;</I> thus
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that light was diffused through all parts of the country, and none were
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left to sit in darkness,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:10">Deut. xxxiii. 10</A>,
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<I>They shall teach Jacob thy judgments.</I> Jacob's curse on Levi's
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anger was, <I>I will scatter them in Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:7">Gen. xlix. 7</A>.
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But that curse was turned into a blessing, and the Levites, by being
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thus scattered, were put into a capacity of doing so much the more
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good. It is a great mercy to a country to be replenished in all parts
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with faithful ministers.</P>
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<P>
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III. The number allotted them was forty-eight in all, four out of each
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of the twelve tribes, one with another. Out of the united tribes of
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Simeon and Judah nine, out of Naphtali three, and four apiece out of
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the rest, as appears,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+21:1-45">Josh. xxi</A>.
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Thus were they blessed with a good
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ministry, and that ministry with a comfortable maintenance, not only in
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tithes, but in glebe-lands. And, though the gospel is not so particular
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as the law was in this matter, yet it expressly provides that he that
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is <I>taught in the word</I> should <I>communicate unto him that
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teaches in all good things,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+6:6">Gal. vi. 6</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Nu35_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_32"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_33"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu35_34"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Cities of Refuge.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1452.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
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10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When
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ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
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11 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for
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you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person
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at unawares.
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12 And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the
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avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the
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congregation in judgment.
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13 And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye
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have for refuge.
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14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three
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cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, <I>which</I> shall be
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cities of refuge.
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15 These six cities shall be a refuge, <I>both</I> for the children
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of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among
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them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee
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thither.
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16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he
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die, he <I>is</I> a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to
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death.
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17 And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may
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die, and he die, he <I>is</I> a murderer: the murderer shall surely be
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put to death.
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18 Or <I>if</I> he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith
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he may die, and he die, he <I>is</I> a murderer: the murderer shall
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surely be put to death.
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19 The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when
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he meeteth him, he shall slay him.
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20 But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of
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wait, that he die;
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21 Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that
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smote <I>him</I> shall surely be put to death; <I>for</I> he <I>is</I> a
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murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he
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meeteth him.
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22 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast
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upon him any thing without laying of wait,
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23 Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing <I>him</I>
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not, and cast <I>it</I> upon him, that he die, and <I>was</I> not his
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enemy, neither sought his harm:
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24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the
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revenger of blood according to these judgments:
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25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the
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hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore
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him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall
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abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed
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with the holy oil.
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26 But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border
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of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;
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27 And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of
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the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the
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slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:
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28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge
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until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the
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high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his
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possession.
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29 So these <I>things</I> shall be for a statute of judgment unto
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you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
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30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death
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by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify
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against any person <I>to cause him</I> to die.
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31 Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a
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murderer, which <I>is</I> guilty of death: but he shall be surely put
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to death.
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32 And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to
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the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the
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land, until the death of the priest.
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33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye <I>are:</I> for blood
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it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the
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blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
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34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit,
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wherein I dwell: for I the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> dwell among the children of
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Israel.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the orders given concerning the cities of refuge, fitly
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annexed to what goes before, because they were all Levites' cities. In
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this part of the constitution there is a great deal both of good law
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and pure gospel.</P>
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<P>
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I. Here is a great deal of good law, in the case of murder and
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manslaughter, a case of which the laws of all nations have taken
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particular cognizance. It is here enacted and provided, consonant to
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natural equity,</P>
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<P>
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1. That wilful murder should be punished with death, and in that case
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no sanctuary should be allowed, no ransom taken, nor any commutation of
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the punishment accepted: The <I>murderer shall surely be put to
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death,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
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It is supposed to be done <I>of hatred</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
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or <I>in enmity</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
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upon a sudden provocation (for our Saviour makes rash anger, as well as
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malice prepense, to be murder,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:21,22">Matt. v. 21, 22</A>),
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whether the person be murdered with an instrument of iron
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>)
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or wood
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
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or with a stone thrown at him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:17,20"><I>v.</I> 17, 20</A>);
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nay, if he smite him with his hand in enmity, and death ensue, it is
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murder
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>);
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and it was an ancient law, consonant to the law of nature, that
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<I>whoso sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+9:6">Gen. ix. 6</A>.
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Where wrong has been done restitution must be made; and, since the
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murderer cannot restore the life he has wrongfully taken away, his own
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must be exacted from him in lieu of it, not (as some have fancied) to
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satisfy the manes or ghost of the person slain, but to satisfy the law
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and the justice of a nation; and to be a warning to all others not to
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do likewise. It is here said, and it is well worthy the consideration
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of all princes and states, <I>that blood defiles</I> not only the
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conscience of the murderer, who is thereby proved <I>not to have
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eternal life abiding in him</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+3:15">1 John iii. 15</A>),
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but also the land in which it is shed; so very offensive is it to God
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and all good men, and the worst of nuisances. And it is added that
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<I>the land cannot be cleansed</I> from the blood of the murdered, but
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by the blood of the murderer,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>.
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If murderers escape punishment from men, those that suffer them to
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escape will have a great deal to answer for, and God will nevertheless
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not suffer them to escape his righteous judgments. Upon the same
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principle it is provided that no satisfaction should be taken for the
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<I>life of a murderer</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>):
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<I>If a man would give all the substance of his house</I> to the
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judges, to the country, or to the avenger of blood, to atone for his
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crime, it must <I>utterly be contemned.</I> The redemption of the life
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is so precious that it cannot be obtained by the <I>multitude of
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riches</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+49"6-8">Ps. xlix. 6-8</A>),
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which perhaps may allude to this law. A rule of law comes in here
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(which is a rule of our law in cases of treason only) that no man shall
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be put to death upon the testimony of one witness, but it was necessary
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there should be two
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>);
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this law is settled in all capital cases,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+17:6,19:15">Deut. xvii. 6; xix. 15</A>.
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And, <I>lastly,</I> not only the prosecution, but the execution, of the
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murderer, is committed to the next of kin, who, as he was to be the
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|
redeemer of his kinsman's estate if it were mortgaged, so he was to be
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|
the <I>avenger of his blood if he were murdered</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
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<I>The avenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer,</I> if he be
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convicted by the <I>notorious evidence of the fact,</I> and he needed
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|
not to have recourse by a judicial process to the court of judgment.
|
|
But if it were uncertain who the murderer was, and the proof doubtful,
|
|
we cannot think that his bare suspicion, or surmise, would empower him
|
|
to do that which the judges themselves could not do but upon the
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|
testimony of two witnesses. Only if the fact were plain then the next
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|
heir of the person slain might himself, in a just indignation, slay the
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|
murderer wherever he met him. Some think this must be understood to be
|
|
after the lawful judgment of the magistrate, and so the Chaldee says,
|
|
"He shall slay him, <I>when he shall be condemned unto him by
|
|
judgment;</I>" but it should seem, by
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|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>,
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|
|
|
that the judges interposed only in a doubtful case, and that if the
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|
person on whom he took vengeance was indeed the murderer, and a wilful
|
|
murderer, the avenger was innocent
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
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|
|
|
only, if it proved otherwise, it was at his peril. Our law allows an
|
|
appeal to be brought against a murderer by the widow, or next heir, of
|
|
the person murdered, yea, though the murderer have been acquitted upon
|
|
an indictment; and, if the murderer be found guilty upon that appeal,
|
|
execution shall be awarded at the suit of the appellant, who may
|
|
properly be called <I>the avenger of blood.</I></P>
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|
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|
<P>
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|
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|
2. But if the homicide was not voluntary, nor done designedly, if it
|
|
was <I>without enmity, or lying in wait</I>
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
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|
|
not <I>seeing</I> the person or not <I>seeking his harm</I>
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
which our law calls chance-medley, or homicide <I>per
|
|
infortunium--through misfortune,</I> in this case there were cities of
|
|
refuge appointed for the manslayer to flee to. By our law this incurs a
|
|
forfeiture of goods, but a pardon is granted of course upon the special
|
|
matter found. Concerning the cities of refuge the law was,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That, if a man killed another, in these cities he was safe, and
|
|
under the protection of the law, till he had his trial <I>before the
|
|
congregation,</I> that is, before the judges in open court. If he
|
|
neglected thus to surrender himself, it was at his peril; if the
|
|
avenger of blood met him elsewhere, or overtook him loitering in his
|
|
way to the city of refuge, and slew him, his blood was upon his own
|
|
head, because he did not make use of the security which God had
|
|
provided for him.
|
|
|
|
(2.) If, upon trial, it were found to be willful murder, the city of
|
|
refuge should no longer be a protection to him; it was already
|
|
determined: <I>Thou shalt take him from my altar, that he may die,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+21:14">Exod. xxi. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
(3.) But if it were found to be by error or accident, and that the
|
|
stroke was given without any design upon the life of the person slain
|
|
or any other, then the man-slayer should continue safe in <I>the city
|
|
of refuge,</I> and the avenger of blood might not meddle with him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
There he was to remain in banishment from his own house and patrimony
|
|
<I>till the death of the high priest;</I> and, if at any time he went
|
|
out of that city or the suburbs of it, he put himself out of the
|
|
protection of the law, and the avenger of blood, if he met him, might
|
|
slay him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:26-28"><I>v.</I> 26-28</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now,
|
|
|
|
[1.] By the preservation of the life of the man-slayer God would teach
|
|
us that men ought not to suffer for that which is rather their
|
|
unhappiness than their crime, rather the act of Providence than their
|
|
own act, for <I>God delivered him into his hand,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+21:13">Exod. xxi. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] By the banishment of the man-slayer from his own city, and his
|
|
confinement to the city of refuge, where he was in a manner a prisoner,
|
|
God would teach us to conceive a dread and horror of the guilt of
|
|
blood, and to be very careful of life, and always afraid lest by
|
|
oversight or negligence we occasion the death of any.
|
|
|
|
[3.] By the limiting of the time of the offender's banishment to the
|
|
death of the high priest, an honour was put upon that sacred office.
|
|
The high priest was to be looked upon as so great a blessing to his
|
|
country that when he died their sorrow upon that occasion should
|
|
swallow up all other resentments. The cities of refuge being all of
|
|
them Levites' cities, and the high priest being the head of that tribe,
|
|
and consequently having a peculiar dominion over these cites, those
|
|
that were confined to them might properly be looked upon as his
|
|
prisoners, and so his death must be their discharge; it was, as it
|
|
were, at his suit that the delinquent was imprisoned, and therefore at
|
|
his death it fell. <I>Actio moritur cum persona--The suit expires with
|
|
the party.</I> Anisworth has another notion of it, That as the high
|
|
priests, while they lived, by their service and sacrificing made
|
|
atonement for sin, wherein they prefigured Christ's satisfaction, so,
|
|
at their death, those were released that had been exiled for casual
|
|
murder, which typified redemption in Israel.
|
|
|
|
[4.] By the abandoning of the prisoner to the avenger of blood, in case
|
|
he at any time went out of the limits of the city of refuge, they were
|
|
taught to adhere to the methods which Infinite Wisdom prescribed for
|
|
their security. It was for the honour of a remedial law that it should
|
|
be so strictly observed. How can we expect to be saved if we neglect
|
|
the salvation, which is indeed a great salvation!</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Here is a great deal of good gospel couched under the type and
|
|
figure of the cities of refuge; and to them the apostle seems to allude
|
|
when he speaks of our <I>fleeing for refuge to the hope set before
|
|
is</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+6:18">Heb. vi. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
and being <I>found in Christ,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+3:9">Phil. iii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
We never read in the history of the Old Testament of any use made of
|
|
these cities of refuge, any more than of other such institutions, which
|
|
yet, no doubt, were made use of upon the occasions intended; only we
|
|
read of those that, in dangerous cases, took hold of <I>the horns of
|
|
the altar</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+1:50,2:28">1 Kings i. 50; ii. 28</A>);
|
|
|
|
for the altar, wherever that stood, was, as it were the capital <I>city
|
|
of refuge.</I> But the law concerning these cities was designed both to
|
|
raise and to encourage the expectations of those who looked for
|
|
redemption in Israel, which should be to those who were convinced of
|
|
sin, and in terror by reason of it, as the cities of refuge were to the
|
|
man-slayer. Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. There were several cities of refuge, and they were so appointed in
|
|
several parts of the country that the man-slayer, wherever he dwelt in
|
|
the land of Israel, might in half a day reach one or other of them; so,
|
|
though there is but one Christ appointed for our refuge, yet, wherever
|
|
we are, he is a refuge at hand, a very present help, for <I>the word is
|
|
nigh us</I> and Christ in the word.
|
|
|
|
2. The man-slayer was safe in any of these cities; so in Christ
|
|
believers that flee to him, and rest in him, are protected from the
|
|
wrath of God and the curse of the law. <I>There is no condemnation to
|
|
those that are in Christ Jesus,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:1">Rom. viii. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
Who shall condemn those that are thus sheltered?
|
|
|
|
3. They were all Levites' cities; it was a kindness to the poor
|
|
prisoner that though he might not go up to the place where the ark was,
|
|
yet he was in the midst of Levites, who would teach him the good
|
|
knowledge of the Lord, and instruct him how to improve the providence
|
|
he was now under. It might also be expected that the Levites would
|
|
comfort and encourage him, and bid him welcome; so it is the work of
|
|
gospel ministers to bid poor sinners welcome to Christ, and to assist
|
|
and counsel those that through grace are in him.
|
|
|
|
4. Even strangers and sojourners, though they were not native
|
|
Israelites, might take the benefit of these cities of refuge,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
So in Christ Jesus no difference in made between Greek and Jew; even
|
|
the <I>sons of the stranger</I> that by faith flee to Christ shall be
|
|
safe in him.
|
|
|
|
5. Even the suburbs or borders of the city were a sufficient security
|
|
to the offender,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+35:26,27"><I>v.</I> 26, 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
So there is virtue even in the hem of Christ's garment for the healing
|
|
and saving of poor sinners. If we cannot reach to a full assurance, we
|
|
may comfort ourselves in a good hope through grace.
|
|
|
|
6. The protection which the man-slayer found in the city of refuge was
|
|
not owing to the strength of its walls, or gates, or bars, but purely
|
|
to the divine appointment; so it is the word of the gospel that gives
|
|
souls safety in Christ, <I>for him hath God the Father sealed.</I>
|
|
|
|
7. If the offender was ever caught struggling out of the borders of
|
|
his city of refuge, or stealing home to his house again, he lost the
|
|
benefit of his protection, and lay exposed to the avenger of blood; so
|
|
those that are in Christ must abide in Christ, for it is at their peril
|
|
if they forsake him and wander from him. <I>Drawing back is to
|
|
perdition.</I></P>
|
|
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