patriarchs and prophets-第97章

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service　was　finally　transferred　to　the　temple　at　Jerusalem；　and　Shiloh　fell
into　insignificance。　There　are　only　ruins　to　mark　the　spot　where　it　once
stood。　Long　afterward　its　fate　was　made　use　of　as　a　warning　to　Jerusalem。
〃Go　ye　now　unto　My　place　which　was　in　Shiloh；〃　the　Lord　declared　by　the
prophet　Jeremiah；　〃where　I　set　My　name　at　the　first；　and　see　what　I　did　to
it　for　the　wickedness　of　My　people　Israel。　。　。　。　Therefore　will　I　do　unto
this　house；　which　is　called　by　My　name；　wherein　ye　trust；　and　unto　the　place
which

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I　gave　to　you　and　to　your　fathers；　as　I　have　done　to　Shiloh。〃　Jeremiah
7：12…14。

〃When　they　had　made　an　end　of　dividing　the　land；〃　and　all　the　tribes　had
been　allotted　their　inheritance。　Joshua　presented　his　claim。　To　him；　as　to
Caleb；　a　special　promise　of　inheritance　had　been　given；　yet　he　asked　for　no
extensive　province；　but　only　a　single　city。　〃They　gave　him　the　city　which　he
asked；　。　。　。　and　he　built　the　city；　and　dwelt　therein。〃　The　name　given　to
the　city　was　Timnath…serah；　〃the　portion　that　remains〃a　standing　testimony
to　the　noble　character　and　unselfish　spirit　of　the　conqueror；　who；　instead
of　being　the　first　to　appropriate　the　spoils　of　conquest；　deferred　his　claim
until　the　humblest　of　his　people　had　been　served。

Six　of　the　cities　assigned　to　the　Levitesthree　on　each　side　the
Jordanwere　appointed　as　cities　of　refuge；　to　which　the　manslayer　might
flee　for　safety。　The　appointment　of　these　cities　had　been　commanded　by
Moses；　〃that　the　slayer　may　flee　thither；　which　killeth　any　person　at
unawares。　And　they　shall　be　unto　you　cities　for　refuge；〃　he　said；　〃that　the
manslayer　die　not；　until　he　stand　before　the　congregation　in　judgment。〃
Numbers　35：11；
12。　This　merciful　provision　was　rendered　necessary　by　the
ancient　custom　of　private　vengeance；　by　which　the　punishment　of　the　murderer
devolved　on　the　nearest　relative　or　the　next　heir　of　the　deceased。　In　cases
where　guilt　was　clearly　evident　it　was　not　necessary　to　wait　for　a　trial　by
the　magistrates。　The　avenger　might　pursue　the　criminal　anywhere　and　put　him
to　death　wherever　he　should　be　found。　The　Lord　did　not　see　fit　to　abolish
this　custom　at　that　time；　but　He　made　provision　to　ensure　the　safety　of
those　who　should　take　life　unintentionally。

The　cities　of　refuge　were　so　distributed　as　to　be　within　a　half　day's
journey　of　every　part　of　the　land。　The　roads　leading　to　them　were　always　to
be　kept　in　good　repair；　all　along　the　way　signposts　were　to　be　erected
bearing　the　word　〃Refuge〃　in　plain；　bold　characters；　that　the　fleeing　one
might　not　be　delayed　for　a　moment。　Any　personHebrew；　stranger；　or
sojournermight　avail　himself　of　this　provision。　But　while　the　guiltless
were　not　to　be　rashly　slain；　neither　were　the　guilty　to　escape　punishment。
The　case　of　the　fugitive　was　to　be　fairly　tried　by　the　proper　authorities；
and　only　when　found　innocent　of　intentional　murder　was　he　to　be　protected　in
the　city　of　refuge。　The　guilty　were

516

given　up　to　the　avenger。　And　those　who　were　entitled　to　protection　could
receive　it　only　on　condition　of　remaining　within　the　appointed　refuge。
Should　one　wander　away　beyond　the　prescribed　limits；　and　be　found　by　the
avenger　of　blood；　his　life　would　pay　the　penalty　of　his　disregard　of　the
Lord's　provision。　At　the　death　of　the　high　priest；　however；　all　who　had
sought　shelter　in　the　cities　of　refuge　were　at　liberty　to　return　to　their
possessions。

In　a　trial　for　murder　the　accused　was　not　to　be　condemned　on　the　testimony
of　one　witness；　even　though　circumstantial　evidence　might　be　strong　against
him。　The　Lord's　direction　was；　〃Whoso　killeth　any　person；　the　murderer　shall
be　put　to　death　by　the　mouth　of　witnesses：　but　one　witness　shall　not　testify
against　any　person　to　cause　him　to　die。〃　Numbers　35：30。　It　was　Christ　who
gave　to　Moses　these　directions　for　Israel；　and　when　personally　with　His
disciples　on　earth；　as　He　taught　them　how　to　treat　the　erring；　the　Great
Teacher　repeated　the　lesson　that　one　man's　testimony　is　not　to　acquit　or
condemn。　One　man's　views　and　opinions　are　not　to　settle　disputed　questions。
In　all　these　matters　two　or　more　are　to　be　associated；　and　together　they　are
to　bear　the　responsibility；　〃that　in　the　mouth　of　two　or　three　witnesses
every　word　may　be　established。〃　Matthew　18：16。

If　the　one　tried　for　murder　were　proved　guilty；　no　atonement　or　ransom　could
rescue　him。　〃Whoso　sheddeth　man's　blood；　by　man　shall　his　blood　be　shed。〃
Genesis　9：6。　〃Ye　shall　take　no　satisfaction　for　the　life　of　a　murderer；
which　is　guilty　of　death：　but　he　shall　be　surely　put　to　death。〃　〃Thou　shalt
take　him　from　Mine　altar；　that　he　may　die；〃　was　the　command　of　God；　〃the
land　cannot　be　cleansed　of　the　blood　that　is　shed　therein；　but　by　the　blood
of　him　that　shed　it。〃　Numbers　35：31；　33；　Exodus　21：14。　The　safety　and　purity
of　the　nation　demanded　that　the　sin　of　murder　be　severely　punished。　Human
life；　which　God　alone　could　give；　must　be　sacredly　guarded。

The　cities　of　refuge　appointed　for　God's　ancient　people　were　a　symbol　of　the
refuge　provided　in　Christ。　The　same　merciful　Saviour　who　appointed　those
temporal　cities　of　refuge　has　by　the　shedding　of　His　own　blood　provided　for
the　transgressors　of　God's　law　a　sure　retreat；　into　which　they　may　flee　for
safety　from　the　second　death。　No　power　can　take　out　of　His　hands　the　souls
that　go　to　Him　for　pardon。　〃There　is　therefore　now　no

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condemnation　to　them　which　are　in　Christ　Jesus。〃　〃Who　is　he　that　condemneth？
It　is　Christ　that　died；　yea　rather；　that　is　risen　again；　who　is　even　at　the
right　hand　of　God；　who　also　maketh　intercession　for　us；〃　that　〃we　might　have
a　strong　consolation；　who　have　fled　for　refuge　to　lay　hold　upon　the　hope　set
before　us。〃　Romans　8：1；　34；　Hebrews　6：18。

He　who　fled　to　the　city　of　refuge　could　make　no　delay。　Family　and　employment
were　left　behind。　There　was　no　time　to　say　farewell　to　loved　ones。　His　life
was　at　stake；　and　every　other　interest　must　be　sacrificed　to　the　one
purposeto　reach　the　place　of　safety。　Weariness　was　forgotten；　difficulties
were　unheeded。　The　fugitive　dared　not　for　one　moment　slacken　his　pace　until
he　was　within　the　wall　of　the　city。

The　sinner　is　exposed　to　eternal　death；　until　he　finds　a　hiding　place　in
Christ；　and　as　loitering　and　carelessness　might　rob　the　fugitive　of　his　only
chance　for　life；　so　delays　and　indifference　may　prove　the　ruin　of　the　soul。
Satan；　the　great　adversary；　is　on　the　track　of　every　transgressor　of　God's
holy　law；　and　he　who　is　not　sensible　of　his　danger；　and　does　not　earnestly
seek　shelter　in　the　eternal　refuge；　will　fall　a　prey　to　the　destroyer。

The　prisoner　who　at　any　time　went　outside　the　city　of　refuge　was　abandoned
to　the　avenger　of　blood。　Thus　the　people　were　taught　to　adhere　to　the
methods　which　infinite　wisdom　appointed　for　their　security。　Even　so；　it　is
not　enough　that　the　sinner　believe　in　Christ　for　the　pardon　of　sin；　he　must；
by　faith　and　obedience；　abide　in　Him。　〃For　if　we　sin　willfully　after　that　we
have　received　the　knowledge　of　the　truth；　there　remaineth　no　more　sacrifice
for　sins；　but　a　certain　fearful　looking　for　of　judgment　and　fiery
indignation；　which　shall　devour　the　adversaries。〃　Hebrews　10：26；　27。

Two　of　the　tribes　of　Israel；　Gad　and　Reuben；　with　half　the　tribe　of
Manasseh；　had　received　their　inheritance　before　crossing　the　Jordan。　To　a
pastoral　people；　the　wide　upland　plains　and　rich　forests　of　Gilead　and
Bashan；　offering　extensive　grazing　land　for　their　flocks　and　herds；　had
attractions　which　were　not　to　be　found　in　Canaan　itself；　and　the　two　and　a
half　tribes；　desiring　to　settle　here；　had　pledged　themselves　to　furnish
their　proportion　of　armed　men　to　accompany　their　brethren　across　the　Jordan
and　to　share　their　battles　till　they　also　should　enter　upon　their
inheritance。　The　obligation　had　been　faithfully　discharged。　When　the

518

ten　tribes　entered　Canaan　forty　thousand　of　〃the　children　of　Reuben；　and　the
children　of　Gad；　and　half　the　tribe　of　Manasseh　。　。　。　prepared　for　war
passed　over　before　the　Lord　unto　battle；　to　the　plains　of　Jericho。〃　Joshua
4：12；　13。　For　years　they　had　fought　bravely　by　the　side　of　their　brethren。
Now　the　time　had　come　for　them　to　get　unto　the　land　of　their　possession。　As
they　had　united　with　their　brethren　in　the　conflicts；　so　they　had　shared　the
spoils；　and　they　returned　〃with　much　riches　。　。　。　and　with　very　much　cattle；
with　silver；　and　with　gold；　and　with　brass；　and　with　iron；　and　with　very
much　raiment；〃　all　of　which　they　were　to　share　with　those　who　had　remained
with　the　families　and　flocks。

They　were　now　to　dwell　at　a　distance　from　the　sanctuary　of　the　Lord；　and　it
was　with　an　anxious　heart　that　Joshua　witnessed　their　departure；　knowing　how
strong　would　be　the　temptations；　in　their　isolated　and　wandering　life；　to
fall　into　the　customs　of　the　heathen　tribes　that　dwelt　upon　their　borders。

While　the　minds　of　Joshua　and　other　leaders　were　still　oppressed　with
anxious　forebodings；　strange　tidings　reached　them。　Beside　the　Jordan；　near
the　place　of　Israel's　miraculous　passage　of　the　river；　the　two　and　a　half
tribes　had　erected　a　great　altar；　similar　to　the　altar　of　burnt　offering　at
Shiloh。　The　law　of　God　prohibited；　on　pain　of　death；　the　establishment　of
another　worship　than　that　at　the　sanctuary。　If　such　was　the　object　of　this
altar；　it　would；　if　permitted　to　remain；　lead　the　people　away　from　the　true
faith。

The　representatives　of　the　people　assembled　at　Shiloh；　and　in　the　heat　of
their　excitement　and　indignation　proposed　to　make　war　at　once　upon　the
offenders。　Through　the　influence　of　the　more　cautious；　however；　it　was
decided　to　send　first　a　delegation　to　obtain　from　the　two　and　a　half　tribes
an　explanation　of　their　conduct。　Ten　princes；　one　from　each　tribe；　were
chosen。　At　their　head　was　Phinehas；　who　had　distinguished　himself　by　his
zeal　in　the　matter　of　Peor。

The　two　and　a　half　tribes　had　been　at　fault　in　entering；　without
explanation；　upon　an　act　open　to　such　grave　suspicions。　The　ambassadors；
taking　it　for　granted　that　their　brethren　were　guilty；　met　them　with　sharp
rebuke。　They　accused　them　of　rebelling　against　the　Lord；　and　bade　them
remember　how　judgments　had　been　visited　upon　Israel　for　joining　themselves
to　Baalpeor。　In　behalf　of　all　Israel；　Phinehas　stated　to　the　children

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of　Gad　and　Reuben　that　if　they　were　unwilling　to　abide　in　that　land　without
an　altar　for　sacrifice；　they　would　be　welcome　to　a　share　in　the　possessions
and　privileges　of　their　brethren　on　the　other　side。

In　reply　the　accused　explained　that　their　altar　was　not　intended　for
sacrifice；　but　simply　as　a　witness　that；　although　separated　by　the　river；
they　were　of　the　same　faith　as　their　brethren　in　Canaan。　They　had　feared
that　in　future　years　their　children　might　be　excluded　from　the　tabernacle；
as　having　no　part　in　Israel。　Then　this　altar；　erected　after　the　pattern　of
the　altar　of　the　Lord　at　Shiloh；　would　be　a　witness　that　its　builders　were
also　worshipers　of　the　living　God。

With　great　joy　the　ambassa