' foregoing words, which is very uſual ) without it, or, from the out- .\ ward parts of it, ( which being a general and indefinite expreſſion is limited and explained by the following words )even from a thouſand cubits round about. Which are mentioned not as the thing meaſured, for as yet there is nota word of meaſuring, but as the term or ſpace from which the meaſuring line ſhould begin. And then it follows wer. 5. And ye ſball meaſure from without the city, (not from the wall of the city, as was ſaid before wer. 4. but from without it, i. e. from the ſaid outward part or ſpace of athouſand cubits without the wall of the city round Se on the caft-{ide two thouſand cubits, &c. So in truth there were three thouſand cubits from the wall of the city whereof one thouſand probably were for out-houſes, ſtalls for cat- tel, gardens, vineyards and olive-yards, and the like, and the 0-
NDMBERS.
ther two thouſand for paſture, which are therefore called the field of
- 044 een
alſo Fol. 16, and 17,and 18) |
fell to them by Lot. Whichis an evident demonſtration of the infinite wiſdom of God's providence, and of his exaCt and ,
22 The prince of the ehiidren of Joſeph : for the
25 And the prince of the tribe ofthe children of Ze- |
the ſuburbs, Lev 25: 34: by way of diſtinion from the ſuburb: them- - _ which conſiſt of the firſt thouſand cubirs from the wall of the city.
F And ye ſhal meaſure from without the city on the eaft-ſide two thouſand cubits, avd on the ſouth: fide two thouſand cubits, and on the weſt-ſide two thouſand cu- bits, and on the north-ſide two thouſand cubits : and the city ſal be in the midft : this ſhal be to them the ſuburbs of the cities.
6 Andamong the cities which ye ſhal give unto the Levites, .tbere ſhall be * ſix Cities for retuge c, which ye ſhal appoint for.the maneſlayer 4d, that he may flee thi- ther : and | tothem ye ſhalt add forty and twocities, * Der. 4,
c Or, of rcceit, or eſcape, or reſort, to wit, for man-ſlayers: And 41. Joth. theſe cities are aſſigned amongithe Levites, partly becauſe they might 29. 2. and be preſumed to be the moſt proper ' and impartial Judges between 21: 3, 21,
| man-ſlayers, and wilful murderers ; partly becauſe their preſence eb. of the children of | and counſel and authority would more etieQually bridle the paſſi- above them
ons of the avenger of blood who might purſue him thither ; and Jefba!lgive partly to ſignifie, that it is only in Chriſt ( whom the Levitical Prieſts did repreſent ) that ſinners tind refuge and ſafety from the deſtroy-
' er. The names of theſe Cities we have Deut: 4: 41, 43: Joſ: 20: 8.
d Such as is here deſcribed, wer: 17, 15, 22, 23. 7 So all the cities which ye ttal give to the Levites
ſhall be forty and eight cities : them ſhall ye give with their ſuburbs.
8 And the cities which ye ſhal give.ſhall be of the poſ- ſeflion oi thechildren of Iſrael: * trom thews that have ma- ny,ye (bal give many c ; but from them that bave few,ye ſhal give few. Every one ſhal give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance whichthe inheriteth»
e Compare Numb: 33: 54: Jof: 20: 2.
9 And the LORD ſpake unto Moſes, ſaying, |
Io Speak unto the children ot [{rael,and ſay unto them, * When ye be come overJordan,into the land of Canaan: * Deut.tg,
It Then * ye ſbal appointyou cities to be cities of 2: Joſh.2o. refuge for you, that the ſlayer may flee thither, which 2;.. killeth any perſon Þ at unawares f. TG
( 4. e. ) Not wilfully, deſignedly or maliciouſly, but inconſide-
rately,through miſtake or indiſcretion or careleſneſs, See Levit.4:2.
12 And they thal be unto you cities for refuge from. the avengerg, that the man-ſiayer die not 64, until he ſtand before the congregation 7 in judgmgnt k.
g To wit, of the party ſlain, or, of bloo#, as it is fully expreſſed below wer: 19: 25. Heb. from the redeemer, or, from the next kinſman to whom by the law belonged the right of redemption of thelands of, a: d viadication of the injury done to, the perſon deccaſed. ( 7.e. ) Be not kijled by the avenger meeting him in ſome other place. 7(7. e. ) Before the ſociery or convention of Judges or Elders who we.e appointed in every City for the deciſion of criminal cau- ſes, who were 23 who were to examine the matrcr, and that pub- Iickly before the people, whether the murder was wilful or caſual. Qreſt. In what City was this cauſe to be tried ? Anſw. Some ſay in the City of refuge, others ſay, in the City in or near which the Fatt was committed. It ſeems to me it was done in both, at firſt in the City of refuge, as 1s manifeſt in Jof, 20. 4. but if thar trial and ſentence did not ſatisfhe the avenger of blood, it was fully .and finally determined in the. other City, as is ſufficiently evident both by comparing this place with wer. 25, and 5of. 20. 6. and from the uſual and moſt reaſonable courſe of Juſtice, which is that fas ſhould be examined, as far as may be, in or near the places where _ ra ogy mes and where the witneſſes and evidences were at hand. r, for judgment, 7,e, to receive ſentence th X ing to the nature of the fa. ging
it; And of theſe cities which ſhal ye have for refuge.
14 Ye ſhal give three cities on this ſide Jordan 7, and
three cities ſhal ye give in the land of Canaan, which [hal be cities of refuge : | ! Becauſe that land was as long as Canaan, though not ſo broad,
and beſives theſe might be convenient for many of them that lived in Canaan.
I5 Theſe fix cities ſhal be a refuge, 4:5 for the chil- dren ot Iſrael, and for the ſtranger ”, and for the ſo- journeramong them : that every one that killeth any perſon unawares, may flee thither.
1 Not the proſelyte only, but all ſtrangers, this being no mat- ter of religious p: iviledge, but of common rioht and agreeable to
2 : % O the Law of nature and practice of wiſe heathens.
16 * And if he imite kim withan inſtrument of iron » ( ſo that he die 0) he'is a murderer 8 the murderer ſhal ſurely be put to death p. |
» Wittingly and wilfully, thovgh not with premedi
: tated
or deſign, asappears by comparing this with = "_, . q _ o To wir, ſuddenly, not 'o, if he walked abroad afterward Euod, 21+ 19,20. pVYea though he werefled into the City of refuge.
17 And ithe ſmite him Þ with throwing a frone 9 +FTeb.with (wherewith he may dic) and he die, he ;s : ie the murderer (hal ſurely be put to death.
q Heb. with the fone of the hand. 7. e. c: knowingly, as — rays z, e.caſt by the hand, and that