The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 347

forbids /he re/.a-fives to condone a c1·i~ by receivfog any money 1,ayment fo1· it: (see Inst chapter of Nmnbers). Tins 1s a :v~ry striking fact, for nn11y would very much have pr~fe1Ted a law allowmg_ ihe g1vmg and receiving of snch a fine, to the law a.ctnRlly g1Yen. His not _adoptmg such a rule sliows ihat IIIoses wa,s appre- bens1Ye of tlie danger of conscience being dulled, and crime encoum.,c,l by 0,ny com- promise effected between guilt on the one side, and greed on tlia otl~er. Such a rule would always mitigRte the Rbliorrence of crime; would make it safer for the ricli to indulge their animosities, than for the poor to injure, by accident, 11 fellow-man. Law, duty. self-respect would be lowered. Lifo would be held less sacred. Instead of its being invested with a Divine sanction, anu. the destruction of it made nn awful cri':"e, it woul~ appear as something worth so many pounds sterling, and me? ~ould mdulge then· taste for the murder of those they disliked, according to their Judgrnent of what they could afford to p:1y. The poor substitute of a fine instead of the punishment of deatli is not only not accepted, but explicitly forbidden. And so far the legislation of Moses suggests that wliatever course our criminal legislation may take in dealing with crime, it will do well to maintain the sanctity of life and to guard against such a method of dealing as would increase the crime that it should prevent. But observe, secondly, that while the sanctity of life is maintained, II. JUSTICE IS SUBSTITUTED FOR REVENGE. The six cities of refuge were simply six cities of assize, where an authoritative verdict could be found as to whether the death was wilfully or unintentionally inflicted. The man who had ta.ken a life claimed of the elders of the city (ver. 4) protection, and received it until his case was adjudicated on. He was tried before the congregation, the assembly of the adult citizens. As these were a.11 Levites (the six cities of refuge being all of them Lentical cities) they were familiar with law, and had, probably, a. little more moral culture than their non-Levitica.l brethren. A calm unbiassed "judgment by their peers., was thus pronded for every accused person-a tribunal too large to be mo'<'ed by animus or corrupted by bribes. If on explicit evidence of two or three witnesses it proved to be a case of wilful murder, further asylum was denied him, and he was delivered to death. If it proved a case of either accident or manslaughter, the asylum was lengthened, and beneath the protection of God he was safe, as long as he kept within the precincts of the city and its suburbs. How admirable such an arrangement ! A better court of judgment in such cases, than such a jury of two or three hundred honest men, could not be devised. It was costless; it was simple; it involved no delay. It restrained a universally recognised· right, but did it so wisely and fairly none could complain. A provision of unconditional asylum, as it developed later in connection with religious buildings, has proved an i.mmitiga.ted evil even in Christian lands, an encouragement to all crimes, promoting not morality, bnt only the cunning which committed them within easy reach of such a sanctuary. This gave Israel, for the most important of all cases, a court of justice that protected innocence, that soothed revenge, that prevented blood feuds settling and growing to large dimensions. It is a lesson for us, as individuals, always to guard against our being carried away by passion, and to import into every qu11.rrel it may be our unhappiness to fall into, the calm and unbiassed judgment of others. It may be our duty to others to prosecute or punish a criminal. But revenge is an unholy passion which has no sanction from on high. Lastly observe: III. A CDRIOUS PROVISION IN THE LAW. If innocent cf wilful murder, the man had a. right of asylum in the city. But leaving the city, he lost it, and might lawfully be slain. The nearness of living Levites was his protection. But the perpetual residence in the city of refuge was not enjoined. For when the high priest died, lie could go be.ck to his proper home and dwell there. The high priest was to be tlwught of-as an intercessor who had entered within the veil-beneath the protection of whose prayers all these refugees were sacred; a,nd for them the wlwle land became one great place of refuge. THE DEATH OF ANOTHER HIGH PRIEST WAS AN ENTERING WITHIN THE VEIL, WHICH BENEFITS WITH DIVINE PROTECTION A.LL WHO TAKE REFUGE IN THE DIVINELY APPOINTED PLACE. They by innocence got the benefit of his pleading-we by repentance. Are we all under the shadow of tlie heavenly Intercessor ?-G. OJI. XX, 1-11,l THE BOOK OF JOSlIU A.