The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 348

Vera. 1-6.-The mwnsl{J//Jer wnrl his refuge. The institution of the cities of l"efuge standa ns a, conspicuous memorinl of the beneficent spirit of the Mosaic economy. It bore a, resemblance to that right of asylum, or sanctuary, which in some form or other lms found a, place in the mage of all nations from the earliest times, but it was not liable to the same abuse. Every provision of the :Mosaic economy enshrined some enduring principle. Some great moral lesson wns intended to be impressed by it on tlrn minds of the people. The institution changes or pnsses utterly a.way; the principle, the lesson, remains. Nole here- I. THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE. The institution bore striking witness to this. This wa.s its root-principle. It was intended as a checlc on that form of ferocity for which Oriental tribes have ever been remarkable-the thirst for ,engeance in the shedding of blood. It threw a shield over nn en dangered life. This at once commends it to a radical instinct of our na.ture. God has implanted in our breasts an intuitive sense of the value of life. Not on!y the instinct of self-presen·ation (" skin for skirr," &c., Job ii. 4), but something also that prompts to respect for the life of another. The most barbarous conditions ·of humanity are not altogether destitute of the traces of this. The natural effect of religion and civilisation is to develop it. Mainl,y on this instinct rests the admiration we feel for any marvellous triumph of surgical skill, for the rescue of imprisoned miners, or cf a shipwrecked crew, or of a wounded comrade from the battle-field. It is not merely satisfaction in beholding consummate skill, resolute endurance, deeds of daring and self-sacrifice-but in the fact that life is saved. The "vital spark," so mysterious in itself, and so mysteriously kindled, is kept from being extinguished. The humane spirit, the spirit in sympathy with humanity as such, feels just the same however feeble or apparently worthless and despicable the life may be. We don't stay to consider either its actual conditions or its latent possibilities; we only know that it is good to save it. There is no higher mark of Chri•tian civilisation than the diffusion nf a nobler sentiment as to the inherent value of human life. " The Son of Man came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them" (Luke i:i:. 56). Thi~ fact has its manifest, though indirect, bearings on the question of man's immortality. If physical life is surrounded by such sanctions and safeguards, does it not at least suggest the indestructibility of the essential being of the man? "That not one life shall be destroyed, Or cast as rubbish on the void, When God she.11 make the pile complete." II. FORFEITURE OF LIFE. This principle of sanctity bears on the slain as well as on the slayer. If it shields the one, not less does it avenge the other. The 1~ght of asylum was based on the foregoing right of the Goel, the blood-avenger (see Numb. xxxv. 19, et seq., Deut. xix. 11-13). This was the outgrowth of the ancient law given to Noah, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed" (Gen. ix. 6). And, again, to Moses at Sinai, "Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth,'_' &c. (Exod. xxi. 28, 24). So severely was this ntle to be applied. that 110 kiml or measure of "satiHfaction " could be taken for the forfeited life of the munlerer (Numb. xxxv. 81). Such was the Mosaic law. The gentle1· spirit of Clu·istianity inculcates a different rule. As that softened and restrainecl the natural sarngery of the olden times, so this brings in the reign of still nobler principles of moral and social life (Matt. v. 88, 89; Rom. xii. 19). It is questionable whether the teaching of Christ and bis Apostles does not throw such an air of sanctity over the being of every man, and make restorative love rather than retributi\"0 justice the universal law, as completely to nnnul the old order of" life for li!e.'' At the_ same time the principle of retribution is in no way obliterated-less literal, less circum- stantial, entrusted less to the hands of man, but not less real. The avenger still tracks the steps of the transgressor. He oanno~ escape." the 1·i1;hteous j~1_d~ent of God, who will render to every man according to Ins deeds (Rom. 11. D, G). Vengeance may suffer even "the murderer to live," but he beam the penalty and the curse within. " Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man Roweth,'' &o. (Gal. vi. 7, 8). 206 THE BOOR OF JO SHU A,· Len. xx. 1-0,