- separate three cities:
- Unquestionably in imitation of these cities, the heathen had their asyla, and the Roman Catholics their privileged altars, and similar traditions seem to obtain in many barbarous nations, for "the North American Indian nations have most of them either a house or town of refuge, which is a sure asylum to protect a manslayer, or the unfortunate captive, if he once enter it. In almost every Indian nation, there are several towns, which are called old beloved, ancient, holy, or white towns (white being their fixed emblem of peace, friendship, prosperity, happiness, purity, etc.). They seem to have been formerly towns of refuge; for it is not in the memory of the oldest people that human blood was shed in them." "Then¹ Mosesª severedª° threeª citiesª on this sideª Jordanª toward the sunrising;ªª ... [Namely],¹ Bezerª in the wilderness,ª in the plainª country,ª of the Reubenites;ª and Ramothª in Gilead,ª of the Gadites;ª and Golanª in Bashan,ª of the Manassites.ª" {Deu 4:41-43} + "And if¹ a man lie not in wait,ª°¹ but Godª deliverª° [him] into his hand;ª then I will appointª° thee a placeª whither¹¹ he shall flee.ª°" {Exd 21:13} + "Speakª° unto¹ the childrenª of Israel,ª and sayª° unto¹ them, When¹ ye¹ be come overª°¹ Jordanª into the landª of Canaan;ª ... These¹ sixª citiesª shall be¹ a refuge,ª [both] for the childrenª of Israel,ª and for the stranger,ª and for the sojournerª amongª them: that every one¹ that killethª° any personª unawaresª may fleeª° thither.¹" {Num 35:10-15} + "Speakª° to¹ the childrenª of Israel,ª saying,ª° Appoint¹ out²° for you¹ citiesª of refuge,ª whereof¹ I spakeª° unto¹ you by the handª of Moses:ª ... And they appointedª°¹ Kedeshª in Galileeª in mountª Naphtali,ª and Shechemª in mountª Ephraim,ª and Kirjatharba,ª which¹ [is] Hebron,ª in the mountainª of Judah.ª" {Jsh 20:2-7} + "Thatª byª twoª immutableª things,ª inª whichª [it was] impossibleª for Godª to lie,ª° we might haveª° a strongª consolation,ª who² have fled for refugeª° to lay hold²° upon¹ the hopeª set before¹ us:²°" {Hbr 6:18}
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