DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.10357#0376
34-2
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
Assyrian kings were among the commonest events of that early period and time, and again
not only all of Palestine, but Moab (see page 9) and Edom as well, were overrun by their
armies ; but on the occasion here referred to, while Gilead and Galilee were swept by the
conquerors, Samaria and Judaea appear to have escaped.
The student of the Bible, however, will be attracted to this point because it is the site of
one of the cities of refuse. Even before the Hebrews entered the Promised Land a singular
provision was introduced into the law of Moses with regard to those who should take the life
of their fellow-man. In case of premeditated murder the offender was to be slain, even if
he had to be taken from God's altar—to them the holiest place on earth ; but if any
caused the death of another by accident or without premeditation, such were to be allowed
to live, provided they fled to certain appointed places, and conformed to certain prescribed
regulations (Exodus xxi. 12—14). Joshua was therefore commanded, "when he had passed
over Jordan into the land of Canaan," to appoint six cities of refuge, " that the slayer may
flee thither which killeth any person at unawares. They shall be unto you cities for refuge
from the avenger ; that the manslayer die not until he stand before the congregation in
judgment" (Numbers xxxv. 11, 12). This provision was not to shield the guilty, but to
protect the innocent, and in cases of doubt to give a person an opportunity of fair trial.
Accordingly, there were set apart and devoted to that purpose, " Kedesh in Galilee in
Mount Naphtali (see page 334), and Shechem in Mount Ephraim (see page 243), and Kirjath-
arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. And on the other side Jordan, by Jericho
eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and
Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan (Jaulan) in Bashan (see page 340) out of
the tribe of Manasseh " (Joshua xx. 7, 8). In the early Jewish writings we are informed that
these cities were located at central points, and that they were in pairs, those on the west of
the Jordan corresponding to those on the east. Moreover, the cities were so selected that the
distance between them from north to south was about equal. It was also required that the
roads leading to them should be broad, that streams should be bridged, that every obstacle
wrhich might hinder one, or against which he might dash his foot, should be removed, and that
at crossings or doubtful points finger-posts should be erected lest the fugitive should mistake
the way. This fact is alluded to in Hosea vi., where the high-road between Shechem in the
west and Gilead {i.e. Ramoth Gilead, now Gerash) in the east had become infested with
robbers. The manslayer who had taken refuge in one of these cities was to be restored to
his country and friends on the death of the high priest; and it is a curious fact that the
mothers of the high priests used to feed and clothe these fugitives, so that they might not pray
for the death of their sons. If, however, the fugitive died before the high priest, his bones
were to be restored to his friends after the death of the latter. While these very ancient laws
are interesting, they seem also to be exceedingly wise and just.
We have at different times approached Kedesh Naphtali from the north, south, east, and
west, and have always been impressed with the beauty of its situation (see page 334). Directly
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
Assyrian kings were among the commonest events of that early period and time, and again
not only all of Palestine, but Moab (see page 9) and Edom as well, were overrun by their
armies ; but on the occasion here referred to, while Gilead and Galilee were swept by the
conquerors, Samaria and Judaea appear to have escaped.
The student of the Bible, however, will be attracted to this point because it is the site of
one of the cities of refuse. Even before the Hebrews entered the Promised Land a singular
provision was introduced into the law of Moses with regard to those who should take the life
of their fellow-man. In case of premeditated murder the offender was to be slain, even if
he had to be taken from God's altar—to them the holiest place on earth ; but if any
caused the death of another by accident or without premeditation, such were to be allowed
to live, provided they fled to certain appointed places, and conformed to certain prescribed
regulations (Exodus xxi. 12—14). Joshua was therefore commanded, "when he had passed
over Jordan into the land of Canaan," to appoint six cities of refuge, " that the slayer may
flee thither which killeth any person at unawares. They shall be unto you cities for refuge
from the avenger ; that the manslayer die not until he stand before the congregation in
judgment" (Numbers xxxv. 11, 12). This provision was not to shield the guilty, but to
protect the innocent, and in cases of doubt to give a person an opportunity of fair trial.
Accordingly, there were set apart and devoted to that purpose, " Kedesh in Galilee in
Mount Naphtali (see page 334), and Shechem in Mount Ephraim (see page 243), and Kirjath-
arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. And on the other side Jordan, by Jericho
eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and
Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan (Jaulan) in Bashan (see page 340) out of
the tribe of Manasseh " (Joshua xx. 7, 8). In the early Jewish writings we are informed that
these cities were located at central points, and that they were in pairs, those on the west of
the Jordan corresponding to those on the east. Moreover, the cities were so selected that the
distance between them from north to south was about equal. It was also required that the
roads leading to them should be broad, that streams should be bridged, that every obstacle
wrhich might hinder one, or against which he might dash his foot, should be removed, and that
at crossings or doubtful points finger-posts should be erected lest the fugitive should mistake
the way. This fact is alluded to in Hosea vi., where the high-road between Shechem in the
west and Gilead {i.e. Ramoth Gilead, now Gerash) in the east had become infested with
robbers. The manslayer who had taken refuge in one of these cities was to be restored to
his country and friends on the death of the high priest; and it is a curious fact that the
mothers of the high priests used to feed and clothe these fugitives, so that they might not pray
for the death of their sons. If, however, the fugitive died before the high priest, his bones
were to be restored to his friends after the death of the latter. While these very ancient laws
are interesting, they seem also to be exceedingly wise and just.
We have at different times approached Kedesh Naphtali from the north, south, east, and
west, and have always been impressed with the beauty of its situation (see page 334). Directly