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the people. On this occasion, he, for the only time in the year, went into the Holy of Holies to intercede for the people, (Exodus xxxiv; Levit. xvi. 2. 15. 34.) The Holy of Holies was a part of the tabernacle, or tem- 131. ple, quite secluded, and an emblem of heaven, in the which the high priest once only in the year entered, to hold immediate communication, as it were, with God. In this holy place were contained, in an ark of precious wood, the ten tables, a sample of the manna, and Aaron's rod, &c.

Object of the feasts.

In speaking of the political institutions of the Israelites, we may in general remark, that we are not to judge of them according to our ideas of the laws which at this time direct governments, but as best adapted to 132. the times for which they were enacted. Their ceremonial law was most minute in its details, but not more so than was necessary to rivet the attention of so gross a people as the Israelites were. And with regard to their religious feasts, the wisdom of their institution will appear from the circumstance that they reminded the people of the different events of their history; and of the truth of it they were, in fact, the proofs, because had

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not the events happened which were commemorated, those feasts had had no meaning.

Why it pleased God to choose a people who were so ungrateful for all his favours, in order to transmit a pure knowledge of himself to after generations for ever, it is not for us to inquire. But considering the corruption of mankind to have been general at the time that Abraham was chosen, why should not he and his kindred have been as proper as any other, for the purposes that God had to effect? We may therefore come to the conclusion, that the greater the ignorance, and the coarseness of the people of Israel, the stronger the proof of the inspiration of Moses.

Moses himself was not allowed to enter into the land of Canaan, because he disobeyed the word of God, by striking the rock for water instead of speaking to it, as he was ordered to do. (Numbers xx. 12; Deut. xxxii. 49. 52.) Such an example of distrust of God, in the man who was his lawgiver and the leader of all Israel, (Deut. xxxiv. 10-12,) could not be overlooked, and therefore we cannot wonder at the apparent severity of the sentence against him, notwith

standing his great worth, especially as it was in accordance with the one pronounced against the whole nation for want of faith. He died on Mount Nebo, over against Jericho, and was there buried, but the place of his sepulchre is not known.

B. C. 1451.

Here we may remark, that as the object 155. of God was to preserve the true worship of himself, we cannot wonder at the severity of his judgments against those nations by whom the Israelites were surrounded, and by whom they might be seduced to idolatry, had they been allowed to intermix with them, (1 Sam. xv.) or the severity of the punishment with which he visited his own people when they did follow after strange gods.

Caleb and Joshua,* (called also Oshea, 136. Numbers xiii. 17; xiv. 38,) were the only two persons who were allowed to see the promised land, because they spoke the truth as to its fertility on their return from it, whilst the other ten, who were sent with them, to explore it, spread evil reports respecting it, founded solely on the hostility which they

* The name Joshua seems to have been formed by adding Jah, i. e. Jehovah to Oshea; this addition being intended to signify that he was the especial servant of Jehovah.

Conquest of the land of

Canaan.

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had experienced (Numbers xiii. 32—34) from its inhabitants.

Joshua succeeded to Moses, and accomplished the conquest of the country of Canaan. His march was signalized with so many miraculous events, that it proved to the Israelites that God was with them, and that through his Almighty power alone they were enabled 138. to obtain possession of the promised land.

The severe judgments executed against the Canaanites showed, on the other hand, his utter abhorrence of the sinfulness of that people. Among the most wonderful events which accompanied his conquest, may be mentioned the miraculous passage of the river Jordan, the conquest of Jericho, and the standing still of the sun and moon till Joshua had completed the defeat of the five 139. kings of the Amorites. (Joshua x. 12; Habakkuk iii. 11.)

140.

Joshua, after having completed these conquests, and before he died, exhorted the Israelites to continue in the fear of the Lord, and concluded his exhortations with the remarkable words, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua xxiv. 15.) He divided the land among the twelve tribes.

Jacob having adopted the sons of Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh, there would have been thirteen parts to divide the inheritance 1+1. into, had not the tribe of Levi been excluded therefrom, who, instead of their portion, received forty-eight cities. Into six of these cities, which were called Cities of Refuge, those guilty of involuntary manslaughter might save themselves from the pursuit of the avenger of blood, and remain there in safety till the death of the high priest. Then the offender might return to his own home. 142. (Joshua xx.) This does not imply that those guilty of premeditated murder escaped the punishment due to their crime, but simply, that by the unfortunate taking refuge, time was given for legal investigation, the eagerness of vengeance being thus repressed. We must here take occasion to observe, that the privilege of sanctuary in the Catholic countries, and especially at Rome, derives its origin from the Mosaic custom; but is abused, inasmuch as it effectually protects the guilty, even of premeditated murder, from the rigour of the law.

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites, 143. notwithstanding (Joshua xxiii. 16) his warn

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