e Goel, or, Kinsman-redeemer,
under a descending obligation to interpose in behalf of a relative: the
voluntary bondservant, who, from love to his master and family,
explicitly engaged himself to his service through life: sojourning
strangers, not Canaanites, allowed and encouraged by the Israelites to
wait on all the ordinances of religion: the Hebrew kings of David's
family vested with rule according to a perpetual covenant: the
Nazarites, peculiarly set apart to the service of God: the Aaronic
priesthood, under the bond of an enduring covenant: and the Nethinims, a
people employed about the sanctuary, descendants of the Gibeonites, who,
though like Jacob they did not do well in the choice of means to obtain
the blessing, were taken into covenant with God:--these were classes of
persons who symbolized many explicitly engaged by covenant to the
service of the Lord. The cities of refuge[412]--Kedesh, _a holy place_:
Hebron, _society, friendship_, the end of a covenant: Shechem, _a part
or portion_, as the lot of a covenant inheritance: Bezer, _cut off and
broken_, as the sinner is from all vain confidences: Golan, _exile_, as
separation from every visitation of vengeance: and Ramoth, _eminences_,
or _high places_, as the stronghold provided in the covenant to
prisoners of hope; true to their designations, as emblems point out the
facts of a covenant made on behalf of many, who by sin are exposed to
ruin. Canaan, a land of inheritance promised in covenant: Jerusalem,
_the vision of peace_, and city of God: the tabernacle, the temple, and
Mount Zion,--places where manifestations were made of the presence of
God in covenant:--all denoted scenes, where his people, in every age, in
giving themselves to the Lord, cleave unto him. The Ark prepared by Noah
was entered by him and his house, betokening the accession of men, in
all ages, to the covenant of God by faith in the Redeemer. The Ark of
the Covenant, containing the book of the law: the table of shew-bread,
representing the means of exhibiting Christ, the bread of life: the
altar of incense, from which arose offerings, as of the praises and
supplications of God's people, perfumed with the sweet incense of
Christ's intercession: the golden candlestick, shedding forth light, as
of the influences of God's Spirit: the laver, for washing, representing
the means of purification from all defilement: the altar of
burnt-offering, from which arose the flame of sacrifice, that betoken