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The Polity of Canaan one of the means whereby Jehovah intended to
accomplish the end of his locating Israel in Canaan-Of the different
forms existing here at different times, one only appointed immediately
by God-This called a Theocracy. Each tribe had its independent
government, all the tribes united in one national confederation.-
Government of the Tribes. Here was a court of elders or judges,-
whose acts, however, to be valid must be confirmed in an assembly of
the people. In time of war these officers held a military command.
Each tribe had its prince.-Remarks by Lowman.-Union of the
Tribes. The bond of union-a national assembly, a great council,
a judge, and the voice of Jehovah-The senate different from the
Jethronian prefectures, and from the council of the seventy.-Account
by Conringius of the office of judge as existing in Moses-This office

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BIBLICAL TOPOGRAPHY.

LECTURE I.

INTRODUCTION.

Of all the solar or planetary system, the earth is to us by far the most interesting. Other of the planets may be more sublime, and, in the range of creation, of greater importance; but, from their inconceivable distance from us, the impossibility, even by the utmost stretch of science, of our attaining more than a knowledge of the magnitude, and period of the revolution, of a very small number of them, and, with one or two exceptions, the benefit derived by us from any of them being only indirect; we can regard them merely as splendid displays of creative power, intended, and calculated to excite our wonder and admiration. But the earth is the place of our residence; from it we derived our being, and to it we are destined to return; all that is necessary to sustain us springs out of it; it is the theatre on which we severally perform the parts that are assigned to us; and there is not an ingredient in our happiness, nor a circumstance calculated to excite our hopes, but is, in some form or other, found in, or connected with it.

B

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