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the typical tabernacle priesthood and offerings, "the men" may refer to these same dying
priests.
It occurred to us at this point to consult the LXX for the usage of "judgment",
knowing that in many cases the word judgment is synonymous with salvation in the O.T.
Turning up the word krisis we found the list too formidable for the time at our disposal,
but believing that the key to Heb. 9: 27, 28 lies in the law concerning the cities of
refuge, and knowing that Numb. 35: contains a full statement concerning these cities,
we looked to see whether krisis occurs in that chapter. It does:--
"And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die
not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment (krisis)" (Numb. 35: 12).
This statement is followed by a law making a distinction between a willful murder and
a manslayer, and when these distinctions have been made the Scripture continues:--
"Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood
according to these judgments (krimata). And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out
of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of
refuge, whither he was fled (katapheugo), and he shall abide in it unto the DEATH of the
high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil . . . . . after the death of the high priest
the slayer shall return into the land of his possession" (Numb. 35: 24-28).
This is the "judgment" equivalent to salvation that was to be pronounced by the
congregation, and hinged upon the death of the anointed high priest. It will be seen that
such an interpretation harmonizes with the simile here intended:--
A | 27-. And as.
B | -27-. The men die once.
C | -27. Judgment.
A | 28-. So also.
B | -28-. Christ was offered once.
C | -28. Salvation.
Judgment and Salvation.
In Judges 2: 16-19 we have the close connection established between the judge and
deliverance:--
"And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and
saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge . . . . . when the
judge was dead, they turned back . . . . ."
The judges of Israel were first of all saviours. This is seen in the judgeship of Othniel
and Ehud. "The Lord raised up a saviour to the children of Israel" (Judg. 3: 9-15). The
reader will doubtless call to mind the many passages where the poor, the needy and the
righteous call upon God to "judge" them, and such passages as Psa. 1: 5 where the
ungodly are excluded from "judgment". It is this Old Testament conception of judgment