EXPLANATIONS, Arise, go over, &c.-the Israelites were then encamped on the eastern bank of the river, and they had neither bridges nor boats to convey them over; this was therefore a trial of faith. as I was, &c.-Joshua had been Moses' minister, or personal attendant; he well knew how God's presence had been with his master. I will not fail, &c.-those who go where God sends them, shall have Him with them wherever they go. came &c.-the Bible does not inform us how the spies got over Jordan, but no doubt the Lord, who by his providence directed them to the house of Rahab, made their way prosperous. concealed, &c.-from her conversation with the spies it appears that she knew their business; the stalks of flax placed on the flat roof of her house to dry, afforded them a ready means of concealment when she found they had been observed. spare her life, &c.-from the particular mention of Rahab's relatives it seems that she was an unmarried woman. priests... went, &c.-after entering the river they stood still in the midst on dry ground till all the people had passed over, then they followed. divided-the Jordan was now greatly swollen by the melting snows from Lebanon; the miracle was therefore the more remarkable. Anced, &c.-resumed their course, for when the waters divided, the stream above the point of separation remained suspended, and stood like a hill, without inundating the country, while the stream below flowed onwards to the Dead Sea, leaving the bed of the river dry. This occurred within five days of the 40 years which had expired since they left Egypt. Twelve stones-it appears they were taken from the midst of the bed of the river. passover-the Israelites entered Canaan on the very day when the preparation for the passover was to begin; this was the fortieth celebration of the event. old corn, &c.-the previous harvest's pro duce found in the stores of those who had fled into the cities for shelter. This was the season ofbarley-harvest, the crop was partly reaped, so that the Israelites had abundance of grain both old & new. The captain, &c.-an angel in human form; by some commentators supposed to be Christ himself, the captain of our salvation. a curse, &c.-the city was devoted to utter ruin as a memorial of God's miraculous interposition for Israel, and as the first fruits of that conquest upon which they had entered. The curse pronounced by Joshua was minutely fulfilled in the rebuilder of Jericho. Les. 78. CONTEMPORARY CHARACTER. RAHAB-it is thought that Rahab kept a house of public entertainment in Jericho. Her house alone was left standing when the walls of the city fell, and she and her relatives alone were spared when the inhabitants were put to death. Rahab's name is honourably mentioned in the New Testament, 1st as an ances tor of Christ, Matt. i. 5; 2nd in recording her faith and good works, Heb. xi. 31; James ii. 25. QUESTIONS. How was Joshua honoured after the death of Moses, and what peculiar advantage had he previously possessed which qualified him for the work? What was the Lord's address to Joshua? Did Joshua take any steps to inform him. self of the condition of Jericho? Narrate the particulars of the visit and reception of the spies. What bright example of faith and good works is exhibited in this narrative, and where in the New Testament do we find it mentioned? How did Israel cross the river? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. Those who show cheerful submission and active obedience to the will of God shall not be left long without leaders; no sooner is Moses removed than Joshua, whose na tural endowments and useful training qualify him for the office, is appointed his successor. The faith of Rahab was a religious faith, the terror of the Lord had fallen on her, and she knew that he would give Israel the land. God does nothing unnecessar ily, as long as the Israelites were in the wilderness, he sustained them without a seedtime and without a harvest; now they have left" the waste howling wilderness" the manna ceases, and they must depend upon their own industry. That "the angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him," we learn from the directions given to Joshua about the taking of Jericho. 31. Achan's Sin and Punishment. The Gibeonites. Joshua vii. 1-x. 43; xxii. Achan, a man of the tribe of Judah, committed a 'trespass against God. He took from the 'spoils of Jericho,30 a 'Babylonish garment, 'two-hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, which he hid in the earth, within his tent. For his sin, the Israelites were discomfited at Ai. Joshua then fell upon his face 'before the ark23 of the Lord, and said, "O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and 'cut off our name from the earth; and 'what wilt thou do unto thy great name? God told him of the trespass, and gave him 'directions for the discovery and punishment of the offender. Achan was discovered; he and his family were put to death, and Ai was afterwards taken. Joshua then built an altars to God on "Mount Ebal. The blessings of the law were pronounced from Mount Gerizim, and the cursings from Mount Ebal. The inhabitants of Gibeon were afraid of the Israelites, when they heard what had been done to Jericho and to Ai; and they went to Joshua, in old shoes, and old clothes, pretending they had come from a 'far country. Joshua and the princes of Israel made a 'covenant of peace with them. Three days after, they found that the Gibeonites were neighbours, and that they had deceived them. The Israelites would not destroy them, but they made them hewers of wood and drawers of water, for the camp and the tabernacle23 of Israel. Five kings of the Amorites encamped against Gibeon, because its inhabitants had made peace with Israel. Joshua went to assist the Gibeonites on account of their mutual league. To encourage Joshua in this battle against his enemies the Lord said unto him, "Fear them not; for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee." And as they fled the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them, and they died; they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. The sun and the moon stood still at the command of Joshua, till the kings were conquered. Joshua also conquered many other kings of Canaan, and gave their lands for an inheritance to Israel. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half tribe of Manasseh 'returned to the "East of Jordan30 after Canaan had been conquered. They built an altar near the Jordon, for a witness that they belonged to Israel. The other tribes feared that it would lead them into idolatry, but they said their altar was not for burnt-offerings, nor sacrifices, but for a witness; and they called it "Ed. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. Ai-a city between which and Bethel Abram pitched his tent, and built an altar. Les. 6. Mount Ebal-a mountain in Ephraim, opposite Mount Gerizim; in the valley between them was the ancient city of Shechem or Sichem, See Les. 6. Mount Gerizim-a celebrated mountain opposite to. Mount Ebal. Gibeon-the chief city of the Hivites; it was situated on a hill, about five miles north of Jerusalem. East of Jordan-the territories which belonged to Sihon and Og. Les. 29. EXPLANATIONS. trespass-going beyond prescribed limits. took, &c.-contrary to the express command of God, that all the effects as well as the city and its inhabitants were to be devoted to destruction, except articles of metal which were to be consecrated for the service of the tabernacle. spoils, &c.-the property of the inhabitants of Jericho, which had now tallen into the hands of the Israelites. Babylonish garment-literally a mantle of Shinar. Shinar was now celebrated, as well as Egypt and Tyre, for its textile manufactures. See Shinar,' Les. 5. two-hundred, &c.-the first sum amounts to £27. 10s, the second to £96. 5s. For his sin, &c.-thus "one sinner destroyeth much good." Eccles. ix. 18. before the ark-because the visible glory of Jehovah rested upon it. and all, &c.-probably in allusion to the Philistines, the Moabites, Ammonites, and others who lived on the borders of the country. cut off our name, Sc.-leaving none to bear the name of Israel. what wilt, &c.-by what people other than Israel, is thy name-the true religionto be maintained. directions, &c.--the people were first to sanctify themselves, and then the Lord would show them by lot, (see Les. 32) the particular tribe to which the guilty person belonged, afterwards the family, then the household, and lastly the individual, who, upon discovery was to be burnt with fire, because he had trans gressed the command of the Lord. his family-God had previously commanded in the law that the children were not to be put to death for the sins of their father, but from the direct order received from God in this case we may conclude that Achan's family were partakers with him in the crime, and therefore were justly sharers in the punishment. put to death-they were first stoned, probably as sabbath-breakers, supposing that the sacrilege was committed on the sabbath day; and then their bodies were burnt as accursed things, of which there should be no remainder left. blessings... cursings, &c.-these were now proclaimed from the mountains, according to the form prescribed, Deut. xxvii. 11-xxviii. 68. far country-the Israelites were allowed to offer peace to any of the nations except those of Canaan; their cities were given to the Israelites for an inheritance. Deut. xx. 10-17. covenant agreement. God had forbidden the Israelites to make a covenant with the people of Canaan, or to show mercy to them; they were to be destroyed lest they should infect Israel with their idolatry. Deut. vii. 2; xx. 18. were conquered-in this conquest Jerusalem was taken by Joshua with the lands around it. Hebron also was taken. returned-after 7 years' absence. Les. 29. PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. From the sin of Achan and the calamity in which Israel was consequently involved, previous to the discovery of the offender, we learn that, "He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house." The influence of fear in leading men to act deceitfully, and the facility with which false representations are received are set before us in the conduct of the Gibeonites, and its effect upon Joshua and the princes of Israel; hence we see the necessity of truthfulness and also of caution in believing all words that are spoken. What honour was conferred on Joshua! the operation of the natural laws was suspended-either the twilight was lengthened, or the earth ceased to move for a time -one of these miracles would be as easy as the other to the Almighty God. 32. Canaan Divided. Joshua's last Exhortations. When Joshua was old, the Lord said unto him, "Thou art old and 'stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed." Joshua had conquered 'thirty-one kings, and their countries, but he had not conquered the whole of the land. The tabernacle23 was set up at **Shiloh. Canaan was then divided among the tribes by lot. The cities of refuge, for those who had slain others unawares, were appointed, and the Levites had forty-eight cities and their suburbs "assigned to them. Caleb asked for Hebron33 for his inheritance. The tribe of Judah *could not drive out the Jebusites from "Jerusalem, so they dwelt together. The children of Joseph's two sons had two portions allotted to them. God had now fulfilled all the promises he had made to Israel. The bones of Joseph, which had been brought out of Egypt, were buried in Shechem,13 in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the Shechemites; it was the inheritance of the Ephraimites, who were called "the children of Joseph." Before Joshua's death, he called for all Israel, and for their elders, judges, and officers, and said unto them, "Ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.. And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you. Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses,.. that ye 'come not among these nations, these that remain among you; "neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them; but cleave unto the LORD your God." He then told them of their "former idolatries, and said, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." The people answered, "The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey." All these exhortations were delivered at Shechem. So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance. Jeshua died soon after, being a-hundred-and-ten years old, and he was buried in Timnath-serah. And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who overlived Joshua, and who knew all the works of the Lord, which he had done for Israel. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. Shiloh peace'; a place which was in the southern part of Ephraim, on "the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem." At this place the tabernacle was set up, and here the ark of God remained about three-hundred years, until it was taken by the Philistines. Les. 42. At Shiloh Canaan was divided among the tribes by lot, and the cities of refuge and those of the Levites, were appointed; a yearly feast of the Israelites was held at Shiloh. Jerusalem-foundation of peace, or vision of peace"; was the metropolis of the land of Israel. It was often spoken of in the Scriptures as "the holy city," because God chose it to place there his name, his temple, and his worship. It was in the southern portion of Canaan, which was occupied by the Jebusites, it was then called Jebus; it was situated partly in Judah and partly in Benjamin. Joshua conquered it, and the Israelites and the Jebusites jointly occupied the city, but in different parts. See Salem,' Les. 7. Timnath-serah-a city in the mountains of Ephraim, the inheritance, residence, and burial-place of Joshua. EXPLANATIONS. but the fortress of Zion was held by them till the reign of king David. Les. 56. stricken, &c.-weakened, enfeebled by two portions, &c.-see 'let my name, &c. age; he was now about 90 years old. thirty-one kings, &c.-in early times kingdoms and states were of limited extent. At one period our own country was divided into eight petty kingdoms. the whole... land-the boundaries of which had been settled by Moses according to God's directions. Numb. xxxiv. 1-15, In length it measured about 160 miles, and in breadth it averaged 50 miles; it will be seen therefore that the territory of each of the thirty-one kings must have been of very small extent. set up, &c.-after which it stood unmoved for about 330 or 340 years; when it was transferred to Nob. Les. 48. by lot-an ancient method of deciding controversies, or settling matters of doubt or uncertainty. This expedient was resorted to in cases in which the wisdom and authority of man were as nothing; the direct will and appointment of the Lord were considered as ordering the lot. suburbs for pastures and gardens. See 'forty-eight cities.' Les. 29, p. 63. assigned, &c.-See appointed, &c.' Les. 29, p. 63. While engaged in the service of the tabernacle the wants of the Levites were provided for by the offerings of the people; and when relieved for a time from that service they retired to the city which belonged to their division. Caleb asked for, &c.-it had been promised him by the Lord, as a reward for his fidelity when sent by Moses to spy out the land, Numb. xiv. 24; Deut. i. 36. could not, &c.-because they lacked perseverance and faith. They grew tired of prosecuting the commission they had received to its fullest extent. from Jerusalem-the city had been taken by Joshua, (Les. 31) but the fortress or stronghold of Zion continued to be held by the Jebusites. The Israelites not immediately peopling all the cities they had taken, the Jebusites recovered possession of the city till they were driven out after the death of Joshua, (Les. 33) Les. 16. p. 35. come not, &c.-not to live with them as one nation; nor intermarry with them, nor imitate their idolatrous practices. neither make mention, &c.-they were to endeavour to lose all remembrance of these idols, that their worship and their very names might be forgotten. former, &c.-the sun or fire worship of their Syrian ancestors; and the idolatry of Egypt, which, it appears some of the Israelites fell into. Ezek, xx. 7,8; or possibly, of their idolatry at Sinai. Les.23. the elders, &c.-the chiefs of families of the same generation with Joshua. CONTEMPORARY CHARACTERS. JABIN, I.—the king of Hazor, (Les 35) whose army was defeated by Joshua in the northern part of Canaan, near "the waters of Merom." Jabin escaped to Hazor, but he was slain and the city was destroyed. QUESTIONS. What did God say to Joshua when he had grown old? What success had attended Joshua's arm ? How were the Levites provided for? Enumerate the principal events of this period. Why were Joseph's bones buried at Shechem ? Repeat the last address of Joshua to the people of Israel. In what words did he prohibit idolatry? What effect had Joshua's address on the What reply did they make? [people? At what place were these last exhortations of Joshua delivered? What was Joshua's age when he died? Where was he buried? How did the example of Joshua and his fellow-elders influence the Israelites? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. According to the command of God the Canaanites were driven out to make room for the Israelites, but not until their sins had become so heinous that their existence could no longer be tolerated by Him. This is a solemn lesson to nations which possess Gospel privileges, and with them, much of the fatness of the earth," corn, and wine, and oil," that they improve their advantages lest they also be cut off. We see by the provision which God commanded to be made for the Levites, that it is according to His will that the ministers of religion should be free from harassing anxieties as to their subsistence, in order that their lives may be usefully employed in the duties of their sacred office; "the labourer is worthy of his hire." |