God promiseth to assist Joshua. CHRIST 1451. JOSHUA. Before 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. four, when, on the present occasion, after Moses' death, he was commanded to pass over Jordan and take possession of the promised land. Dr. Hales. 2. this Jordan,] Within sight of which they lay encamped, and which flowed between them and the land of Canaan. Bp. Patrick. 4. From the wilderness &c.] From the wilderness of Zin, which was the boundary on the south, and this mountain, Lebanon, (so high that the top of it was seen from the place where they then were,) which was the boundary on the north, to the river Euphrates, which bounded the extent of the dominions of the Israelites on the east, (which afterwards came to pass in the days of David and Solomon,) and to the Mediterranean sea, which bounded it on the west, or towards the going down of the sun. Dr. Wells. the Hittites,] As these were a very powerful people inhabiting the country, some of which were of the race of the giants; they are therefore particularly mentioned, to shew that the most terrible people should not stand before Joshua. Bp. Patrick. 6. Be strong and of a good courage:] He commands The tribes promise obedience. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. 10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it. 12 ¶ And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, Before CHRIST 1451. 20. 13 Remember the word which fNumb. 32. 14 Your wives, your little ones, 15 Until the LORD have given 16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us marshalled by 17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. 18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage. Chap. II. ver. 1. And Joshua-sent out of Shittim] Rather, had sent, before the directions given to the officers, as mentioned in the last chapter. This best agrees with ver. 22 of this chapter, and with the rest of the narrative. Shittim was in the plains of Moab, where the Israelites now lay encamped, and where they had remained about two months, ever since the conquest of Sihon and Og. Bp. Patrick. a sent out from Shittim. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and + lodged there. Before CHRIST 1451. a Hebr. 11. 2 And it was told the king of 31. James 2. 25. Jericho, saying, Behold, there came Heb. lay. men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. 3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. 4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: 5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. prietors. She would have been treacherous both to God and to them, if she had not done it, when she knew, as she expressly says, that the Lord had given them the land. Dr. Waterland. On the supposition that Rahab acted on this occasion in conformity with the intimation she had received of God's design towards the inhabitants of Canaan, her whole conduct will not only stand clear of every criminal imputation, but be highly commendable, and justly deserve a rank among those illustrious patterns which the Apostle proposes to our imitation, as being a person justified not only by her faith, but also by her works, James ii. 25. Stackhouse. Lord of heaven and earth had given that land to Israel, and she acted under a full persuasion of it; which faith of her's is that commended at Heb. xi. Therefore, not doubting but that the God of the universe had an uncontrollable right to set up, or to pull down; and to dispose of all kingdoms and countries, according to his good pleasure, she judged it reasonable to obey God rather than man; and therefore she endeavoured, as into an harlot's house, named Rahab,] Rahab much as in her lay, to deliver up the land to the true probably kept a publick house or inn, for the enter-owners, to those whom God had made the rightful protainment of strangers, by going into which the spies thought that they would be less suspected of any design. Bp. Patrick. She is called harlot, either because persons who kept publick houses in those days often made their persons as common as their houses, or because Rahab had formerly been of this description, although she was now converted to better sentiments. Pyle. It cannot be denied, that in ancient times there was great affinity between the business of an hostess and a harlot; for this reason perhaps it is, that in the Hebrew tongue the same word denotes persons of both professions. For the same reason, the Septuagint, or Greek translators, have given Rahab the appellation of a harlot; and the two Apostles, St. Paul and St. James, (Heb. xi. 31, and James ii. 25,) make use of the same expression, from this translation. It is to be observed however, that, as the expression is capable of another sense, the Chaldee paraphrast calls her by a word which signifies a woman who keeps a publick house, without any mark of infamy. Therefore, charity should incline us to think the best of a person, whom both these Apostles have ranked with Abraham, the father of the faithful, and propounded as an example of faith and good works. Rahab was afterwards married to Salmon, a prince of Judah; and king David descended from her: so that Jesus Christ did not disdain to reckon this Canaanitish woman among his ancestors. Stackhouse. 4.I wist not whence they were:] In judging of Rahab's conduct on this occasion in telling an untruth, we should remember, that she had sufficient intimations of what God intended for his people Israel; and she expressed her faith in Him, by saying, "The Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." See ver. 11. She was deeply sensible, that the high It is probable that Rahab was informed by an express revelation of the will of God on this occasion, and acted in obedience to it, or she could not have been an instance of the faith, which the inspired writer mentions in the Epistle to the Hebrews. If she had proceeded only on a general report respecting the people, who were invading the land, being raised up and supported by the miraculous power of God, her conduct would not have been justified; her concealment of the spies would have been treachery to her country, and might at last have proved an unavailing as well as a wicked action. But, on the other hand, if the design of God towards the inhabitants of Canaan had been made known to the king and people of Jericho; and he and they, though sufficiently warned to save themselves from destruction, refused to be guided by the warning, while Rahab on their refusal believed, and obediently acted according to what was required of her, her whole behaviour will then stand clear of every imputation, and her faith will be such as the Apostle might justly commend. Shuckford. The covenant between Before CHRIST 1451. JOSHUA. 6 But she had brought them up to | the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. 7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate. 8¶ And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; 9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the in+ Heb. melt. habitants of the land + faint because of you. 21. chap. 4. 23. b 10 For we have heard how the b Exod. 14. LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. c Numb. 21. 24. + Heb. rose up. c 11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: 6. to the roof of the house,] The houses in Eastern countries had flat roofs, so that men might walk or lie upon them. The stalks of flax were either newly cut and laid upon the roof of the house to be dried by the sun, till they were fit to be peeled; or they had been cut the year before, and were now made use of by Rahab to make the king's officers think that nobody had gone upon the roof where the stalks were. Bp. Patrick. In the East, they still use the roofs of their houses for drying raisins, flowers, &c. Harmer. 9.I know that the Lord &c.] She here tells them the reasons for which she had ventured on an action so contrary to the common interests of her native country, and to the duties of a subject towards her prince; namely, that in reality she was a servant of the same one Almighty God with themselves: for that the plain and evident demonstrations of his power and justice in the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, &c. had fully convinced her that the same irresistible arm would undoubtedly give the whole country into the hands of his chosen people, as a punishment on the sins of these Canaanitish nations. Pyle. 11. - is God in heaven] This is a plain confession of the true God, the Creator of heaven and earth; wherein 13 And that will save alive ye father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. 1451. stead of you 14 And the men answered her, Our life for your's, if ye utter not + Heb. inthis our business. And it shall be, to die. when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. 15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. 16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way. 17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt + bring thy father, and thy mo- +Heb.gather. ther, and thy brethren, and all thy father's houshold, home unto thee. 19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. He rules and governs all things according to his pleasure. This is her faith, celebrated by the Apostle to the Hebrews, which moved her to entertain the spies, and to preserve them with the danger of her own life, if she had been discovered. Bp. Patrick. 14.- Our life for your's,] They here pledge their lives for her's (swearing to her, as appears from ver. 17,) and wish they might perish themselves if they performed not what she desired; provided, on the other hand, she and her kindred did not make known the business they came about, and the agreement they had made with her. Dr. Wells. 15. she dwelt upon the wall.] The meaning probably is, that the apartment she reserved to herself was next to the wall, and built upon it; the rest of her house towards the street being kept for strangers. This gave her the fair opportunity, without any noise, to let them down. Bp. Patrick. 17. We will be blameless] Meaning, that the fault should not be their's, if this oath were not duly kept. Bp. Patrick. 18.-scarlet thread] It is probable that this was something more than a mere thread or line, as it was distinguished from a distance when hung in a window, Joshua cometh to Jordan. Before CHRIST 1451. 20 And if thou utter this our busi- | then ye shall remove from your place, ness, then we will be quit of thine and go after it. oath which thou hast made us to swear. 21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window. 22 And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not. 23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them: 24 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do + Heb. melt. faint because of us. CHAP. III. 1 Joshua cometh to Jordan. 2 The officers instruct the people for the passage. 7 The Lord encourageth Joshua. 9 Joshua encourageth the people. 14 The waters of Jordan are divided. AND Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, and as it was used for lowering the men. Le Clerc would translate it, "this tissue of scarlet thread." Script. illust. Chap. III. ver. 1.— early in the morning :] The morning of the last of the three days mentioned at chap. i. 11. The distance from Shittim to Jordan is, according to most opinions, seven miles. Bp. Patrick. 3.-priests the Levites] Those of the tribe of Levi, who were priests. The Kohathites had generally the charge of the ark, Numb. iii. 28; iv. 15; but now, on this occasion, the priests are appointed to it. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells. and go after it.] The ark, which in their former marches was generally wont to go in the middle of the camp, Numb. ii. 17, &c. is now appointed to go in front, to lead and direct their course, in the same man 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure : come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go for ye have not passed this way heretofore. 5 And Joshua said unto the people, a Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. 6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. Before CHRIST 1451. + Heb. since yesterday and the third day. a Lev. 20. 7. Numb. 11. 18. chap. 7. 13. 1 Sam. 16. 5. 7 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was b Chap. 1. 5. with Moses, so I will be with thee. 8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. 9 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God. 10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. 12 Now therefore take you twelve ner as the cloud of glory (which had now left them) used to do; and, as the cloud was wont to keep at some distance before the camp, so it was now ordered, that the ark should be followed at the distance of 2000 cubits, (about 800 or 1000 yards,) as the only remaining symbol of the Divine guidance through the unknown passages of the river. Pyle. 5. Sanctify yourselves:] They were commanded to prepare themselves, by the means of sanctification, usual on extraordinary occasions, (see Numb. xi. 18; Exod. xix. 10,) for receiving the Divine benefits with proper feelings and meditations. Bp. Patrick. 10.-Hereby ye shall know that the living God &c.] Hereby, that is, by the miraculous passage God is about to make for you through Jordan, ye shall know that the living God, that is, the only true God, who has life of Himself, and is the Fountain or Giver of life to all things, is among you. Dr. Wells. The waters of Jordan divide. Before CHRIST 1451. JOSHUA.. men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; c Ps. 114. 3. and they shall stand upon an heap. 14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests d Acts 7. 45. bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; d 15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for e 1 Chron. 12. Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 15. Ecclus. 24.26. e 16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. 13.-it shall come to pass,] He tells them of the miracle beforehand, that they might not attribute it to any accidental cause, but solely to God's providence and power. Dr. S. Clarke. 15.- harvest,)] This is meant of barley harvest, which began about the passover: the snows now melted from the neighbouring mountains, particularly of Lebanon, at the foot of which are the springs of Jordan. By this overflowing of the river, the miracle was increased. Bp. Patrick. No modern traveller has seen the Jordan in its state of overflowing. Mr. Maundrell observed that this river has two banks, the first and outermost of which appears to be that to which the overflow reaches. He says, that, after having descended the outermost bank, they had to go about a furlong on the level strand, before they came to the immediate bank of the river. Now, as the river certainly formed the outermost bank by its inundation, this bank is a lasting testimony that it sometimes overflows. As each bank is about a furlong from the bed of the river, and the river about twenty yards across, we thus get the breadth of water crossed by the Israelites. In proportion as the swelling of Jordan was rare, and the security of the Canaanites increased by it, the passage of the river by the Israelites was a more illustrious instance of Divine interposition. Script. illust. 16. -rose up upon an heap] The waters above were made to stand still, rising in a heap, as if they were congealed. Bp. Patrick. As it is usual for waters to do when they are stopt by any common dam. Dr. Wells. The passage of this deep and rapid, though not wide river, at the most unfavourable season, was more manifestly miraculous, if possible, than that of the "Red sea." It seems therefore to have been providentially designed to silence cavils respecting the former; and it Twelve stones are set up 17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan. CHAP. IV. 1 Twelve men are appointed to take twelve stones for a memorial out of Jordan. 9 Twelve other stones are set up in the midst of Jordan. 10, 19 The people pass over, 14 God magnifieth Joshua. 20 The twelve stones are pitched in Gilgal. Before CHRIST 1451. AND it came to pass, when all the b 2 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 3 And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the b Chap. 3. 12. It requires no argument to prove that this fact was miraculous: it was not accidental, or it could not have been foreseen, ver. 5. 10, &c.: it was not natural, for the river was at its height, ver. 15: and the waters, that had been descending, stood on an heap, ver. 16: it was not the effect of art, for any artificial alteration of the channel the people must have known; and besides, the effect could not have been instantaneous. Dr. Graves. was. Adam,-Zaretan:] The waters rose in a heap "very far from the city Adam," which was probably situated at a short distance above the place where the ark As this was but a small place, its situation is further described by adding, that is beside Zaretan," being a place of greater note. Dr. Wells. The place where the Israelites passed the Jordan was called Bethabara, or "the place of passage," in our Saviour's time, John i. 28. Bp. Patrick. Chap. IV. ver. 3. Take you-out of the midst of Jordan,—twelve stones,] It appears that the Jordan continued perfectly dry for some time after the Israelites had passed over; that is, till the priests removed from the place where they stood. They were to take twelve stones-great stones, as the Hebrew word imports, as big as they could well lift, and carry them to their lodging-place, that is, to Gilgal, the place where they lodged that night. Bp. Patrick, |