_Long time. Josue governed only ten years after the distribution of the land. Towards the close of his life, perceiving that the Israelites were too indolent in subduing the people of the country, and fearing lest they should by degrees begin to imitate their corrupt manners, he called a general ass... [ Continue Reading ]
_For you. God fought for his people three ways: 1. By destroying their enemies himself in a miraculous manner, as he did the Egyptians; 2. By assisting their endeavours, as at Jericho, and in the victory of Gabaon, when he caused the walls of the former town to fall down, and hurled stones upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
_And now. Hebrew, "Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations, which remain to be subdued, to be an inheritance for your tribes from the Jordan, (these two words are transposed, and should come after; Calmet) with all the nations that I have cut off---even unto the great sea westward." He... [ Continue Reading ]
Come in, an expression which may denote any familiarity, or marriage. (Menochius) --- Hebrew is in the form of a prohibition, "Come not among (have no connections with) these nations....Neither mention their gods, nor swear (or cause to swear by them.") The psalmist (Psalm xv. 4,) says, speaking eit... [ Continue Reading ]
_Day. Those who had formerly given way to idolatry were all cut off, and all Israel had lately given a proof of their attachment unto the Lord. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thousand. This Moses had repeatedly foretold, Leviticus xxvi. 13., and Deuteronomy xxviii. 7._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Side. Hebrew, "snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your side." Children and slaves were formerly beaten on this part, Ecclesiasticus xxx. 12., and xlii. 5. Horace (epod. iv.) says, Ibericis peruste funibus latus. The first word St. Jerome seems to have read with th at the end, as peth, means... [ Continue Reading ]
_This day: shortly I must die. (Calmet) --- Metam properamus ad unam. (Horace) "We hasten to one common goal." (Haydock) --- The pagans called death, or the grave, the common place; and Plautus says, in the same sense, Quin prius me ad plures penetravi. (Calmet) "Before I penetrate the receptacle of... [ Continue Reading ]
_And speedily. This word is added to express the force of the Hebrew term. (Menochius) --- "Punishment is seldom lame in overtaking the wicked. (Haydock) --- This. He emphatically sets before them what labours they had sustained in making the acquisition, and what ingratitude they will be guilty of,... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXIII.... [ Continue Reading ]