Joshua 3:2
_Heralds. Shoterim, chap. i. 10. Protestants, "the officers went through the host." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heralds. Shoterim, chap. i. 10. Protestants, "the officers went through the host." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Levi. Sigonius thinks that the Caathites performed this office on this as on other occasions. But the Vulgate shews that the priests sometimes carried the ark, perhaps because it was uncovered, chap. vi. 6., and 2 Kings xv. 25. At this period the number of priests was but small. Some of the sons of... [ Continue Reading ]
Space of. Hebrew adds, "about...by measure." It was not easy to observe the exact distance in the march. This was prescribed both to keep the people at a respectful distance, and also to enable them to see which way they were to proceed. When the priests stood in the bed of the river, the waters ros... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sanctified, as Moses had required at Mount Sinai, (Exodus xix. 10, 15,) ordering the people to wash their garments, and to abstain from their wives, that by this exterior purity, they might be reminded not to neglect that of the soul, without which they would derive but small benefit or instruction... [ Continue Reading ]
Commands. Josue was only the organ of God, (Calmet) whose orders he announces to the sacred ministers; (ver. 8.; Menochius) though as a civil magistrate, he was bound to hear and to obey them in matters of religion. (Calmet) --- When he ordered circumcision to be administered, when he blessed the mu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Also. Grotius remarks that God made known his choice of the governors of his people by miracles, till the days of Saul. In effect, we hardly find any, before that time, whose public authority was not sanctioned by some prodigy. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_It. Hebrew, "when you shall have come to the brink (or extremity) of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan," (Haydock) which some explain by saying that they were to stop on the eastern bank, as soon as they had wet their feet, (Serarius) while others say they crossed quite o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hither, probably to the door of the tabernacle, where the assemblies were held._... [ Continue Reading ]
Living God, in opposition to the idols of the Gentiles, who were dead men, or at least incapable of affording any assistance to their votaries. Josue gives the people two signs of the divine protection, the destruction of the devoted nations, and the miraculous division of the Jordan, or rather the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prepare. Hebrew, "take." But they must have been selected from the tribes, either to carry twelve stones out of the bed of the Jordan, and to place twelve others in their stead, as monuments of this stupendous miracle; (Calmet) or to accompany the priests and the ark, out of respect. (Cajetan) (Men... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heap. Hebrew, "the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off: the waters that come down from above, even they shall stand as upon a heap," like mountains of ice. The Vulgate informs us what became of the waters (Haydock) below this division. Where it took place we do not find recorded, so that we canno... [ Continue Reading ]
_Water. Thus they manifested the strength of their faith. (Calmet) --- Immediately the obedient waters divided, and the gravel or sand was left dry, ver. 17. (Haydock) --- Channel. The barley harvest was ready about the 30th of April, Leviticus xxiii. 10. On other occasions this overflowing of the J... [ Continue Reading ]
Mountain. Hebrew, "heap or bottle." The billows were forced to roll back almost as far as the lake of Genesareth, where Sarthan stands, about twenty leagues above Jericho. --- Sarthan. Hebrew, "rose up on a heap, very far from (or to) the city of Adom, that is beside Sarthan." The situation of Adom... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jericho, at Bethabara, which was five or six leagues from the Dead Sea, all which space was left dry. Jericho was three leagues from the Jordan. (Calmet) --- Girded. Septuagint, "ready," preparing the way for all the army. Hebrew, "firm," and undaunted. (Haydock) --- A great part of the day must ha... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER III. Ver 1. _Days, in part, as they arrived on the 8th of Nisan, staid there the following day, and crossed the Jordan on the 10th, on Friday the 30th of our April. Thus Christ is said to have remained three days in the tomb, (Calmet) though he was there only a small part of Friday and of S... [ Continue Reading ]