The children of Israel — That is, one of them, by a very usual figure, as Matthew 26:8, where that is ascribed to the disciples, which belonged to Judas only, John 12:4. Accursed thing — That is, in taking some of the forbidden and accursed goods. Zabdi — Called also Zimri, 1 Chronicles 2:6. Zerah —... [ Continue Reading ]
To Ai — They were not to go into the city of Ai, but into the country belonging to it, to understand the state of the place; and the people.... [ Continue Reading ]
Go up — Which was done by the wise contrivance of Divine providence, that their sin might be punished, and they awaked and reformed with as little mischief and reproach, as might be: for if the defeat of these caused so great a consternation in Joshua, it is easy to guess what dread it would have ca... [ Continue Reading ]
They fled — Not having courage to strike a stroke, which was a plain evidence that God had forsaken then; and an useful instruction, to shew them what they were when God left them: and that it was God, not their own valour, that gave the Canaanites into their hands.... [ Continue Reading ]
About thirty and six men — A dear victory to them, whereby Israel was awakened and reformed, and they hardened to their own ruin. The going down — By which it seems it was a down — hill way to Jericho, which was nearer Jordan. As water — Soft and weak, and full of fluctuation and trembling.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rent his clothes — In testimony of great sorrow, for the loss felt, the consequent mischief feared, and the sin which he suspected. His face — In deep humiliation and fervent supplication. Until the even — tide — Continuing the whole day in fasting and prayer. Put dust upon their heads — As was usua... [ Continue Reading ]
Over Jordan — This and the following clause, tho' well intended, yet favour of human infirmity, and fall short of that reverence and modesty, and submission, which he owed to God; and are mentioned as instances that the holy men of God were subject to like passions and infirmities with other men.... [ Continue Reading ]
What shall I say — In answer to the reproaches of our insulting enemies. When Israel — God's people, which he hath singled out of all nations for his own.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy great name — Which will upon this occasion be blasphemed and charged with inconstancy, and with inability to resist them, or to do thy people that good which thou didst intend them. The name of God is a great name, above every name. And whatever happens, we ought to pray, that this may not be po... [ Continue Reading ]
Upon thy face — This business is not to be done by inactive supplication, but by vigorous endeavours for reformation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Israel — Some or one of them. Transgressed my covenant — That is, broken the conditions of my covenant which they have promised to perform, whereof this was one, not to meddle with the accursed thing. Stolen — That is, taken my portion which I had reserved, Joshua 6:19. Dissembled — Covered the fact... [ Continue Reading ]
Were accursed — They have put themselves out of my protection, and therefore are liable to the same destruction which belongs to this accursed people.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sanctify yourselves — Purify yourselves from that defilement which you have all in some sort contracted by this accursed fact, and prepare yourselves to appear before the Lord, expecting the sentence of God for the discovery and punishment of the sin, and that the guilty person might hereby be awake... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord taketh — Which shall be declared guilty by the lot, which is disposed by the Lord, Proverbs 16:33, and which was to be cast in the Lord's presence before the ark. Of such use of lots, see 1 Samuel 14:41; Jonah 1:7; Acts 1:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall be burnt with fire — As persons and things accursed were to be. All that he hath — His children and goods, as is noted, Joshua 7:24, according to the law, Deuteronomy 13:16. Wrought folly — So sin is often called in scripture, in opposition to the idle opinion of sinners, who commonly esteem i... [ Continue Reading ]
The family — Either, the tribe or people, as the word family sometimes signifies, or, the families, as Joshua 7:14, the singular number for the plural, the chief of each of their five families, Numbers 26:20. Man by man — Not every individual person, as is evident from Joshua 7:18, but every head of... [ Continue Reading ]
My son — So he calls him, to shew, that this severe inquisition and sentence did not proceed from any hatred to his person, which he loved as a father doth his son, and as a prince ought to do each of his subjects. The Lord God of Israel — As thou hast highly dishonoured him, now take the blame to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Indeed I have sinned — He seems to make a sincere and ingenuous confession, and loads his sin with all just aggravations. Against the Lord — Against his express command, and glorious attributes. God of Israel — The true God, who hath chosen me and all Israel to be the people of his peculiar love and... [ Continue Reading ]
When I saw — He accurately describes the progress of his sin, which began at his eye, which he permitted to gaze upon them, which inflamed his desire, and made him covet them; and that desire made him take them; and having taken, resolve to keep them; and to that end hide them in his tent. Babylonis... [ Continue Reading ]
Sent messengers — That the truth of his confession might be unquestionable, which some, peradventure might think was forced from him. And they ran — Partly longing to free themselves and all the people from the curse under which they lay; and partly that none of Achan's relations might get thither b... [ Continue Reading ]
Before the Lord — Where Joshua and the elders continued yet in their assembly waiting for the issue.... [ Continue Reading ]
His sons, and his daughters — Their death was a debt they owed to their own sins, which debt God may require when he pleaseth; and he could not take it in more honourable circumstances than these, that the death of a very few in the beginning of a new empire, and of their settlement in the land, mig... [ Continue Reading ]
With stones — And burned him with fire; which is easily understood both out of the following words, and from God's command to do so. They were stoned (which was the punishment of such offenders, Leviticus 24:14; Numbers 15:35,) and not burned to death; but God would have their dead carcases burned t... [ Continue Reading ]
A great heap of stones — As a monument of the sin and judgment here mentioned, that others might be warned by the example; and as a brand of infamy, as Joshua 8:29; 2 Samuel 18:17. The valley of Achor — Or, the valley of trouble, from the double trouble expressed, Joshua 7:25.... [ Continue Reading ]