Joshua 5:1-9. Renewal of the Rite of Circumcision 1. _when all the kings of the Amorites_ This verse stands in close connection with the last verse of the preceding Chapter. All the peoples of the earth were "to know the Name of the Lord" and to fear Him. A first example of this is seen in the case... [ Continue Reading ]
_Make thee sharp knives_ Or, as in margin, KNIVES OF FLINT. "Stonen knyues," Wyclif. In Exodus 4:25 we read that Zipporah, the wife of Moses, took a "sharp stone," or "knife of flint," and circumcised her son. Joshua followed the custom of antiquity on this occasion, for they had no other knives wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_the hill of the foreskins_ or "_Gibeah-haaraloth_," probably so named from this transaction. Comp. Colossians 2:11-13; Colossians 3:1-6.... [ Continue Reading ]
_forty years_ See Numbers 14:33; Deuteronomy 1:3; Deuteronomy 2:7; Deuteronomy 2:14. _a land that floweth with milk and honey_ For this expression compare Exodus 3:8; Exodus 3:17; Exodus 13:5; Leviticus 20:24;... [ Continue Reading ]
_they abode in their places_ Keil observes that those for whom the rite was not now needed, would be sufficient to defend the camp at Gilgal, although the terror consequent upon the passage of the Jordan would have been sufficient to ensure their safety against all hostile attacks.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the reproach of Egypt_ This may be explained as (i) the reproach, which had attached to the people all the way from Egypt, where the nation had been a people of slaves; comp. Gen 34:14; 1 Samuel 17:26; as (ii) referring to the taunts and reproaches actually levelled by the Egyptians against the Isr... [ Continue Reading ]
Celebration of the Passover Cessation of the Manna 10. _And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal_ The camp became permanent, and probably in grateful memorial of the many associations connected with the place, the people made it for centuries the great gathering-place of the tribes (Joshua 9:6;... [ Continue Reading ]
_of the old corn_ Rather, OF THE PRODUCE OF THE LAND. "And thei eten of the fruytis of the lond in the tothir day, therf looues, and potage of the same зeer, _etin cornys seengid and frotid in the hond_." Wyclif. It could not have been other than the new corn just ripening at the season of the Passo... [ Continue Reading ]
_the manna ceased_ For the first time since leaving Sinai the Passover cakes were not made of manna, for the people had now arrived in Canaan, and no longer needed this "Bread of the Wilderness." Day after day, for forty years, there had appeared "on the face of the wilderness a small round thing, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Joshua 6:1-5. Appearance of the Prince of the Host of Jehovah 13. _when Joshua was by Jericho_ having as yet received no special instructions as to the mode in which he was to attack Jericho, though the people, whom he led, were altogether untrained for such a work, _he lift up his eyes and looked... [ Continue Reading ]
_as captain_ or rather, PRINCE OF THE HOST OF JEHOVAH, i.e. of the Angelic Host, the Host of heaven. "I am prince of þe oost of þe Lord," Wyclif. Compare the expressions "Jehovah of hosts," or more fully "Jehovah, Lord of hosts" (Jeremiah 5:14; Jeremiah 15:16; Isaiah 6:3; Psalms 24:10; Psalms 80:7;... [ Continue Reading ]
_Loose thy shoe_ "Vnlace thi schoo fro thi feet," Wyclif. Comp. Exodus 3:5. It was a mark of reverence to cast off the sandals in approaching a place or person of eminent sanctity.... [ Continue Reading ]