Joshua 7:1
VII. (1) ACHAN... OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH. — The tribe of Judah is distinguished in sacred history both for great crimes and great achievements. (See _Names on the Gates of Pearl._ — Judah.)... [ Continue Reading ]
VII. (1) ACHAN... OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH. — The tribe of Judah is distinguished in sacred history both for great crimes and great achievements. (See _Names on the Gates of Pearl._ — Judah.)... [ Continue Reading ]
JOSHUA SENT MEN FROM JERICHO TO AI. — Why Ai should be the next town selected for attack after Jericho, is a question which perhaps we cannot answer with certainty. But we may observe that the next step after the capture of Ai, before the further conquest of the country, was to set up the Ten Comman... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE NOT ALL THE PEOPLE TO LABOUR THITHER. — In these words we see, by a sort of side-glance, the (not unnatural) comment of Israel on the seven days’ march round Jericho. They thought it useless labour, and were unable to appreciate the lesson which it taught. Again our attention is directed to the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY FLED BEFORE THE MEN OF AI. — A very natural reaction from overweening confidence to utter dismay is exhibited in this incident and its effect (Joshua 7:5), “the heart of the people melted and became as water.” The demoralisation of Israel was a suitable penalty for their assumption, quite apart... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEBARIM — i.e., the crevices, or ravines. A short distance below Ai the road passes the head of steep glens, which open into the plain of Jordan. IN THE GOING DOWN — _i.e.,_ until they escaped into these ravines.... [ Continue Reading ]
JOSHUA RENT HIS CLOTHES... — The words of Joshua and his behaviour on this occasion are consistent with all that we read of him, and confirm the notion that he was not a man of a naturally daring and adventurous spirit, but inclined to distrust his own powers; and yet utterly indomitable and unflinc... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CANAANITES... SHALL ENVIRON US ROUND. — A thing extremely probable in itself, apart from the supernatural character of the invasion.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE LIEST THOU THUS UPON THY FACE? — “Why is this, that _thou_ art fallen upon thy face? Israel hath sinned.” The pronoun “thou” is emphatic.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE ALSO TRANSGRESSED MY COVENANT. — The law is again brought prominently forward in this scene. “The words of the covenant, the ten commandments,” are first of all a pledge that Jehovah is the God of Israel. “I am Jehovah, thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt.” And He brought th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TRIBE WHICH THE LORD TAKETH. — There is nothing in the language of the passage, when closely considered, which would lead us to suppose that the discovery of the criminal was by casting lots. The parallel passage — viz., the selection of King Saul from the tribes of Israel (1 Samuel 10:20) — sho... [ Continue Reading ]
(14-18) In the morning therefore ye shall be brought. — That is, _brought near,_ or _presented._ The word used here, and throughout the passage, is the same that is commonly used for the presentation of an offering.... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE... GLORY TO THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, AND MAKE CONFESSION UNTO HIM; AND TELL ME. — We can hardly read these words of Joshua without being reminded of his great Antitype. In _New_ Testament language, to tell Joshua is to “tell Jesus “ — the only way in which confession of sin can bring glory. Josh... [ Continue Reading ]
A GOODLY BABYLONISH GARMENT. — Literally, _A certain goodly mantle of Shinar._ I COVETED THEM. — The very word employed, not only in the tenth commandment (Deuteronomy 5:21), but also in Deuteronomy 7:25, the passage which forbids Israel to desire the spoils of idolatry. This coincidence of terms m... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LAID THEM OUT BEFORE THE LORD. — The silver and the gold, by His order, should have been brought into His treasury (Joshua 6:19). The spoils of Canaan _might_ have been consecrated as holiness to Jehovah. But in this instance the spoil of Jericho had become the sin of Israel, and it must therefo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS SONS, AND HIS DAUGHTERS, AND HIS OXEN, AND HIS ASSES, AND HIS SHEEP, AND HIS TENT, AND ALL THAT HE HAD. — All were evidently destroyed together (comp. Joshua 22:20). For any other sin but this, Achan must have suffered alone. “The children shall not be put to death for the fathers.” But in t... [ Continue Reading ]