CONTENTS
The sacred historian prosecutes in this Chapter the subject of
Israel's contest with the remaining Canaanites, after the death of
Joshua. The chapter opens in the enquiry of Israel of the Lord, who
should go before them to the subjugation and destruction of their
enemies. The Lord's answer... [ Continue Reading ]
If the Reader regards the book of the Judges merely as an history,
still he will discover in it sufficient to demonstrate the
faithfulness of God to his promises. But, if he reads it also with a
spiritual reference to the church of God shadowing forth beside the
history some greater events connected... [ Continue Reading ]
It should seem that, as this verse is inclosed in a parenthesis, it
only meant to notice what had been said before. Probably Jerusalem was
taken in the wars of Joshua. See Joshua 10:1, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
Judah, under the banner of the Lord, goeth on victoriously. Reader!
how profitable is it ever to keep in view His arm, in whom alone we
are victorious? If God be for us, who shall be against us? That is a
sweet Scripture, and a sweet promise, Isaiah 54:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
We had this interesting account before, in the preceding book of
Joshua, to which I therefore refer the Reader. See Joshua 15:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth not this account of the Kerites being with Judah throw some light
upon that part of Israel's history, which we read respecting them in a
period distant from this more than thirty years? See Numbers 10:29,
etc. The Kerites were of this man's family.... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we trace the want of faith, and consequently the want of courage,
in Israel. What were the chariots of iron, when God fought the battles
of Israel? But is not this, in a spiritual sense, the very case of
Israel now? The faith of Peter could prompt him to attempt walking on
the water, to come to... [ Continue Reading ]
Though Joshua, we are told, had given this place to Caleb before, yet
the possession of it was probably only now. See Joshua 14:13. And were
not the victories of Jesus the same? Though Jehovah had given him the
heathen for his inheritance, as well as to raise up the tribes of
Jacob; yet Jesus had to... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have another example of unbelief, and consequently of culpable
timidity. The Lord had expressly commanded that there should be no
affinity, nor treaty, with the Canaanites. But alas! Israel forgets
the Lord's precept, and the Canaanites dwell in the land. Reader! Is
it not too often so, with... [ Continue Reading ]
The success of the house of Joseph is particularly marked in the cause
of it. The Lord was with them. In the Chaldee paraphrase of this
passage it is said, the word of Jehovah was with them, a well known
title of Jesus. And in this sense how very precious it is to see the
Lord Jesus with his people,... [ Continue Reading ]
Bethel is a memorable name in scripture, ever since the Patriarch
Jacob made it so. All true believers in Jesus know this name, and can
tell, as Jacob did, what Bethel visits mean. Reader! was not that
spot, that place, a true Bethel, or house of God to your soul, when
the visions of God first began... [ Continue Reading ]
Is there not a spiritual illustration of this scripture? May we not,
without overstraining the passage, observe that the man, showing the
house of Joseph the way into the city, but afterwards departing to the
Hittites, and still preserving the original name of Luz, is a
representation of those who a... [ Continue Reading ]
I include all these verses within one view, because one general
observation suits the whole. We see in them the sad picture of
Israel's want of faith, and consequently want of courage. Had those
tribes trusted to the arm of God, they would not have feared the power
of man. Had they called to mind th... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS
SEE, my soul, in the history of Israel, what conflicts await the
believer after a work of grace is begun in the heart. Let not him that
putteth on the harness boast like him that putteth it off. Never,
until that we undress for the grave, can the soldiers in the holy army
of Jesus be sa... [ Continue Reading ]