mh_parser/vol_split/6 - Joshua/Chapter 6.xml

<div2 id="Jos.vii" n="vii" next="Jos.viii" prev="Jos.vi" progress="2.82%" title="Chapter VI">
<h2 id="Jos.vii-p0.1">J O S H U A</h2>
<h3 id="Jos.vii-p0.2">CHAP. VI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Jos.vii-p1">Joshua opened the campaign with the siege of
Jericho, a city which could not trust so much to the courage of its
people as to act offensively, and to send out its forces to oppose
Israel's landing and encamping, but trusted so much to the strength
of its walls as to stand upon its defence, and not to surrender, or
desire conditions of peace. Now here we have the story of the
taking of it, I. The directions and assurances which the captain of
the Lord's host gave concerning it, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.1-Josh.6.5" parsed="|Josh|6|1|6|5" passage="Jos 6:1-5">ver. 1-5</scripRef>. II. The trial of the people's
patient obedience in walking round the city six days, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.6-Josh.6.14" parsed="|Josh|6|6|6|14" passage="Jos 6:6-14">ver. 6-14</scripRef>. III. The wonderful
delivery of it into their hands the seventh day, with a solemn
charge to them to use it as a devoted thing, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.15-Josh.6.21 Bible:Josh.6.24" parsed="|Josh|6|15|6|21;|Josh|6|24|0|0" passage="Jos 6:15-21,24">ver. 15-21 and 24</scripRef>. IV. The preservation
of Rahab and her relations, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.22-Josh.6.23 Bible:Josh.6.25" parsed="|Josh|6|22|6|23;|Josh|6|25|0|0" passage="Jos 6:22,23,25">ver.
22, 23, 25</scripRef>. V. A curse pronounced upon the man that
should dare to rebuild this city, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.26-Josh.6.27" parsed="|Josh|6|26|6|27" passage="Jos 6:26,27">ver. 26, 27</scripRef>. An abstract of this story we
find among the trophies of faith, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.30" parsed="|Heb|11|30|0|0" passage="Heb 11:30">Heb. xi. 30</scripRef>. "By faith the walls of Jericho
fell down, after they were compassed about seven days."</p>
<scripCom id="Jos.vii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6" parsed="|Josh|6|0|0|0" passage="Jos 6" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Jos.vii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.1-Josh.6.5" parsed="|Josh|6|1|6|5" passage="Jos 6:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Josh.6.1-Josh.6.5">
<h4 id="Jos.vii-p1.9">The Siege of Jericho. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p1.10">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jos.vii-p2">1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of
the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.   2
And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p2.1">Lord</span> said unto Joshua, See,
I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof,
<i>and</i> the mighty men of valour.   3 And ye shall compass
the city, all <i>ye</i> men of war, <i>and</i> go round about the
city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.   4 And seven priests
shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the
seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests
shall blow with the trumpets.   5 And it shall come to pass,
that when they make a long <i>blast</i> with the ram's horn,
<i>and</i> when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people
shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall
down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before
him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p3">We have here a contest between God and the
men of Jericho, and their different resolutions, upon which it is
easy to say whose word shall prevail.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p4">I. Jericho resolves Israel shall <i>not</i>
be its master, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.1" parsed="|Josh|6|1|0|0" passage="Jos 6:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>.
It was <i>straitly shut up, because of the children of Israel.</i>
It <i>did shut up, and it was shut up</i> (so it is in the margin);
it <i>did shut up</i> itself, being strongly fortified both by art
and nature, and it <i>was shut up</i> by the obstinacy and
resolution of the inhabitants, who agreed never to surrender nor so
much as sound a parley; none went out as deserters or to treat of
peace, nor were any admitted in to offer peace. Thus were they
infatuated, and their hearts hardened to their own destruction—the
miserable case and character of all those that <i>strengthen
themselves against the Almighty,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.15.25" parsed="|Job|15|25|0|0" passage="Job 15:25">Job xv. 25</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p5">II. God resolves Israel <i>shall</i> be its
master, and that quickly, The captain of the Lord's host, here
called <i>Jehovah,</i> taking notice how strongly Jericho was
fortified and how strictly guarded, and knowing Joshua's thoughts
and cares about reducing it, and perhaps his fears of a disgrace
there and of stumbling at the threshold, gave him here all the
assurance he could desire of success (<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.2" parsed="|Josh|6|2|0|0" passage="Jos 6:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): <i>See, I have given into thy
hand Jericho.</i> Not, "<i>I will do it,</i> but, <i>I have done
it;</i> it is all thy own, as sure as if it were already in thy
possession." It was designed that this city, being the first-fruits
of Canaan, should be entirely devoted to God, and that neither
Joshua nor Israel should ever be one mite the richer for it, and
yet it is here said to be <i>given into their hand;</i> for we must
reckon that most our own which we have an opportunity of honouring
God with and employing in his service. Now. 1. The captain of the
Lord's host gives directions how the city should be besieged. No
trenches are to be opened, no batteries erected, nor battering rams
drawn up, nor any military preparations made; but the ark of God
must be carried by the priests round the city once a day for six
days together, and seven times the seventh day, attended by the men
of war in silence, the priests all the while blowing with trumpets
of rams' horns, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.3-Josh.6.4" parsed="|Josh|6|3|6|4" passage="Jos 6:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3,
4</scripRef>. This was all they were to do. 2. He assures them that
on the seventh day before night they should, without fail, be
masters of the town. Up on a signal given, they must all shout, and
immediately the wall should fall down, which would not only expose
the inhabitants, but so dispirit them that they would not be able
to make any resistance, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.5" parsed="|Josh|6|5|0|0" passage="Jos 6:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. God appointed this way, (1.) To magnify his own
power, that he might be <i>exalted in his own strength</i>
(<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.21.13" parsed="|Ps|21|13|0|0" passage="Ps 21:13">Ps. xxi. 13</scripRef>), not in the
strength of instruments. God would hereby yet further make bare his
own almighty arm for the encouragement of Israel and the terror and
confusion of the Canaanites. (2.) To put an honour upon his ark,
the instituted token of his presence, and to give a reason for the
laws by which the people were obliged to look upon it with the most
profound veneration and respect. When, long after this, the ark was
brought into the camp without orders from God, it was looked upon
as a profanation of it, and the people paid dearly for their
presumption, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.4.3" parsed="|1Sam|4|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 4:3">1 Sam. iv. 3</scripRef>,
&amp;c. But now that it was done by the divine appointment it was
an honour to the ark of God, and a great encouragement to the faith
of Israel. (3.) It was likewise to put honour upon the priests, who
were appointed upon this occasion to carry the ark and sound the
trumpets. Ordinarily the priests were excused from war, but that
this privilege, with other honours and powers that the law had
given them, might not be grudged them, in this service they are
principally employed, and so the people are made sensible what
blessings they were to the public and how well worthy of all the
advantages conferred upon them. (4.) It was to try the faith,
obedience, and patience, of the people, to try whether they would
observe a precept which to human policy seemed foolish to obey and
believe a promise which in human probability seemed impossible to
be performed. They were also proved whether they could patiently
bear the reproaches of their enemies and patiently wait for the
salvation of the Lord. Thus by faith, not by force, the walls of
Jericho fell down. (5.) It was to encourage the hope of Israel with
reference to the remaining difficulties that were before them. That
suggestion of the evil spies that Canaan could never be conquered
because the cities were <i>walled up to heaven</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.28" parsed="|Deut|1|28|0|0" passage="De 1:28">Deut. i. 28</scripRef>) would by this be for ever
silenced. The strongest and highest walls cannot hold out against
Omnipotence; they needed not to fight, and therefore needed not to
fear, because God fought for them.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jos.vii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.6-Josh.6.16" parsed="|Josh|6|6|6|16" passage="Jos 6:6-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Josh.6.6-Josh.6.16">
<p class="passage" id="Jos.vii-p6">6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests,
and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven
priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p6.1">Lord</span>.   7 And he said unto the
people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed
pass on before the ark of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p6.2">Lord</span>.
  8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the
people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams'
horns passed on before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p6.3">Lord</span>, and
blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p6.4">Lord</span> followed them.   9 And the armed
men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the
rereward came after the ark, <i>the priests</i> going on, and
blowing with the trumpets.   10 And Joshua had commanded the
people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your
voice, neither shall <i>any</i> word proceed out of your mouth,
until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.   11 So
the ark of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p6.5">Lord</span> compassed the
city, going about <i>it</i> once: and they came into the camp, and
lodged in the camp.   12 And Joshua rose early in the morning,
and the priests took up the ark of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p6.6">Lord</span>.   13 And seven priests bearing seven
trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p6.7">Lord</span> went on continually, and blew with the
trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came
after the ark of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p6.8">Lord</span>, <i>the
priests</i> going on, and blowing with the trumpets.   14 And
the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the
camp: so they did six days.   15 And it came to pass on the
seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and
compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that
day they compassed the city seven times.   16 And it came to
pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets,
Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p6.9">Lord</span> hath given you the city.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p7">We have here an account of the cavalcade
which Israel made about Jericho, the orders Joshua gave concerning
it, as he had received them from the Lord and their punctual
observance of these orders. We do not find that he gave the people
the express assurances God had given him that he would deliver the
city into their hands; but he tried whether they would obey orders
with a general confidence that it would end well, and we find them
very observant both of God and Joshua.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p8">I. Wherever the ark went the people
attended it, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.9" parsed="|Josh|6|9|0|0" passage="Jos 6:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>.
The armed men went before it to clear the way, not thinking it any
disparagement to them, though they were men of war, to be pioneers
to the ark of God. If any obstacle should be found in crossing the
roads that led to the city (which they must do in walking round it)
they would remove it; if any opposition should be made by the
enemy, they would encounter it, that the priests' march with the
ark might be easy and safe. It is an honour to the greatest men to
do any good office to the ark and to serve the interests of
religion in their country. The <i>rereward,</i> either another body
of armed men, or Dan's squadron, which marched last through the
wilderness, or, as some think, the multitude of the people who were
not armed or disciplined for war (as many of them as would)
followed the ark, to testify their respect to it, to grace the
solemnity, and to be witnesses of what was done. Every faithful
zealous Israelite would be willing to undergo the same fatigues and
run the same hazard with the priests that bore the ark.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p9">II. Seven priests went immediately before
the ark, having trumpets in their hands, with which they were
continually sounding, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.4-Josh.6.5 Bible:Josh.6.9 Bible:Josh.6.13" parsed="|Josh|6|4|6|5;|Josh|6|9|0|0;|Josh|6|13|0|0" passage="Jos 6:4,5,9,13"><i>v.</i>
4, 5, 9, 13</scripRef>. The priests were God's ministers, and thus
in his name, 1. They proclaimed war with the Canaanites, and so
stuck a terror upon them; for by terrors upon their spirits they
were to be conquered and subdued. Thus God's ministers, by the
solemn declarations of his wrath against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, must blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an
alarm in the holy mountain, that the sinners in Zion may be afraid.
They are God's heralds to denounce war against all those that go on
still in their trespasses, but say, "We shall have peace, though we
go on." 2. They proclaimed God's gracious presence with Israel, and
so put life and courage into them. It was appointed that when they
went to war the priests should encourage them with the assurance of
God's presence with them, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.2-Deut.20.4" parsed="|Deut|20|2|20|4" passage="De 20:2-4">Deut. xx.
2-4</scripRef>. And particularly their blowing with trumpets was to
be a sign to the people that they should be remembered before the
Lord Their God in the day of battle, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.10.9" parsed="|Num|10|9|0|0" passage="Nu 10:9">Num. x. 9</scripRef>. It encouraged Abijah, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.13.12" parsed="|2Chr|13|12|0|0" passage="2Ch 13:12">2 Chron. xiii. 12</scripRef>. Thus God's
ministers, by sounding the Jubilee trumpet of the everlasting
gospel, which proclaims liberty and victory, must encourage the
good soldiers of Jesus Christ in their spiritual warfare.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p10">III. The trumpets they used were not those
silver trumpets which were appointed to be made for their ordinary
service, but trumpets of rams' horns, bored hollow for the purpose,
as some think. These trumpets were of the basest matter, dullest
sound, and least show, that the excellency of the power might be of
God. Thus by the foolishness of preaching, fitly compared to the
sounding of these rams' horns, the devil's kingdom is thrown down;
and the <i>weapons of our warfare,</i> though they are not carnal
nor seem to a carnal eye likely to bring any thing to pass, are yet
<i>mighty through God to the pulling down of strong-holds,</i>
<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.10.4-2Cor.10.5" parsed="|2Cor|10|4|10|5" passage="2Co 10:4,5">2 Cor. x. 4, 5</scripRef>. The word
here is <i>trumpets of Jobel,</i> that is, such trumpets as they
used to blow withal in the year of jubilee; so many interpreters
understand it, as signifying the complete liberty to which Israel
was now brought, and the bringing of the land of Canaan into the
hands of its just and rightful owners.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p11">IV. All the people were commanded to be
silent, not to speak a word, nor make any noise (<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.10" parsed="|Josh|6|10|0|0" passage="Jos 6:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), that they might the more
carefully attend to the sound of the sacred trumpets, which they
were now to look upon as the voice of God among them; and it does
not become us to speak when God is speaking. It likewise intimates
their reverent expectation of the event. <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Zech.2.13" parsed="|Zech|2|13|0|0" passage="Zec 2:13">Zech. ii. 13</scripRef>, <i>Be silent, O all flesh,
before the Lord.</i> <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.14.14" parsed="|Exod|14|14|0|0" passage="Ex 14:14">Exod. xiv.
14</scripRef>, <i>God shall fight, and you shall hold your
peace.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p12">V. They were to do this once a day for six
days together and seven times the seventh day, and they did so,
<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.14-Josh.6.15" parsed="|Josh|6|14|6|15" passage="Jos 6:14,15"><i>v.</i> 14, 15</scripRef>. God
could have caused the walls of Jericho to fall upon the first
surrounding of them, but they must go round them thirteen times
before they fall, that they might be kept waiting patiently for the
Lord. Though they had lately come into Canaan, and their time was
very precious (for they had a great deal of work before them), yet
they must linger so many days about Jericho, seeming to do nothing,
nor to make any progress in their business. As promised
deliverances must be expected in God's way, so they must be
expected in his time. <i>He that believes does not make haste,</i>
not more haste than God would have him make. <i>Go yet seven
times,</i> before any thing hopeful appears, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.18.43" parsed="|1Kgs|18|43|0|0" passage="1Ki 18:43">1 Kings xviii. 43</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p13">VI. One of these days must needs be a
sabbath day, and the Jews say that it was the last, but this is not
certain; however, if he that appointed them to rest on the other
sabbath days appointed them to walk on this, that was sufficient to
justify them in it; he never intended to bind himself by his own
laws, but that when he pleased he might dispense with them. The
impotent man went upon this principle when he argued (<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:John.5.11" parsed="|John|5|11|0|0" passage="Joh 5:11">John v. 11</scripRef>), <i>He that made me
whole</i> (and therefore has a divine power) <i>said unto me, Take
up thy bed.</i> And, in this case here, it was an honour to the
sabbath day, by which our time is divided into weeks, that just
seven days were to be spent in this work, and seven priests were
employed to sound seven trumpets, this number being, on this
occasion, as well as many others, made remarkable, in remembrance
of the six day's work of creation and the seventh day's rest from
it. And, besides, the law of the sabbath forbids our own work,
which is servile and secular, but this which they did was a
religious act. It is certainly no breach of the sabbath rest to do
the sabbath work, for the sake of which the rest was instituted;
and what is the sabbath work but to attend the ark in all its
motions?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p14">VII. They continued to do this during the
time appointed, and seven times the seventh day, though they saw
not any effect of it, believing that <i>at the end the vision would
speak and not lie,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Hab.2.3" parsed="|Hab|2|3|0|0" passage="Hab 2:3">Hab. ii.
3</scripRef>. If we persevere in the way of duty, we shall lose
nothing by it in the long run. It is probable they walked at such a
distance from the walls as to be out of the reach of the enemies'
arrows and out of the hearing of their scoffs. We may suppose the
oddness of the thing did at first amuse the besieged, but by the
seventh day they had grown secure, feeling no harm from that which
perhaps they looked upon as an enchantment. Probably they bantered
the besiegers, as those mentioned in <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.4.2" parsed="|Neh|4|2|0|0" passage="Ne 4:2">Neh. iv. 2</scripRef>, "<i>What do these feeble Jews?</i>
Is this the people we thought so formidable? Are these their
methods of attack?" Thus they cried peace and safety, that the
destruction might be the more terrible when it came. <i>Wicked
men</i> (says bishop Hall) <i>think God in jest when he is
preparing for their judgment;</i> but they will be convinced of
their mistake when it is too late.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p15">VIII. At last they were to give a shout,
and did so, and immediately the walls fell, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.16" parsed="|Josh|6|16|0|0" passage="Jos 6:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. This was a shout for mastery, a
triumphant shout; the <i>shout of a king is among them,</i>
<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.23.21" parsed="|Num|23|21|0|0" passage="Nu 23:21">Num. xxiii. 21</scripRef>. This was a
shout of faith; they believed that the walls of Jericho would fall,
and by this faith the walls were thrown down. It was a shot of
prayer, an echo to the sound of the trumpets which proclaimed the
promise that God would remember them; with one accord, as one man,
they cry to heaven for help, and help comes in. Some allude to this
to show that we must never expect a complete victory over our own
corruptions till the very evening of our last day, and then we
shall shout in triumph over them, <i>when we come to the number and
measure of our perfection,</i> as bishop Hall expresses it. <i>A
good heart</i> (says he) <i>groans under the sense of his
infirmities, fain would be rid of them, and strives and prays, but,
when all is done, until the end of the seventh day it cannot
be;</i> then judgment shall be brought forth unto victory. And at
the end of time, when our Lord shall descend from heaven with a
shout, and the sound of a trumpet, Satan's kingdom shall be
completely ruined, and not till then, when all opposing rule,
principality, and power, shall be effectually and eternally put
down.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jos.vii-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.17-Josh.6.27" parsed="|Josh|6|17|6|27" passage="Jos 6:17-27" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Josh.6.17-Josh.6.27">
<h4 id="Jos.vii-p15.4">Jericho Destroyed; Preservation of
Rahab. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p15.5">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jos.vii-p16">17 And the city shall be accursed, <i>even</i>
it, and all that <i>are</i> therein, to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p16.1">Lord</span>: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and
all that <i>are</i> with her in the house, because she hid the
messengers that we sent.   18 And ye, in any wise keep
<i>yourselves</i> from the accursed thing, lest ye make
<i>yourselves</i> accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and
make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.   19 But all
the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, <i>are</i>
consecrated unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p16.2">Lord</span>: they
shall come into the treasury of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p16.3">Lord</span>.   20 So the people shouted when
<i>the priests</i> blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass,
when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people
shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that
the people went up into the city, every man straight before him,
and they took the city.   21 And they utterly destroyed all
that <i>was</i> in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and
ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.   22 But
Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go
into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all
that she hath, as ye sware unto her.   23 And the young men
that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and
her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they
brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of
Israel.   24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that
<i>was</i> therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels
of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p16.4">Lord</span>.   25 And Joshua saved
Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that
she had; and she dwelleth in Israel <i>even</i> unto this day;
because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out
Jericho.   26 And Joshua adjured <i>them</i> at that time,
saying, Cursed <i>be</i> the man before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p16.5">Lord</span>, that riseth up and buildeth this city
Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and
in his youngest <i>son</i> shall he set up the gates of it.  
27 So the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.vii-p16.6">Lord</span> was with Joshua; and
his fame was <i>noised</i> throughout all the country.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p17">The people had religiously observed the
orders given them concerning the besieging of Jericho, and now at
length Joshua had told them (<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.16" parsed="|Josh|6|16|0|0" passage="Jos 6:16"><i>v.</i>
16</scripRef>), "<i>The Lord hath given you the city,</i> enter and
take possession." Accordingly in these verses we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p18">I. The rules they were to observe in taking
possession. God gives it to them, and therefore may direct it to
what uses and intents, and clog it with what provisos and
limitations he thinks fit. It is given to them to be devoted to
God, as the first and perhaps the worst of all the cities of
Canaan. 1. The city must be burnt, and all the lives in it
sacrificed without mercy to the justice of God. All this they knew
was included in those words, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.17" parsed="|Josh|6|17|0|0" passage="Jos 6:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. The city shall be a <i>cherem,</i> a devoted thing,
at and all therein, to the Lord. No life in it might be ransomed
upon any terms; they must all be surely <i>put to death,</i>
<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.29" parsed="|Lev|27|29|0|0" passage="Le 27:29">Lev. xxvii. 29</scripRef>. So he
appoints from whom as creatures they had received their lives, and
to whom as sinners they had forfeited them; and who may dispute his
sentence? <i>Is God unrighteous, who</i> thus <i>taketh
vengeance?</i> God forbid we should entertain such a thought! There
was more of God seen in the taking of Jericho than of any other of
the cities of Canaan, and therefore that must be more than any
other devoted to him. And the severe usage of this city would
strike a terror upon all the rest and melt their hearts yet more
before Israel. Only, when this severity is ordered, Rahab and her
family are excepted: <i>She shall live and all that are with
her.</i> She had distinguished herself from her neighbours by the
kindness she showed to Israel, and therefore shall be distinguished
from them by the speedy return of that kindness. 2. All the
treasure of it, the money and plate and valuable goods, must be
consecrated to the service of the tabernacle, and brought into the
stock of dedicated things, the Jews say because the city was taken
on the sabbath day. Thus God would be honoured by the beautifying
and enriching of his tabernacle; thus preparation was made for the
extraordinary expenses of his service; and thus the Israelites were
taught not to set their hearts upon worldly wealth nor to aim at
heaping up abundance of it for themselves. God had promised them a
land <i>flowing with milk and honey,</i> not a land abounding with
silver and gold; for he would have them live comfortably in it,
that they might serve him cheerfully, but not covet either to trade
with distant countries or to hoard for after times. He would
likewise have them to reckon themselves enriched in the enriching
of the tabernacle, and to think that which was laid up in God's
house as truly their honour and wealth as if it had been laid up in
their own. 3. A particular caution is given them to take heed of
meddling with the forbidden spoil; for what was devoted to God, if
they offered to appropriate it to their own use, would prove
accursed to them; therefore (<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.18" parsed="|Josh|6|18|0|0" passage="Jos 6:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>) "<i>In any wise keep yourselves from the accursed
thing;</i> you will find yourselves inclined to reach towards it,
but check yourselves, and frighten yourselves from having any thing
to do with it." He speaks as if he foresaw the sin of Achan, which
we have an account of in the next chapter, when he gives this
reason for the caution, <i>lest you make the camp of Israel a curse
and trouble it,</i> as it proved that Achan did.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p19">II. The entrance that was opened to them
into the city by the sudden fall of the walls, or at least that
part of the wall over against which they then were when they gave
the shout (<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.20" parsed="|Josh|6|20|0|0" passage="Jos 6:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>):
<i>The wall fell down flat,</i> and probably killed abundance of
people, the guards that stood sentinel upon it, or others that
crowded about it, to look at the Israelites that were walking
round. We read of thousands killed by the fall of a wall, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.20.30" parsed="|1Kgs|20|30|0|0" passage="1Ki 20:30">1 Kings xx. 30</scripRef>. That which they
trusted to for defence proved their destruction. The sudden fall of
the wall, no doubt, put the inhabitants into such a consternation
that they had no strength nor spirit to make any resistance, but
they became an easy prey to the sword of Israel, and saw to how
little purpose it was to shut their gates against a people that had
<i>the Lord on the head of them,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Mic.2.13" parsed="|Mic|2|13|0|0" passage="Mic 2:13">Mic. ii. 13</scripRef>. Note, The God of heaven easily
can, and certainly will, break down all the opposing power of his
and his church's enemies. Gates of brass and bars of iron are,
before him, but as straw and rotten wood, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.45.1-Isa.45.2" parsed="|Isa|45|1|45|2" passage="Isa 45:1,2">Isa. xlv. 1, 2</scripRef>. <i>Who will bring me into
the strong city? Wilt not thou, O God?</i> <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.60.9-Ps.60.10" parsed="|Ps|60|9|60|10" passage="Ps 60:9,10">Ps. lx. 9, 10</scripRef>. Thus shall Satan's kingdom
fall, nor shall any prosper that harden themselves against God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p20">III. The execution of the orders given
concerning this devoted city. All that breathed were put to the
sword; not only the men that were found in arms, but the women, and
children, and old people. Though they cried for quarter, and begged
ever so earnestly for their lives, there was no room for
compassion, pity must be forgotten: they <i>utterly destroyed
all,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.21" parsed="|Josh|6|21|0|0" passage="Jos 6:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. If
they had not had a divine warrant under the seal of miracles for
this execution, it could not have been justified, nor can it
justify the like now, when we are sure no such warrant can be
produced. But, being appointed by the righteous Judge of heaven and
earth to do it, who is not unrighteous in taking vengeance, they
are to be applauded in doing it as the faithful ministers of his
justice. Work for God was then bloody work; and <i>cursed was he
that did it deceitfully, keeping back his sword from blood,</i>
<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.48.10" parsed="|Jer|48|10|0|0" passage="Jer 48:10">Jer. xlviii. 10</scripRef>. But the
spirit of the gospel is very different, for Christ came not to
destroy men's lives but to save them, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.9.56" parsed="|Luke|9|56|0|0" passage="Lu 9:56">Luke ix. 56</scripRef>. Christ's victories were of
another nature. The cattle were put to death with the owners, as
additional sacrifices to the divine justice. The cattle of the
Israelites, when slain at the altar, were accepted as sacrifices
<i>for</i> them, but the cattle of these Canaanites were required
to be slain as sacrifices <i>with</i> them, for their iniquity was
not to be purged with sacrifice and offering: both were for the
glory of God. 2. The city was <i>burnt with fire, and all that was
in it,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.24" parsed="|Josh|6|24|0|0" passage="Jos 6:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>.
The Israelites, perhaps, when they had taken Jericho, a large and
well-built city, hoped they should have that for their
head-quarters; but God will have them yet to dwell in tents, and
therefore fires this nest, lest they should nestle in it. 3. All
the silver and gold, and all those vessels which were capable of
being purified by fire, were brought into the treasury of the house
of the Lord; not that he needed it but that he would be honoured by
it, as the Lord of hosts, of their hosts in particular, the God
that gave the victory and therefore might demand the spoil, either
the whole, as here, or, as sometimes, a tenth, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:Heb.7.4" parsed="|Heb|7|4|0|0" passage="Heb 7:4">Heb. vii. 4</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p21">IV. The preservation of Rahab the harlot,
or inn-keeper, who <i>perished not with those that believed
not,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.31" parsed="|Heb|11|31|0|0" passage="Heb 11:31">Heb. xi. 31</scripRef>. The
public faith was engaged for her safety by the two spies, who acted
therein as public persons; and therefore, though the hurry they
were in at the taking of the town was no doubt very great, yet
Joshua took effectual care for her preservation. The same persons
that she had secured were employed to secure her, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.22-Josh.6.23" parsed="|Josh|6|22|6|23" passage="Jos 6:22,23"><i>v.</i> 22, 23</scripRef>. They were best
able to do it who knew her and her house, and they were fittest to
do it, that it might appear it was for the sake of her kindness to
them that she was thus distinguished and had her life given her for
a prey. All her kindred were saved with her; like Noah she
<i>believed to the saving of her house;</i> and thus faith in
Christ <i>brings salvation to the house,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Acts.16.31" parsed="|Acts|16|31|0|0" passage="Ac 16:31">Acts xvi. 31</scripRef>. Some ask how her house, which
is said to have been <i>upon the wall</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.2.15" parsed="|Josh|2|15|0|0" passage="Jos 2:15"><i>ch.</i> ii. 15</scripRef>), escaped falling with the
wall; we are sure it did escape, for she and her relations were
safe in it, either though it joined so near to the wall as to be
said to be <i>upon it,</i> yet it was so far off as not to fall
either with the wall or under it; or, rather, that part of the wall
on which her house stood fell not. Now being preserved alive, 1.
She was left for some time without the camp to be purified from the
Gentile superstition, which she was to renounce, and to be prepared
for her admission as a proselyte. 2. She was in due time
incorporated with the church of Israel, and she and her posterity
dwelt in Israel, and her family was remarkable long after. We find
her the wife of Salmon, prince of Judah, mother of Boaz, and named
among the ancestors of our Saviour, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:Matt.1.5" parsed="|Matt|1|5|0|0" passage="Mt 1:5">Matt. i. 5</scripRef>. Having received Israelites in the
name of Israelites, she had an Israelite's reward. Bishop Pierson
observes that Joshua's saving Rahab the harlot, and admitting her
into Israel, were a figure of Christ's receiving into his kingdom,
and entertaining there, the publicans and the harlots, <scripRef id="Jos.vii-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:Matt.21.31" parsed="|Matt|21|31|0|0" passage="Mt 21:31">Matt. xxi. 31</scripRef>. Or it may be applied
to the conversion of the Gentiles.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p22">V. Jericho is condemned to a perpetual
desolation, and a curse pronounced upon the man that at any time
hereafter should offer to rebuild it (<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.26" parsed="|Josh|6|26|0|0" passage="Jos 6:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>): <i>Joshua adjured them,</i>
that is, the elders and people of Israel, not only by their own
consent, obliging themselves and their posterity never to rebuild
this city, but by the divine appointment, God himself having
forbidden it under the severe penalty here annexed. 1. God would
hereby show the weight of a divine curse; where it rests there is
no contending with it nor getting from under it; it brings ruin
without remedy or repair. 2. He would have it to remain in its
ruins a standing monument of his wrath against the Canaanites when
the measure of their iniquity was full, and of his mercy to his
people when the time had come for their settlement in Canaan. The
desolations of their enemies were witnesses of his favour to them,
and would upbraid them with their ingratitude to that God who had
done so much for them. The situation of the city was very pleasant,
and probably its nearness to Jordan was an advantage to it, which
would tempt men to build upon the same spot; but they are here told
it is at their peril if they do it. Men build for their posterity,
but he that builds Jericho shall have no posterity to enjoy what he
builds; his eldest son shall die when he begins the work, and if he
take not warning by that stroke to desist, but will go on
presumptuously, the finishing of his work shall be attended with
the funeral of his youngest, and we must suppose all the rest cut
off between. This curse, not being a <i>curse causeless,</i> did
come upon that man who long after rebuilded Jericho (<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.16.34" parsed="|1Kgs|16|34|0|0" passage="1Ki 16:34">1 Kings xvi. 34</scripRef>), but we are not to
think it made the place ever the worse when it was built, or
brought any hurt to those that inhabited it. We find Jericho
afterwards graced with the presence, not only of those two great
prophets Elijah and Elisha, but of our blessed Saviour himself,
<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.18.35 Bible:Luke.19.1 Bible:Matt.20.29" parsed="|Luke|18|35|0|0;|Luke|19|1|0|0;|Matt|20|29|0|0" passage="Lu 18:35,19:1,Mt 20:29">Luke xviii. 35; xix. 1;
Matt. xx. 29</scripRef>. Note, It is a dangerous thing to attempt
the building up of that which God will have to be destroyed. See
<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:Mal.1.4" parsed="|Mal|1|4|0|0" passage="Mal 1:4">Mal. i. 4</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.vii-p23"><i>Lastly,</i> All this magnified Joshua
and raised his reputation (<scripRef id="Jos.vii-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.27" parsed="|Josh|6|27|0|0" passage="Jos 6:27"><i>v.</i>
27</scripRef>); it made him not only acceptable to Israel, but
formidable to the Canaanites, because it appeared that God was with
him of a truth: the Word of the Lord was with him, so the Chaldee,
even Christ himself, the same that was with Moses. Nothing can more
raise a man's reputation, nor make him appear more truly great,
than to have the evidences of God's presence with him.</p>
</div></div2>