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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J O S H U A</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. III.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter, and that which follows it, give us the history of
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Israel's passing through Jordan into Canaan, and a very memorable
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history it is. Long afterwards, they are told to remember what God did
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for them between Shittim (whence they decamped,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:1">ver. 1</A>)
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and Gilgal, where they next pitched,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+4:19,Mic+6:5"><I>ch.</I> iv. 19, Mic. vi. 5</A>,
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that they might know the righteousness of the Lord. By Joshua's order
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they marched up to the river's side,
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:1">ver. 1</A>),
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and then almighty power led them through it. They passed through the
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Red Sea unexpectedly, and in their flight by night, but they have
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notice some time before of their passing through Jordan, and their
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expectations raised.
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I. The people are directed to follow the ark,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:2-4">ver. 2-4</A>.
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II. They are commanded to sanctify themselves,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:5">ver. 5</A>.
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III. The priests with the ark are ordered to lead the van,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:6">ver. 6</A>.
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IV. Joshua is magnified and made commander in chief,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:7,8">ver. 7, 8</A>.
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V. Public notice is given of what God is about to do for them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:9-13">ver. 9-13</A>.
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IV. The thing is done, Jordan is divided, and Israel brought safely
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through it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:14-17">ver. 14-17</A>.
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This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Jos3_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos3_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos3_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos3_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos3_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos3_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Preparation for Passing over the Jordan.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1451.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from
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Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel,
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and lodged there before they passed over.
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2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went
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through the host;
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3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of
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the covenant of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> your God, and the priests the Levites
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bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after
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it.
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4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two
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thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may
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know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed <I>this</I>
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way heretofore.
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5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to
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morrow the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> will do wonders among you.
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6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of
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the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up
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the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Rahab, in mentioning to the spies the <I>drying up of the Red Sea</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:10"><I>ch.</I> ii. 10</A>),
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the report of which terrified the Canaanites more than anything else,
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intimates that those on that side the water expected that Jordan, that
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great defence of their country, would in like manner give way to them.
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Whether the Israelites had any expectation of it does not appear. God
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often <I>did things for them which they looked not for,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+64:3">Isa. lxiv. 3</A>.
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Now here we are told,</P>
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<P>
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I. That they <I>came to Jordan and lodged there,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Though they were not yet told how they should pass the river, and were
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unprovided for the passing of it in any ordinary way, yet they went
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forward in faith, having been told
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+1:11"><I>ch.</I> i. 11</A>)
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that they should pass it. We must go on in the way of our duty though
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we foresee difficulties, trusting God to help us through them when we
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come to them. Let us proceed as far as we can, and depend on divine
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sufficiency for that which we find ourselves not sufficient for. In
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this march Joshua led them, and particular notice is taken of his early
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rising as there is afterwards upon other occasions
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+6:12,7:16,8:10"><I>ch.</I> vi. 12;
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vii. 16; viii. 10</A>),
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which intimates how little he loved his ease, how much he loved his
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business, and what care and pains he was willing to take in it. Those
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that would bring great things to pass must rise early. <I>Love not
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sleep, lest thou come to poverty.</I> Joshua herein set a good example
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to the officers under him, and taught them to rise early, and to all
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that are in public stations especially to attend continually to the
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duty of their place.</P>
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<P>
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II. That the people were directed to follow the ark. Officers were
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appointed to go through the host to give these directions
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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that every Israelite might know both what to do and what to depend
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upon.</P>
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<P>
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1. They might depend upon the ark to lead them; that is, upon God
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himself, of whose presence the ark was an instituted sign and token. It
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seems, the pillar of cloud and fire was removed, else that would have
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led them, unless we suppose that it now hovered over the ark and so
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they had a double guide: honour was put upon the ark, and a defence
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upon that glory. It is called here the <I>ark of the covenant of the
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Lord their God.</I> What greater encouragement could they have than
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this, that the Lord was their God, a God in covenant with them? Here
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was the <I>ark of the covenant;</I> if God be ours, we need not fear
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any evil. He was nigh to them, present with them, went before them:
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what could come amiss to those that were thus guided, thus guarded?
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Formerly the ark was carried in the midst of the camp, but now it went
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before them to <I>search out a resting-place</I> for them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+10:33">Num. x. 33</A>),
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and, as it were, to give them livery and seisin of the promised land,
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and put them in possession of it In the ark the tables of the law were,
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and over it the mercy-seat; for the divine law and grace reigning in
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the heart are the surest pledges of God's presence and favour, and
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those that would be led to the heavenly Canaan must take the law of God
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for their guide (<I>if thou wilt enter into life keep the
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commandments</I>) and have the great propitiation in their eye,
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<I>looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal
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life.</I></P>
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<P>
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2. They might depend upon the priests and Levites, who were appointed
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for that purpose to carry the ark before them. The work of ministers is
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to hold forth the word of life, and to take care of the administration
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of those ordinances which are the tokens of God's presence and the
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instruments of his power and grace; and herein they must go before the
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people of God in their way to heaven.</P>
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<P>
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3. The people must follow the ark: <I>Remove from your place and go
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after it,</I>
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(1.) As those that are resolved never to forsake it. Wherever God's
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ordinances are, there we must be; if they flit, we must remove and go
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after them.
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(2.) As those that are entirely satisfied in its guidance, that it will
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lead in the best way to the best end; and therefore, <I>Lord, I will
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follow thee whithersoever thou goest.</I> This must be all their car,
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to attend the motions of the ark, and follow it with an implicit faith.
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Thus must we walk after the rule of the word and the direction of the
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Spirit in every thing, so shall <I>peace be upon us,</I> as it now was
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upon the Israel of God. They must follow the priests as far as they
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carried the ark, but no further; so we must follow our ministers only
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as they follow Christ.</P>
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<P>
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4. In following the ark, they must <I>keep their distance,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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They must none of them come within a thousand yards of the ark.
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(1.) They must thus express their awful and reverent regard to that
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token of God's presence, lest its familiarity with them should breed
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contempt. This charge to them not to come near was agreeable to that
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dispensation of darkness, bondage, and terror: but we now through
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Christ have access with boldness.
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(2.) Thus it was made to appear that the ark was able to protect
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itself, and needed not to be guarded by the men of war, but was itself
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a guard to them. With what a noble defiance of the enemy did it leave
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all it its friends half a mile behind except the unarmed priests that
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carried it as perfectly sufficient for its own safety and theirs that
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followed it!
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(3.) Thus it was the better seen by those that were to be led by it:
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<I>That you may know the way by which you must go,</I> seeing it, as it
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were, chalked out or tracked by the ark. Had they been allowed to come
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near it, they would have surrounded it, and none would have had the
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sight of it but those that were close to it; but, as it was put at such
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a distance before them, they would all have the satisfaction of seeing
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it, and would be animated by the sight. And it was with good reason
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that this provision was made for their encouragement: <I>For you have
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not passed this way heretofore.</I> This had been the character of all
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their way through the wilderness, it was an untrodden path, but this
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especially through Jordan. While we are here we must expect and
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prepare for unusual events, to pass ways that we have not passed
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before, and much more when we go hence; our way through the <I>valley
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of the shadow of death</I> is a way we have not gone before, which
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makes it the more formidable. But, if we have the assurance of God's
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presence, we need not fear; that will furnish us with such strength as
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we never had when we come to do a work we never did.</P>
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<P>
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III. They were commanded to sanctify themselves, that they might be
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prepared to attend the ark; and with good reason: For <I>to-morrow the
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Lord will do wonders among you,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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See how magnificently he speaks of God's works: he <I>doeth
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wonders,</I> and is therefore to be adored, admired, and trusted in.
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See how intimately acquainted Joshua was with the divine counsels: he
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could tell before-hand what god would do, and when. See what
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preparation we must make to receive the discoveries of God's glory and
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the communications of his grace: we must sanctify ourselves. This we
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must do when we are to attend the ark, and God by it is about to do
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wonders among us; we must separate ourselves from all other cares,
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devote ourselves to God's honour, and <I>cleanse ourselves from all
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filthiness of flesh and spirit.</I> The people of Israel were now
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entering into the holy land, and therefore must sanctify themselves.
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God was about to give them uncommon instances of his favour, which by
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meditation and prayer they must compose their minds to a very careful
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observation of, that they might give God the glory, and take to
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themselves the comfort, of these appearances.</P>
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<P>
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IV. The priests were ordered to take up the ark and carry it <I>before
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the people,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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It was the Levites' work ordinarily to carry the ark,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+4:15">Num. iv. 15</A>.
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But on this great occasion the priests were ordered to do it. And they
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did as they were commanded, <I>took up the ark,</I> and did not think
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themselves disparaged, <I>went before the people,</I> and did not thing
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themselves exposed; the ark they carried was both their honour and
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their defence. And now we may suppose that prayer of Moses used, when
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the ark set forward
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+10:35">Num. x. 35</A>),
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<I>Rise up, Lord and let they enemies be scattered.</I> Magistrates are
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here instructed to stir up ministers to their work, and to make use of
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their authority for the furtherance of religion. Ministers must
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likewise learn to go before in the way of God, and not to shrink nor
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draw back when dangers are before them. They must expect to be most
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struck at, but they <I>know whom they have trusted.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Jos3_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos3_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos3_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos3_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos3_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos3_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos3_13"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to
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magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that,
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as I was with Moses, <I>so</I> I will be with thee.
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8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the
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covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of
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Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
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9 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and
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hear the words of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> your God.
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10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God
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<I>is</I> among you, and <I>that</I> he will without fail drive out from
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before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and
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the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the
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Jebusites.
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11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth
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passeth over before you into Jordan.
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12 Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of
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Israel, out of every tribe a man.
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13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet
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of the priests that bear the ark of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, the Lord of all the
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earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, <I>that</I> the waters of
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Jordan shall be cut off <I>from</I> the waters that come down from
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above; and they shall stand upon a heap.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We may observe here how God honours Joshua, and by this wondrous work
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he is about to do designs to make Israel know that he is their
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governor, and then how Joshua honours God and endeavours by it to make
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Israel know that he is their God. Thus those that honour God he will
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honour, and those whom he has advanced should do what they can in their
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places to exalt him.</P>
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<P>
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I. God speaks to Joshua to put honour upon him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>.
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1. It was a great honour God id him that he spoke to him as he had done
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to Moses from off the mercy-seat, before the priests removed it with
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the ark. This would make Joshua easy in himself and great among the
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people, that God was pleased to speak so familiarly to him.
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2. That he designed to <I>magnify him in the sight of all Israel.</I>
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He had told him before that he would be with him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+1:5"><I>ch.</I> i. 5</A>),
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and that comforted him, but now all Israel shall see it, and this would
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magnify him. Those are truly great with whom God is and whom he employs
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and owns in his service. God magnified him because he would have the
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people magnify him. Pious magistrates are to be highly honoured and
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esteemed as public blessings, and the more we see of God with them the
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more we should honour them. By the dividing of the red Sea Israel was
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convinced that God was with Moses in bringing them out of Egypt;
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therefore they are said to be <I>baptized unto Moses in the sea,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:2">1 Cor. x. 2</A>.
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And upon that occasion they <I>believed him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+14:31">Exod. xiv. 31</A>.
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And now, by the dividing of Jordan, they shall be convinced that God is
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in like manner with Joshua in bringing them into Canaan. God had
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magnified Joshua before on several occasions, but now he began to
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magnify him as the successor of Moses in the government. Some have
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observed that it was at the banks of Jordan that God began to magnify
|
|
Joshua, and at the same place he began to magnify our Lord Jesus as
|
|
Mediator; for John was baptizing at Bethabara, <I>the house of
|
|
passage,</I> and there it was that when our Saviour was baptized it was
|
|
proclaimed concerning him, <I>This is my beloved Son.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. That by him he gave orders to the priests themselves, though they
|
|
were his immediate attendants
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Thou shalt command the priests,</I> that is, "Thou shalt make known
|
|
to them the divine command in this matter, and take care that they
|
|
observe it, to stand still at the brink of Jordan while the waters
|
|
part, that it may appear to be <I>at the presence of the Lord,</I> of
|
|
the mighty God of Jacob, that Jordan is <I>driven back,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+114:5,7">Ps. cxiv. 5, 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
God could have divided the river without the priests, but they could
|
|
not without him. The priests must herein set a good example to the
|
|
people, and teach them to do their utmost in the service of God, and
|
|
trust him for help in time of need.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Joshua speaks to the people, and therein honours God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He demands attention
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Come hither</I> to me, as many as can come within hearing, and,
|
|
before you see the works, <I>hear the words of the Lord your God,</I>
|
|
that you may compare them together and they may illustrate each other."
|
|
He had commanded them to sanctify themselves, and therefore calls them
|
|
to <I>hear the word of God,</I> for that is the ordinary means of
|
|
sanctification,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:17">John xvii. 17</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He now tells them, at length, by what way they should pass over
|
|
Jordan, by the stopping of its streams
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The waters of Jordan shall be cut off.</I> God could by a sudden and
|
|
miraculous frost have congealed the surface, so that they might all
|
|
have gone over upon the ice; but that being a thing sometimes done even
|
|
in that country by the ordinary power of nature
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+38:30">Job xxxviii. 30</A>),
|
|
|
|
it would not have been such an honour to Israel's God, nor such a
|
|
terror to Israel's enemies; it must therefore be done in such a way as
|
|
had no precedent but the dividing of the Red Sea: and that miracle is
|
|
here repeated, to show that God has the same power to finish the
|
|
salvation of his people that he had to begin it, for he is the
|
|
<I>Alpha</I> and the <I>Omega;</I> and that <I>the word of the Lord</I>
|
|
(as the Chaldee reads it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
the essential, eternal Word, was as truly with Joshua as he was with
|
|
Moses. And by the dividing of the waters from the waters, and the
|
|
making of the dry land to appear which had been covered, God would
|
|
remind them of that in which Moses by revelation had instructed them
|
|
concerning the work of creation
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+1:6,9">Gen. i. 6, 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
that by what they now saw their belief of that which they there read
|
|
might be assisted, and they might know that the God whom they
|
|
worshipped was the same God that made the world and that it was the
|
|
same power that was engaged and employed for them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The people having been directed before to follow the ark are here
|
|
told that it should <I>pass before them into Jordan,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The ark of the covenant must be their guide. During the reign of
|
|
Moses, the cloud was their guide, but now, in Joshua's reign, the ark;
|
|
both were visible signs of God's presence and presidency, but divine
|
|
grace under the Mosaic dispensation was wrapt up as in a cloud and
|
|
covered with a veil, while by Christ, our Joshua, it is revealed in the
|
|
ark of the covenant unveiled.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is called <I>the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the
|
|
earth.</I> "He that is your God
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
in covenant with you, is the <I>Lord of all the earth,</I> has both
|
|
right and power to command, control, use, and dispose of all nations
|
|
and of all creatures. He is the <I>Lord of all the earth,</I> therefore
|
|
he needs not you, nor can he be benefited by you; therefore it is your
|
|
honour and happiness to have him in covenant with you: if he be yours,
|
|
all the creatures are at your service, and when he pleases shall be
|
|
employed for you." When we are praising and worshipping God as Israel's
|
|
God, and ours through Christ, we must remember that he is the <I>Lord
|
|
of the whole earth,</I> and reverence him and trust in him accordingly.
|
|
Some observe an accent in the original, which they think directs us to
|
|
translate it somewhat more emphatically, <I>Behold the ark of the
|
|
covenant, even the ark of the Lord, or even of the covenant of the Lord
|
|
of all the earth.</I>
|
|
|
|
(3.) They are told that the ark should <I>pass before them into
|
|
Jordan.</I> God would not appoint them to go any where but where he
|
|
himself would go before them and go with them; and they might safely
|
|
venture, even into Jordan itself, if the ark of the covenant led them.
|
|
While we make God's precepts our rule, his promises our stay, and his
|
|
providence our guide, we need not dread the greatest difficulties we
|
|
may meet with in the way of duty. That promise is sure to all the seed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+43:2">Isa. xliii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>When thou passes through the waters I will be with thee, and through
|
|
the rivers they shall not overflow thee.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. From what God was now about to do for them he infers an assurance of
|
|
what he would yet further do. This he mentions first, so much was his
|
|
heart upon it, and so great a satisfaction did it give him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Hereby you shall know that the living God</I> (the true God, and
|
|
God of power, not one of the dead gods of the heathen) <I>is among
|
|
you,</I> though you see him not, nor are to have any image of him, is
|
|
among you to give you law, secure your welfare, and receive your
|
|
homage,--is among you in this great undertaking now before you; and
|
|
therefore you shall, nay, he himself <I>will, without fail, drive out
|
|
from before you the Canaanites.</I>" So that the dividing of Jordan was
|
|
intended to be to them,
|
|
|
|
(1.) A sure token of God's presence with them. By this they could not
|
|
but <I>know that God was among them,</I> unless their unbelief was as
|
|
obstinate against the most convincing evidence as that of their fathers
|
|
was, who presently after God had divided the Red Sea before them,
|
|
impudently asked, <I>Is the Lord among us, or is he not?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+17:7">Exod. xvii. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) A sure pledge of the conquest of Canaan. "If the living God is
|
|
among you, <I>expelling he will expel</I> (so the Hebrew phrase is)
|
|
<I>from before you the Canaanites.</I>" He will do it certainly, and do
|
|
it effectually. What should hinder him? What can stand in his way
|
|
before whom rivers are divided and dried up? The forcing of the lines
|
|
was certain presage of the ruin of all their hosts: how could they
|
|
stand their ground when Jordan itself was driven back? When they had
|
|
not courage to dispute this pass, but trembled at the approach of the
|
|
<I>mighty God of Jacob</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+114:7">Ps. cxiv. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
what opposition could they ever make after this? This assurance which
|
|
Joshua here gives them was so well grounded that it would enable one
|
|
Israelite to chase a thousand Canaanites, and two to put then thousand
|
|
to flight; and it would be abundantly strengthened by remembering the
|
|
song of Moses, dictated forty years before, which plainly foretold the
|
|
dividing of Jordan and the influence it would have upon the driving out
|
|
of the Canaanites.
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+15:15-17">Exod. xv. 15-17</A>,
|
|
|
|
"<I>The inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away,</I> and so be
|
|
effectually driven out; they shall be as still as a stone till thy
|
|
people pass over, and then thou shalt bring them in and plant them."
|
|
Note, God's glorious appearances for his church and people ought to be
|
|
improved by us for the encouragement of our faith and hope for the
|
|
future. <I>As for God, his work is perfect.</I> If Jordan's flood
|
|
cannot keep them our, Canaan's force cannot turn them out again.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. He directs them to get twelve men ready, one of each tribe, who must
|
|
be within call to receive such orders as Joshua should afterwards give
|
|
them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
It does not appear that they were to attend the priests, and walk with
|
|
them when they carried the ark, that they might more immediately be
|
|
witnesses of the wonders done by it, as some think; but they were to be
|
|
at hand for the service they were called to,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+4:4"><I>ch.</I> iv. 4</A>, &c.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Jos3_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jos3_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jos3_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jos3_17"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Passage over the Jordan.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1451.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their
|
|
tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of
|
|
the covenant before the people;
|
|
15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the
|
|
feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of
|
|
the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of
|
|
harvest,)
|
|
16 That the waters which came down from above stood <I>and</I> rose
|
|
up upon a heap very far from the city Adam, that <I>is</I> beside
|
|
Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain,
|
|
<I>even</I> the salt sea, failed, <I>and</I> were cut off: and the people
|
|
passed over right against Jericho.
|
|
17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the
|
|
Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were
|
|
passed clean over Jordan.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have a short and plain account of the dividing of the river
|
|
Jordan, and the passage of the children of Israel through it. The story
|
|
is not garnished with the flowers of rhetoric (gold needs not to be
|
|
painted), but it tell us, in short, matter of fact.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. That this river was now broader and deeper than usually it was at
|
|
other times of the year,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
The melting of the snow on the mountains of Lebanon, near which this
|
|
river had its rise, was the occasion that at the time of harvest,
|
|
barley-harvest, which was the spring of the year, Jordan overflowed all
|
|
his banks. This great flood, just at that time (which Providence might
|
|
have restrained for once, of which he might have ordered them to cross
|
|
at another time of the year) very much magnified the power of God and
|
|
his kindness to Israel. Note, Though the opposition given to the
|
|
salvation of God's people have all imaginable advantages, yet god can
|
|
and will conquer it. Let the banks of Jordan be filled to the brink,
|
|
filled till they run over, it is as easy to Omnipotence to divide them,
|
|
and dry them up, as if they were ever so narrow, ever so shallow; it is
|
|
all one with the Lord.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. That as soon as ever the feet of the priests dipped in the brim of
|
|
the water the stream stopped immediately, as if a sluice had been led
|
|
down to dam it up,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
So that the waters above swelled, stood on a heap, and ran back, and
|
|
yet, as it should seem did not spread, but congealed, which
|
|
unaccountable rising of the river was observed with amazement by those
|
|
that live upward upon it many miles off, and the remembrance of it
|
|
remained among them long after: the waters on the other side this
|
|
invisible dam ran down of course, and left the bottom of the river dry
|
|
as far downward, it is likely, as they swelled upward. When they
|
|
passed through the red Sea, the waters were a wall on either hand, here
|
|
only on the right-hand. Note, The God of nature can, when he pleases,
|
|
change the course of nature, and alter its properties, can turn fluids
|
|
into solids, <I>waters into standing rocks,</I> as, on the contrary,
|
|
<I>rocks into standing waters,</I> to serve his own purposes. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+114:5,8">Ps. cxiv. 5, 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
What cannot God do? What will he not do for the perfecting of his
|
|
peoples, salvation? Sometimes he <I>cleaves the earth with rivers</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:9">Hab. iii. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and sometimes, as here, cleaves the rivers without earth. It is easy to
|
|
imagine how, when the course of this strong rapid stream was arrested
|
|
on a sudden, <I>the waters roared and were troubled,</I> so that the
|
|
mountains seemed to <I>shake with the swelling thereof</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:3">Ps. xlvi. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
how <I>the floods lifted up their voice, the floods lifted up their
|
|
waves,</I> while the Lord on high showed himself <I>mightier than the
|
|
noise of</I> these <I>many waters,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+93:3,4">Ps. xciii. 3, 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
With reference to this the prophet asks, <I>Was the Lord displeased
|
|
against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:8">Hab. iii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
No, <I>Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
In allusion to this, it is foretold, among the great things God will do
|
|
for the gospel church in the latter days, that the great river
|
|
Euphrates shall be dried up, that <I>the way of the kings of the east
|
|
may be prepared,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:12">Rev. xvi. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
When the time has come for Israel's entrance into the land of promise
|
|
all difficulties shall be conquered, <I>mountains shall become
|
|
plains</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+4:7">Zech. iv. 7</A>)
|
|
|
|
and rivers become dry, for the <I>ransomed of the Lord to pass
|
|
over.</I> When we have finished our pilgrimage through this wilderness,
|
|
death will be like this Jordan between us and the heavenly Canaan, but
|
|
the ark of the covenant has prepare us a way through it; it is the last
|
|
enemy that shall be destroyed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. That <I>the people passed over right against Jericho,</I> which
|
|
was,
|
|
|
|
1. An instance of their boldness, and a noble defiance of their
|
|
enemies. Jericho was one of the strongest cities, and yet they dared to
|
|
face it at their first entrance.
|
|
|
|
2. It was an encouragement to them to venture through Jordan, for
|
|
Jericho was a goodly city and the country about it extremely pleasant;
|
|
and, having that in view as their own, what difficulties could
|
|
discourage them from taking possession?
|
|
|
|
3. It would increase the confusion and terror of their enemies, who no
|
|
doubt strictly observed their motions, and were the amazed spectators
|
|
of this work of wonders.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. That the priests <I>stood still in the midst of Jordan while all
|
|
the people passed over,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
There the ark was appointed to be, to show that the same power that
|
|
parted the waters kept them parted as long as there was occasion; and
|
|
had not the divine presence, of which the ark was a token, been their
|
|
security, the waters would have returned upon them and buried them.
|
|
there the priests were appointed to stand still,
|
|
|
|
1. To try their faith, whether they could venture to take their post,
|
|
when god assigned it to them, with mountains of water over their heads.
|
|
As they made a bold step when they set the first foot into Jordan, so
|
|
now they made a bold stand when they tarried longest in Jordan; but
|
|
they knew they carried their own protection with them. Note, Ministers
|
|
in times of peril should be examples of courage and confidence in the
|
|
divine goodness.
|
|
|
|
2. It was to encourage the faith of the people, that they might go
|
|
triumphantly into Canaan, and <I>fear no evil,</I> no, not in this
|
|
<I>valley of the shadow of death</I> (for so the divided river was),
|
|
being assured of God's presence, which interposed between them and the
|
|
greatest danger, between them and the proud waters, which otherwise had
|
|
gone over their souls. Thus in the greatest dangers the saints are
|
|
<I>comforted</I> with <I>his rod and his staff,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+23:4">Ps. xxiii. 4</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
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