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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. XI.</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 continues and concludes the history of the conquest of
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Canaan; of the reduction of the southern parts we had an account in the
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foregoing chapter, after which we may suppose Joshua allowed his forces
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some breathing-time; now here we have the story of the war in the
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north, and the happy success of that war.
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I. The confederacy of the northern crowns against Israel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. The encouragement which God gave to Joshua to engage them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:6">ver. 6</A>.
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III. His victory over them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:7-9">ver. 7-9</A>.
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IV. The taking of their cities,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:10-15">ver. 10-15</A>.
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V. The destruction of the Anakim,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:21,22">ver. 21, 22</A>.
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VI. The general conclusion of the story of this war,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:16-20,23">ver. 16-20, 23</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Jos11_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_9"> </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>Confederacy Against Israel.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1450.</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 it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard
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<I>those things,</I> that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the
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king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
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2 And to the kings that <I>were</I> on the north of the mountains,
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and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in
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the borders of Dor on the west,
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3 <I>And to</I> the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and <I>to</I>
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the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite
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in the mountains, and <I>to</I> the Hivite under Hermon in the land of
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Mizpeh.
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4 And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much
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people, even as the sand that <I>is</I> upon the sea shore in
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multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
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5 And when all these kings were met together, they came and
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pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
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6 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them:
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for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain
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before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their
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chariots with fire.
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7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against
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them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
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8 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> delivered them into the hand of Israel, who
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smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto
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Misrephoth-maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they
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smote them, until they left them none remaining.
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9 And Joshua did unto them as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> bade him: he houghed
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their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We are here entering upon the story of another campaign that Joshua
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made, and it was a glorious one, no less illustrious than the former in
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the success of it, though in respect of miracles it was inferior to it
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in glory. The wonders God then wrought for them were to animate and
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encourage them to act vigorously themselves. Thus the war carried on by
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the preaching of the gospel against Satan's kingdom was at first
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forwarded by miracles; but, the war being by them sufficiently proved
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to be of God, the managers of it are now left to the ordinary
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assistance of divine grace in the use of the sword of the Spirit, and
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must not expect hail-stones nor the standing still of the sun. In this
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story we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. The Canaanites taking the field against Israel. They were the
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aggressors, God hardening their hearts to begin the war, that Israel
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might be justified beyond exception in destroying them. Joshua and all
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Israel had returned to the camp at Gilgal, and perhaps these kings knew
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no other than that they intended to sit down content with the conquest
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they had already made, and yet they prepare war against them. Note,
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Sinners bring ruin upon their own heads, so that <I>God will be
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justified when he speaks,</I> and they alone shall bear the blame for
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ever. Judah had now <I>couched as a lion gone up from the prey;</I> if
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the northern kings rouse him up, it is at their peril,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:9">Gen. xlix. 9</A>.
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Now,
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1. Several nations joined in this confederacy, some <I>in the
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mountains</I> and some <I>in the plains,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Canaanites from east and west, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, &c.
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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of different constitutions and divided interests among themselves, and
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yet they here unite against Israel as against a common enemy. Thus are
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<I>the children of this world</I> more unanimous, and therein <I>wiser,
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than the children of light.</I> The oneness of the church's enemies
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should shame the church's friends out of their discords and divisions,
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and engage them to be one.
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2. The head of this confederacy was <I>Jabin king of Hazor</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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as Adoni-zedec was of the former; it is said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>)
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Hazor had been the <I>head of all those kingdoms,</I> which could not
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have revolted without occasioning ill-will; but this was forgotten and
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laid aside upon this occasion, by consent of parties,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:12">Luke xxiii. 12</A>.
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When they had all drawn up their forces together, every kingdom
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bringing in its quota, they were a very great army, much greater than
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the former, <I>as the sand on the sea shore in multitude,</I> and upon
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this account much stronger and more formidable, that they had horses
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and chariots very many, which we do not find the southern kings had;
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hereby they had a great advantage against Israel, for their army
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consisted only of foot, and they never brought horses nor chariots into
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the field. Josephus tells us that the army of the Canaanites consisted
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of 300,000 foot, 10,000 horses, and 20,000 chariots. <I>Many there be
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that rise up</I> against God's Israel; doubtless their numbers made
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them very confident of success, but it proved that so much the greater
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slaughter was made of them.</P>
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<P>
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II. The encouragement God gave to Joshua to give them the meeting, even
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upon the ground of their own choosing
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>Be not afraid because of them.</I> Joshua was remarkable for his
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courage--it was his master grace, and yet it seems he had need to be
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again and again cautioned not to be afraid. Fresh dangers and
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difficulties make it necessary to fetch in fresh supports and comforts
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from the word of God, which we have always nigh unto us, to be made use
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of in every time of need. Those that have God on their side need not be
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disturbed at the number and power of their enemies; <I>more are those
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that are with us than those that are against us;</I> those have the
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hosts of the Lord that have the Lord of hosts engaged for them. For his
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encouragement,
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1. God assures him of success, and fixes the hour: <I>To-morrow about
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this time,</I> when an engagement (it is probable) was expected and
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designed on both sides, <I>I will deliver them up slain.</I> Though
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they were to be slain by the sword of Israel, yet it is spoken of as
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God's work, that he would deliver them up.
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2. He appoints him to <I>hough their horses, hamstring</I> them,
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<I>lame</I> them, and <I>burn their chariots,</I> not only that Israel
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might not use them hereafter, but that they might not fear them now,
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their God designing this contempt to be put upon them. Let Israel look
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upon their chariots but as rotten wood designed for the fire, and their
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horses of war as disabled things, scarcely good enough for the cart.
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This encouragement which God here gave to Joshua no doubt he
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communicated to the people, who perhaps were under some apprehensions
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of danger from this vast army, notwithstanding the experience they had
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had of God's power engaged for them. And the wisdom and goodness of God
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are to be observed,
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(1.) In infatuating the counsels of the enemy, that all the kings of
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Canaan, who were not dispersed at such a distance from each other but
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that they might have got all together in a body, did not at first
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confederate against Israel, but were divided in to the southern and
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northern combination, and so became the less formidable. And,
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(2.) In preparing his people to encounter the greater force, by
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breaking the less. They first engage with five kings together, and now
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with many more. God proportions our trials to our strength and our
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strength to our trials.</P>
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<P>
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III. Joshua's march against these confederate forces,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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He <I>came upon them suddenly,</I> and surprised them in their
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quarters. He made this haste,
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1. That he might put them into the greater confusion, by giving them an
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alarm, when they little thought he was near them.
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2. That he might be sure not to come short of the honour God had
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fixed, to give him the meeting at the enemies' camp, <I>to-morrow about
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this time.</I> It is fit we should keep time with God.</P>
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<P>
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IV. His success,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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He obtained the honour and advantage of a complete victory; he smote
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them and chased them, in the several ways they took in their flight;
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some fled towards Zidon, which lay to the northwest, others towards
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Mizpeh, eastward, but the parties Joshua sent out pursued them each
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way. So <I>the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel;</I> they
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would not deliver themselves into the hands of Israel to be made
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proselytes and tributaries, and so offered up to God's grace
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+15:16">Rom. xv. 16</A>),
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and therefore God delivered them into their hands to be made sacrifices
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to his justice; for God will be honoured by us or upon us.</P>
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<P>
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V. His obedience to the orders given him, in destroying the horses and
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chariots
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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which was an instance,
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1. Of his subjection to the divine will, as one under authority, that
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must do as he is bidden.
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2. Of his self-denial, and crossing his own genius and inclination in
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compliance with God's command.
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3. Of his confidence in the power of God engaged for Israel, which
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enabled them to despise the chariots and horses which others trusted
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in,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+20:7,33:17">Ps. xx. 7; xxxiii. 17</A>.
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4. Of his care to keep up in the people the like confidence in God, by
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taking that from them which they would be tempted to trust too much to.
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This was <I>cutting of a right hand.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Jos11_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Joshua's Victories.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1450.</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>10 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and
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smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was
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the head of all those kingdoms.
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11 And they smote all the souls that <I>were</I> therein with the
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edge of the sword, utterly destroying <I>them:</I> there was not any
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left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
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12 And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of
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them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword,
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<I>and</I> he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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commanded.
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13 But <I>as for</I> the cities that stood still in their strength,
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Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; <I>that</I> did Joshua
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burn.
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14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the
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children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man
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they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed
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them, neither left they any to breathe.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the same improvement made of this victory as was made of
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that in the foregoing chapter.
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1. The destruction of Hazor is particularly recorded, because in it,
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and by the king thereof, this daring design against Israel was laid,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
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The king of Hazor, it seems, escaped with his life out of the battle,
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and thought himself safe when he had got back into his own city, and
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Joshua had gone in pursuit of the scattered troops another way. But it
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proved that that which he thought would be for his welfare was his
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trap; in it <I>he was taken as in an evil net;</I> there he was slain,
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and his city, for his sake, burned. Yet we find that the remains of it
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being not well looked after by Israel the Canaanites rebuilt it, and
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settled there under another king of the same name,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+4:2">Judg. iv. 2</A>.
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2. The rest of the cities of that part of the country are spoken of
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only in general, that Joshua got them all into his hands, but did not
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burn them as he did Hazor, for Israel was to dwell in <I>great and
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goodly cities which they builded not</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+6:10">Deut. vi. 10</A>)
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and in these among the rest. And here we find Israel rolling in blood
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and treasure.
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(1.) In the blood of their enemies; <I>they smote all the souls</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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<I>neither left they any to breathe</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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that there might be none to infect them with the abominations of
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Canaan, and none to disturb them in the possession of it. The children
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were cut off, lest they should afterwards lay claim to any part of this
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land in the right of their parents.
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(2.) In the wealth of their enemies. The spoil, and the cattle, they
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<I>took for a prey to themselves,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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As they were enriched with the spoil of their oppressors when they came
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out of Egypt, wherewith to defray the charges of their apprenticeship
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in the wilderness, so they were now enriched with the spoil of their
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enemies for a stock wherewith to set up in the land of Canaan. Thus is
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the wealth of the sinner laid up for the just.</P>
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<A NAME="Jos11_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos11_23"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>15 As the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses
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command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all
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that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses.
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16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south
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country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the
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plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;
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17 <I>Even</I> from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even
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unto Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all
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their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
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18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
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19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of
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Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all <I>other</I>
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they took in battle.
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20 For it was of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> to harden their hearts, that they
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should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them
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|
utterly, <I>and</I> that they might have no favour, but that he might
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|
destroy them, as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses.
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|
21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from
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|
the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all
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|
the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel:
|
|
Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
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|
22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the
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|
children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there
|
|
remained.
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|
23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the
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|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto
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|
Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land
|
|
rested from war.
|
|
</FONT></P>
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|
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|
<P>
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|
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We have here the conclusion of this whole matter.</P>
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|
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<P>
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|
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I. A short account is here given of what was done in four things:--
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|
|
|
1. The obstinacy of the Canaanites in their opposition to the
|
|
Israelites. It was strange that though it appeared so manifestly that
|
|
God fought for Israel, and in every engagement the Canaanites had the
|
|
worst of it, yet they stood it out to the last; not one city made peace
|
|
with Israel, but the Gibeonites only, who understood the things that
|
|
belonged to their peace better than their neighbours,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is intimated that other cities might have made as good terms for
|
|
themselves, without ragged clothes and clouted shoes, if they would
|
|
have humbled themselves, but they never so much as <I>desired
|
|
conditions of peace.</I> We here are told whence this unaccountable
|
|
infatuation came: <I>It was of the Lord to harden their hearts,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
As Pharaoh's heart was hardened by his own pride and wilfulness first,
|
|
and afterwards by the righteous judgment of God, to his destruction, so
|
|
were the hearts of these Canaanites. To punish them for all their other
|
|
follies, God left them to this, to make those their enemies whom they
|
|
might have made their friends. This was it that ruined them: they
|
|
<I>came against Israel in battle,</I> and gave the first blow, and
|
|
therefore <I>might have no favour</I> shown them. Those know not what
|
|
they do who give the provocation to divine justice, or the authorized
|
|
instruments of it. <I>Are we stronger than God?</I> Observe here, That
|
|
hardness of heart is the ruin of sinners. Those that are stupid and
|
|
secure, and heedless of divine warnings, are already marked for
|
|
destruction. What hope is there of those concerning whom God has said,
|
|
<I>Go, make their hearts fat?</I>
|
|
|
|
2. The constancy of the Israelites in prosecuting this war
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Joshua made war a long time;</I> some reckon it five years, others
|
|
seven, that were spent in subduing this land: so long God would train
|
|
up Israel to war, and give them repeated instances of his power and
|
|
goodness in every new victory that he gave them.
|
|
|
|
3. The conquest of the Anakim at last,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:21,22"><I>v.</I> 21, 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Either this was done as they met with them where they were dispersed,
|
|
as some think, or rather it should seem the Anakim had retired to their
|
|
fastnesses, and so were hunted out and cut off at last, after all the
|
|
rest of Israel's enemies. The mountains of Judah and Israel were the
|
|
habitations of those mountains of men; but not their height, nor the
|
|
strength of their caves, nor the difficulty of the passes to them,
|
|
could secure, no, not these mighty men, from the sword of Joshua. The
|
|
cutting off of the sons of Anak is particularly mentioned because these
|
|
had been such a terror to the spies forty years before, and their bulk
|
|
and strength had been thought an insuperable difficulty in the way of
|
|
the reducing of Canaan,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:28,33">Num. xiii. 28, 33</A>.
|
|
|
|
Even that opposition which seemed invincible was got over. Never let
|
|
the sons of Anak be a terror to the Israel of God, for even their day
|
|
will come to fall. Giants are dwarfs to Omnipotence; yet this struggle
|
|
with the Anakim was reserved for the latter end of the war, when the
|
|
Israelites had become more expert in the arts of war, and had had more
|
|
experience of the power and goodness of God. Note, God sometimes
|
|
reserves the sharpest trials of his people by affliction and temptation
|
|
for the latter end of their days. Therefore <I>let not him that girds
|
|
on the harness boast as he that puts it off.</I> Death, that tremendous
|
|
son of Anak, is the last enemy that is to be encountered; but it is
|
|
<I>to be destroyed,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+15:26">1 Cor. xv. 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thanks be to God, who will give us the victory.
|
|
|
|
4. The end and issue of this long war. The Canaanites were rooted out,
|
|
not perfectly (as we shall find after in the book of Judges), but in a
|
|
good measure; they were not able to make any head either,
|
|
|
|
(1.) So as to keep the Israelites out of possession of the land:
|
|
<I>Joshua took all that land,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:16,17"><I>v.</I> 16, 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
And we may suppose the people dispersed themselves and their families
|
|
into the countries they had conquered, at least those that lay nearest
|
|
to the head-quarters at Gilgal, until an orderly distribution should be
|
|
made by lot, that every man might know his own. Or,
|
|
|
|
(2.) So as to keep them in action, or give them any molestation
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The land rested from war.</I> It ended not in a peace with the
|
|
Canaanites (that was forbidden), but in a peace from them. There is a
|
|
rest, a rest from war, remaining for the people of God, into which they
|
|
shall enter when their warfare is accomplished.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. That which was now done is here compared with that which had been
|
|
said to Moses. God's word and his works, if viewed and considered
|
|
together, will mutually illustrate each other. It is here observed in
|
|
the close,
|
|
|
|
1. That all the precepts God had given to Moses relating to the
|
|
conquest of Canaan were obeyed on the people's part, at least while
|
|
Joshua lived. See how solemnly this is remarked
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>As the Lord commanded Moses his servant,</I> by whose hand the law
|
|
was given, <I>so did Moses command Joshua,</I> for Moses was faithful,
|
|
as a law-giver, to him that appointed him; he did his part, and then he
|
|
died: but were the commands of Moses observed when he was in his grave?
|
|
Yes, they were: <I>So did Joshua,</I> who was, in his place, as
|
|
faithful as Moses in his. <I>He left nothing undone</I> (Heb. he
|
|
<I>removed nothing) of all that the Lord commanded Moses.</I> Those
|
|
that leave their duty undone do what they can to remove or make void
|
|
the command of God, by which they are bound to do it; but Joshua, by
|
|
performing the precept, <I>confirmed</I> it, as the expression is,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+27:26">Deut. xxvii. 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
Joshua was himself a great commander, and yet nothing was more his
|
|
praise than his obedience. Those that rule others at their will must
|
|
themselves be ruled by the divine will; then their power is indeed
|
|
their honour, and not otherwise. The pious obedience for which Joshua
|
|
is here commended respects especially the command to destroy the
|
|
Canaanites, and to <I>break down their altars and burn their
|
|
images,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+7:2-5,Ex+23"24,34:13">Deut. vii. 2-5;
|
|
Exod. xxiii. 24; xxxiv. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Joshua, in his zeal for the Lord of hosts, spared neither the idols nor
|
|
the idolaters. Saul's disobedience, or rather his partial obedience, to
|
|
the command of God, for the utter destruction of the Amalekites, cost
|
|
him his kingdom. It should seem Joshua himself gives this account of
|
|
his most careful and punctual observance of his orders in the execution
|
|
of his commission, that in all respects he had done as Moses commanded
|
|
him; and then it intimates that he had more pleasure and satisfaction
|
|
in reflecting upon his obedience to the commands of God in all this
|
|
war, and valued himself more upon that, than upon all the gains and
|
|
triumphs with which he was enriched and advanced.
|
|
|
|
2. That all the promises God had given to Moses relating to this
|
|
conquest were accomplished <I>on his part,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
Joshua <I>took the whole land,</I> conquered it, and took possession of
|
|
it, <I>according to all that the Lord said unto Moses.</I> God had
|
|
promised to drive out the nations before them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+33:2,34:11">Exod. xxxiii. 2; xxxiv. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
and to <I>bring them down,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+9:3">Deut. ix. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
And now it was done. There failed not one word of the promise. Our
|
|
successes and enjoyments are then doubly sweet and comfortable to us
|
|
when we see them flowing to us from the promise (this is <I>according
|
|
to what the Lord said</I>), as our obedience is then acceptable to God
|
|
when it has an eye to the precept. And, if we make conscience of our
|
|
duty, we need not question the performance of the promise.</P>
|
|
|
|
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