_A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451._ Twelve stones taken up out of the midst of Jordan, and twelve set up there for a memorial, Joshua 4:1. The march of the people through Jordan, Joshua 4:10. God magnifies Joshua, who commands the priests to come out of Jordan, Joshua 4:14. The waters close again, Joshua 4:18;... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord spake unto Joshua_ This was commanded before, (Joshua 3:12,) and is here repeated with enlargement, as being now to be put in execution. It is the pious conjecture of the learned Bishop Patrick, that Joshua was gone into some place of retirement, to return thanks immediately for this wonde... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take you out of every tribe a man_ For the greater evidence, and the more effectual spreading the report of this marvellous work among the tribes. _Where ye shall lodge this night_ That is, in Gilgal, as is expressed, Joshua 4:19. _Whom he had prepared_ That is, appointed for that work, and command... [ Continue Reading ]
_That this may be a sign among you_ A monument or memorial of this day's work. Had Joshua given orders to prepare for erecting this memorial of himself, it might have looked like a design to perpetuate his own name and honour; but as it was done by the divine direction, it could be viewed in no othe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan_ These stones are not the same with those mentioned Joshua 4:5, which a man might carry upon his shoulder. They were undoubtedly very much larger, and probably appeared above the surface of the water, when it was low; or, if not, might be seen in i... [ Continue Reading ]
_The priests stood in the midst of Jordan till every thing was finished_ The constancy of the priests, on this occasion, bears very honourable testimony to their faith and patience; for it must have taken up a considerable time, a whole day, at least, for the passage of six hundred thousand fighting... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Reuben passed over armed_ As they had engaged to do, Numbers 32:20, and Joshua 1:13. _About forty thousand prepared for war_ It is likely that Joshua drew out this number only of chosen men; and left all the rest to take care of their families and flocks. _Passed over before the Lor... [ Continue Reading ]
_On that day the Lord magnified Joshua_ Both by the fellowship he admitted him to with himself, speaking to him on all occasions, and being ready to be consulted by him, and by the miracle which had just given happy success to that general's first enterprise, and which had acquired to him the same c... [ Continue Reading ]
_The waters of Jordan returned_ They had stood on a heap while the ark was in the river, but came tumbling down when it was removed, which showed to a demonstration that it was to God's presence with them, and to this only, that they owed this miraculous mercy. “Some have observed here, by way of al... [ Continue Reading ]
_On the tenth day of the first month_ Namely, of Nisan, which wanted but five days of forty years from the time of their coming out of Egypt, which was on the fifteenth day of this month. So punctual is God in the performing of his word, whether promised or threatened. And this day was very seasonab... [ Continue Reading ]
_In Gilgal_ Probably in order, like so many little pillars, to keep up the remembrance of this miraculous benefit. Gilgal was situate between Jordan and Jericho, and, according to Josephus, was ten furlongs from the city, and fifty from the river. Joshua had his camp there during all the time that t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall let your children know_ We may learn from the injunction given here, and on many other occasions, that it is our indispensable duty to make our children well acquainted with the historical as well as doctrinal truths of religion, from the earliest accounts we have of them in the Holy Scrip... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which he dried up from before us_ That is, not only before Joshua himself and Caleb, then alive and present, but before the whole nation of the Israelites. For this benefit done to their fathers is justly said to be done to themselves, both because they were then in their parents' loins, and becaus... [ Continue Reading ]
_That all the people of the earth might know_, &c. Although this may primarily mean the neighbouring nations, yet there is great reason to think that both this and Exodus 9:16, _That my name may be declared throughout all the earth_, had a prophetic aspect, and looked to distant ages, even to the en... [ Continue Reading ]