CONTENTS In this chapter we have an account of the renewal of Israel's victories. The Lord encourageth Joshua, and the holy army conquereth Ai: the king of Ai is taken and hanged: Joshua erects an altar to the Lord: writes the law on stones; causeth the repeatal of the blessings, and cursings, and... [ Continue Reading ]
How gracious the Lord promiseth! Is it not so, in all our wars? The final issue is not doubtful. Romans 16:20. Observe how the Lord giveth the spoil and the cattle now to Israel, not as in the case of Jericho. See Joshua 6:19. And observe, moreover, that the Lord graciously condescendeth to teach Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
How beautiful to observe piety blended with valor. No doubt, after Joshua had arranged and formed the disposition of his army, according to the command of God, he retired to this valley, where he lodged that night among the people, to enjoy communion with God in prayer. Like another Jacob, who, when... [ Continue Reading ]
I pass over, in a short remark, the mercy of the Lord vouchsafed Israel in this victory, to call the Reader's attention, to the manner in which the Lord was pleased to appoint the victory should be obtained; and that was, seemingly, in being overcome. Israel for awhile appeared as routed, and become... [ Continue Reading ]
The sacred historian relates in those verses, the improvement which Israel made of their victory; and a glorious one it was; because there was nothing done here, but what was agreeable to the divine appointment. If the Reader keeps in view, the spiritual sense of those wars he meets with in the holy... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, how lovely it is, when even war is not suffered to interrupt religious services to God. Though Joshua was now getting more and more into the heart of the enemies' country, yet he will pause to bless God, Oh! that all the victories of Israel now, were thus followed up with praise!... [ Continue Reading ]
The Reader will find this command twice given. Deu_11:29-30; Deu_27:2. And what day so proper, as the day made remarkable by a plenitude of mercies!... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, the ark is particularly noticed. And when the sacrifices were offered, and the law of curses was read, and the altar itself set up, upon the very spot Mount Ebal, where the curses were to be pronounced, who doth not see, or will not behold, how sweetly all these things pointed to the ever-b... [ Continue Reading ]
It is a most profitable thing to have the law often read, in order that, by viewing the universal condemnation of it, the precious delivery from it by the law-fulfilling, law-expiating, and sin-atoning merits, and blood of Jesus, might become more exceedingly precious. For certain it is, the Holy Gh... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS BLESSED Jesus! while I behold Ai and her king, and everything appertaining to her subdued, brought down, and destroyed, under thy servant Joshua, as thy type and representative, oh! give me to see, and as firmly to believe, that all the Ai's of the present moment, shall bow down and be v... [ Continue Reading ]