CONTENTS The sacred historian prosecutes in this Chapter the subject of Israel's contest with the remaining Canaanites, after the death of Joshua. The chapter opens in the enquiry of Israel of the Lord, who should go before them to the subjugation and destruction of their enemies. The Lord's answer... [ Continue Reading ]
If the Reader regards the book of the Judges merely as an history, still he will discover in it sufficient to demonstrate the faithfulness of God to his promises. But, if he reads it also with a spiritual reference to the church of God shadowing forth beside the history some greater events connected... [ Continue Reading ]
It should seem that, as this verse is inclosed in a parenthesis, it only meant to notice what had been said before. Probably Jerusalem was taken in the wars of Joshua. See Joshua 10:1, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
Judah, under the banner of the Lord, goeth on victoriously. Reader! how profitable is it ever to keep in view His arm, in whom alone we are victorious? If God be for us, who shall be against us? That is a sweet Scripture, and a sweet promise, Isaiah 54:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
We had this interesting account before, in the preceding book of Joshua, to which I therefore refer the Reader. See Joshua 15:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth not this account of the Kerites being with Judah throw some light upon that part of Israel's history, which we read respecting them in a period distant from this more than thirty years? See Numbers 10:29, etc. The Kerites were of this man's family.... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we trace the want of faith, and consequently the want of courage, in Israel. What were the chariots of iron, when God fought the battles of Israel? But is not this, in a spiritual sense, the very case of Israel now? The faith of Peter could prompt him to attempt walking on the water, to come to... [ Continue Reading ]
Though Joshua, we are told, had given this place to Caleb before, yet the possession of it was probably only now. See Joshua 14:13. And were not the victories of Jesus the same? Though Jehovah had given him the heathen for his inheritance, as well as to raise up the tribes of Jacob; yet Jesus had to... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have another example of unbelief, and consequently of culpable timidity. The Lord had expressly commanded that there should be no affinity, nor treaty, with the Canaanites. But alas! Israel forgets the Lord's precept, and the Canaanites dwell in the land. Reader! Is it not too often so, with... [ Continue Reading ]
The success of the house of Joseph is particularly marked in the cause of it. The Lord was with them. In the Chaldee paraphrase of this passage it is said, the word of Jehovah was with them, a well known title of Jesus. And in this sense how very precious it is to see the Lord Jesus with his people,... [ Continue Reading ]
Bethel is a memorable name in scripture, ever since the Patriarch Jacob made it so. All true believers in Jesus know this name, and can tell, as Jacob did, what Bethel visits mean. Reader! was not that spot, that place, a true Bethel, or house of God to your soul, when the visions of God first began... [ Continue Reading ]
Is there not a spiritual illustration of this scripture? May we not, without overstraining the passage, observe that the man, showing the house of Joseph the way into the city, but afterwards departing to the Hittites, and still preserving the original name of Luz, is a representation of those who a... [ Continue Reading ]
I include all these verses within one view, because one general observation suits the whole. We see in them the sad picture of Israel's want of faith, and consequently want of courage. Had those tribes trusted to the arm of God, they would not have feared the power of man. Had they called to mind th... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS SEE, my soul, in the history of Israel, what conflicts await the believer after a work of grace is begun in the heart. Let not him that putteth on the harness boast like him that putteth it off. Never, until that we undress for the grave, can the soldiers in the holy army of Jesus be sa... [ Continue Reading ]