Joshua 24:12

_AND I SENT THE HORNET BEFORE YOU, WHICH DRAVE THEM OUT FROM BEFORE YOU, EVEN THE TWO KINGS OF THE AMORITES; BUT NOT WITH THY SWORD, NOR WITH THY BOW._ Sent the hornet - a particular species of wasp which swarms in warm countries, and sometimes assumes the scourging character of a plague (Kirby's 'Bridgewater Treatise,' 2: pp. 336, 337; also 'Tent and Khan,' p. 390); or, as many think, it is a figurative expression for uncontrollable terror (Exodus 23:27; Deuteronomy 7:20)....

1-14 We must never think our work for God done, till our life is done. If he lengthen out our days beyond what we expected, like those of Joshua, it is because he has some further service for us to do. He who aims at the same mind which was in Christ Jesus, will glory in bearing the last testimony to his Saviour's goodness, and in telling to all around, the obligations with which the unmerited goodness of God has bound him. The assembly came together in a solemn religious manner. Joshua spake to them in God's name, and as from him. His sermon consists of doctrine and application. The doctrinal part is a history of the great things God had done for his people, and for their fathers before them. The application of this history of God's mercies to them, is an exhortation to fear and serve God, in gratitude for his favour, and that it might be continued....

Verse Joshua 24:12. _I SENT THE HORNET BEFORE YOU_] Exodus 23:28....

EXPOSITION THE LAST RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT.— JOSHUA 24:1 TO SHECHEM. The LXX. and the Arabic version read _Shiloh _here, and as the words "they presented themselves (literally, _took up their station_)_ _before God" follow, this would seem the natural reading. But there is not the slightest MSS. authority for the reading, and it is contrary to all sound principles of criticism to resort to arbitrary emendations of the text. Besides, the LXX. itself reads Συχέμ_,_ in Joshua 24:26, and adds, "before the tabernacle of the God of Israel," words implied, but not expressed in t

AND I SENT THE HORNET BEFORE YOU,.... Of which Exodus 23:28; WHICH DRAVE THEM OUT FROM BEFORE YOU, [EVEN] THE TWO KINGS OF THE AMORITES; who were Sihon and Og, and not only them, and the Amorites under them, but the other nations, Hivites, Hittites, c. [BUT] NOT WITH THY SWORD, NOR WITH THY BOW but by insects of the Lord's sending to them, which, as Kimchi says, so blinded their eyes, that they could not see to fight, and so Israel came upon them, and slew them; in which the hand of the Lord was manifestly seen, and to whose power, and not, their own, the destruction of their enemies was to be ascribed....

THE SECOND ADDRESS CHAPTER 24:1-28 _ 1. The gathering at Shechem (Joshua 24:1)_ 2. Historic retrospect and exhortations (Joshua 24:2) 3. The answer given by Israel (Joshua 24:16) 4. Joshua's answer (Joshua 24:19) 5. The promise made (Joshua 24:21) 6. Joshua's appeal and the repeated promise (Joshua 24:22) 7. The covenant made and Joshua's final word ...

TWO KINGS. Promise began to be fulfilled here. See Exodus 23:28; Deuteronomy 7:20....

_And I sent the hornet before you_ "Misique ante vos _crabrones_" Vulg.: "And I sent before зou hors fleeзis," Wyclif, or "flies with venemouse tongis." In Exodus 23:28, we find it predicted "And I will send _hornets_before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee;" and in Deuteronomy 7:20, "Moreover the Lord thy God will send _the hornet_among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed." Elsewhere the bees appear as an image of terrible foes. Comp. Deuteronomy 1:44, "And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, _as bees do_, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah....

_A Reminder of God's Blessings Joshua 24:1-25_ And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. 3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. 4 And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. 5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I b

JOSHUA'S SECOND AND FINAL FAREWELL This discourse (Joshua 24:1), with Israel's response (Joshua 24:16), and consequent renewal of the Covenant (Joshua 24:25), occupies the bulk of the chapter. The book is then brought to a conclusion in three short paragraphs, recording (_a_) the death and burial of Joshua (Joshua 24:29), (_b_) the burial of Joseph's bones (Joshua 24:32), and (_c_) the death of Eleazar (Joshua 24:33). 1-15. This last