Joshua 4:14

_ON THAT DAY THE LORD MAGNIFIED JOSHUA IN THE SIGHT OF ALL ISRAEL; AND THEY FEARED HIM, AS THEY FEARED_ _ ON THAT DAY THE LORD MAGNIFIED JOSHUA IN THE SIGHT OF ALL ISRAEL; AND THEY FEARED HIM, AS THEY FEARED MOSES, ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE._ On that day the Lord magnified Joshua. It appeared clear, from the chief part he acted, that he was the divinely-appointed leader; for even the priests did not enter the river or quit their position except at his command; and thenceforward his authority in his new office appeared as legitimate, and was as firmly established, as that of his predecessor. By the performance of a miracle so closely resembling the passage of the Red Sea, a striking attestation was given to the divine promise - "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee....

14._On that day the Lord magnified, _etc It was not indeed the principal end of the miracle to proclaim Joshua’s pre-eminence in power and authority, but as it greatly concerned the public interest, that the government of Joshua should be firmly established, it is justly set down as an additional instance of the divine favor, that he was, so to speak, adorned with sacred insignia to render him venerable in the eyes of the people, and prevent any one from presuming to despise him. For a promiscuous multitude, not ruled by a head, breaks up and falls away of its own accord. The Lord, therefore, to provide for the safety of his people, distinguished Joshua by a special mark declaratory of his vocation. From this passage we may learn that God specially recommends to us all those through whose hands he displays his excellent working, and requires us to give them due honor and reverence. When...

10-19 The priests with the ark did not stir till ordered to move. Let none be weary of waiting, while they have the tokens of God's presence with them, even the ark of the covenant, though it be in the depths of adversity. Notice is taken of the honour put upon Joshua. Those are feared in the best manner, and to the best purpose, who make it appear that God is with them, and that they set him before them....

Verse Joshua 4:14. _THE LORD MAGNIFIED JOSHUA_] Joshua 3:7....

EXPOSITION THE MEMORIAL.— JOSHUA 4:2 TWELVE STONES. The commemoration of events by the setting up of huge stones was by no means peculiar to the Jews, though it was often used by them, as, for instance, Genesis 28:18; Genesis 35:14, 1 Samuel 7:12. Almost every nation has adopted it. The Egyptian obelisks, the stones at Hamath, supposed to be of Hittite origin, the dolmens and other megalithic monuments of the Celts, the Logan or rocking stones, are cases in point. The Scandinavians filled their country with them. Our own Stonehenge and the Avebury s

ON THAT DAY THE LORD MAGNIFIED JOSHUA IN THE SIGHT OF ISRAEL,.... Made him great and honourable in their esteem, by doing what he foretold would be done, dividing the waters of Jordan, drying up the river to make a passage for them through it, as on dry land: AND THEY FEARED HIM, AS THEY FEARED MOSES, ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE; had a reverend esteem of him, and affection for him, and yielded obedience to him all his days; see Exodus 14:31....

4. THE MEMORIAL STONES CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The first memorial (Joshua 4:1)_ 2. The second memorial (Joshua 4:9) 3. The return of the priests with the ark (Joshua 4:10) 4. The encampment at Gilgal (Joshua 4:19) Jehovah commanded that the great event should be remembered by a memorial. From the river-bed, where the priest's feet stood firm, twelve men, one from each tribe, were to carry twelve stones and leave them at the first lodging place in the land, that is, at Gilgal. These memorial stones were to tell subsequent generations the story of God's faithfulness and power in bringing His people through Jordan into t

JOSHUA 3:1 TO JOSHUA 5:1. THE CROSSING OF JORDAN. Here we begin to meet with more serious difficulties. The old tradition was that after the Israelites had crossed the Jordan, they commemorated the event by the erection of twelve stones. But this simple narrative existed in two recensions, which differed as to the destination of these memorial stones. According to one account, they were to be placed in the midst of the river; according to the other, they were to be set up on the W. side of the Jordan in the place where the army encamped for the night. Deuteronomic additions have been made to these narratives, _i.e._ additions of a religious colouring as in Joshua 3:7, And Yahweh said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in t

ON THAT DAY. Compare Joshua 3:7....

_VER._ 14. _ON THAT DAY THE LORD MAGNIFIED JOSHUA,_ &C.— By the miracle which had just given happy success to that general's first enterprize, and which acquired to him the same confidence and respect from the Israelites, that Moses had before acquired from the miraculous passage of the Red Sea. Thus the Lord gloriously fulfilled his word, and accomplished his promise made to Joshua in the foregoing chapter, ver. 7....