Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Ai taken, and its King hanged. JOSHUA IX. Joihua Builds an Altar.
stone, rough, unhewn stones were to be employed, that it anight retain botli the appearance and nature of eartii, since every bloody sacrifice was connected with sin and death, by which man, the creature of eartli, is lirought tc earth again. [Keil.] they oifered tliereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings—Tliis had been done when tlie covenant was estublislied (Exodus 21.5); and by the observance of these rites (Deuteronomy 27. 6), the covenant was solemnly renewed—tlie people were reconciled to God liy the burnt offering, whilst, by this feast accompanying, the peace or tliaiik offering, a happy communion with God was enjoyed by valley of the Jordan, decoyed all the inhabitauts of AI out of the city, while tlie people of Beth-el hastened to participate in the expected victory. It is supposed by Bome, from "the city," and not "cities," being spoken of, that the effective force of Beth-el had been concentrated In Al, as the two places were closely contiguous, and Ai the larger of the two. (See on ch. 12. 16.) It m.iy be remarked, however, that the words, "or Beth-el," are not In the Sept., and are rejected by some eminent scholars, as an Interpolation not found in the most ancient MSS. 18-'25. Josliua stretclicil out tlie spear tUat lie liad in
Ills liand toward tlie city—tlic uplifted spear had probably a flag, or streamer on it, to render it the more conspicuous from the height where he stood. At the sight of this understood signal the ambush nearest tlie city. Informed by their scouts, made a sudden rush, and took possession of the city, telegraphing to their brethren, by raising a smoke from the walls. Upon seeing this, the main body, who had been feigning a flight, turned round at the head of the pass upon their pursuers, wliile the all the families in Israel. 33. he wrote there upon {ite stones a C€)py of the law—(see on Deuteronomy 27. 2-S); i. e., the blessings and curses of the law. Some tliinlc tliat the stones v,'hich contained this inscription, were the stones of the altar: but this verse seems rather to indicate that a number of stone pillars were erected alongside of the altar, and on which, after they were plastered, this duplicate of tlie law was inscribed. 33. all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side—One-lialf of Isiael was ranged on Gerizim, and the other half on Eljal—along the sides and base of each, before the i>riests and Levites—in full view of them. 34. afterward lie read all the words of the law—caused the priests or Lovites to read it. (Deuteronomy 27. It.) Persons are often said in Scripture to do that which they only command to be done. 35. There -was not a word of all tliat Moses commanded which Joshua read not—It appears tliat a much larger portion of the law was read on this occasion tlian the brief sunimai\v Inscribed on tlie stones; and tliis must have been the essence of the law as contained in Deuteronomy. (Deuteronomy 4. 44; 6. 9; 27. S.) It was ntit written on the stones, but on the plaster. The Immediate design of this rehearsal w.as attained by the performance of the act itself; it only related to posterity, in so far as the record of the event would be handed down in the book of Joshua, or the documents which form the groundwork of it. [Hengstenberg.] Thus faithfully did Joshua execute the Instructions given by Moses. How awfully solemn must have been the assemblage and the occasion
25,000 issuing from their ambuscade, fell back upon their rear. The Aites surprised, looked back, and found their situation now desperate. 23. tlie king of Ai tliey took tllve, and l>roiiglit kim to Josliun—to be reserved for a more ignominious death, as a greater criminal in God's sight than his subjects. In the mingled attack from before and behind, flie whole men were massacred. 2*. all the Israelites retnrned unto Al, and smote It witli tlie edge of tlie sword—the women, children, and old persons left behind, amounting, in all, to 12,0!X) people. Josliua drew not Ills kaiid back—Perhaps, from the long continuance of the posture, it might have been a means appointed by God, to animate the people, and kejjt up in the same devout spirit as Moses had sliown, in lilting up his hands, until the work of slaugliter had been completed—the ban executed. (See on Exodus 17. 11, 12.) 28. Joshna burnt Al, and made It an Iieap for ever "for ever" often signifies along time. (Genesis 6. 3.) One of the remarkable things with regard to the tell we have identified with Ai is its name; the tell of the heap of stones; a name which to this day remains. [Van de Velde.]
29. The King Hanged. 29. Tlie klngof Ai lielianged on a tree i. e., gibbeted. In ancient, and particularly Oriental wars, the chiefs, when taken prisoners, were usually executed. The Israelites were obliged, by the Divine law, to put them to death. The execution of the king of Ai would tend to facilitate the conquest of the land, by striking terror into the other chiefs, and making
The eye and the ear of the people being both addressed, it was calculated to leave an Indelible impression; and with spirits elevated by their brilliant victories in the land of promise, memory would often revert to the striking scene on mounts Ebal and Gerizim, and in the vale of Sycliar.
it appear a judicial process, in which they were inflicting the vengeance of God upon his enemies, take Ills carcass down . . . and raise tliereon a great heap of stones —It was taken down at sunset, according to the Divine command (Deuteronomy 21. 2.3), and cast into a pit dug "at the entering of tlie gate," because that was the most public place. An immense cairn was raised over his grave—an ancient usage, still existing in the East, wliereby is marked the sepulchre of persons whose memory is infamous.
CHAPTER IX.
Ver. 1-29. The Kings Combine Against Israel. 1. all tlie kings which were on this side—i. e., the western side of Jordan—In the hills, the valleys, and all the coasts of the great sea—This threefold distinction marks out very clearly a large portion of Canaan. Tlie first designates the hill country, which belonged afterwards to the tribes of Judah and Ephraira: the second, all tlie low country from Carmel to Gaza; and the third, the shores of tlie Mediterranean, from the Isthmus of Tyre to the plain of Joppa. As for the tribes mentioned, see on ch. 3.
30, 31. .TosiruA Builds an Altar. 30, 31. Then .Toshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal—<See on Deuteronomy 27. 1. 2.) Tliis spot was little short of twenty miles from Ai. Tlie marcli through a hostile country, and the unmolested performance of the religious ceremonial observed at this mountain, would be greatly facilitated, through the blessing of God, l)y the disastrous fall of Ai. The solemn duty was to l)e attended tM at the first convenient opportunity after the entrance Into Canaan (Deuteronomy 27. 2); and with this view Joshua seems to have conducted the people through the mountainous region that intervened, though no details of the Journey have been recorded. Ebal was on the north, opposite to Gerlzim, which was on tlie south side of the town Slchem (Nablous). an altar of whole stones
10. heard (lhereo/)—Va&t is, of the sacking of Jericlio and Ai, as well as the rapid advance of the Israelites into the interior of the country. 2. they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel with one accord—although divided by separate Interests, ami often at war with each other, a sense of common danger prompted them tosuspend their mutual animosities, that by tlieir united forces they might prevent the land from falling into the hands of foreign masters.
3-1"). The Gibeonites Obtain a League by Craft. 315. when the inhabitants of Gibeoii heard—this town, as its name imports, was situated on a rocky eminence, about six miles north-west from Jerusal(!m, wliere tlie modern village of El-Jil) now stands; it was tlie caiiital of tlie Hivites, and a large important city (ch. 10. 2). U seems to have formed, in union witli a few other towns in the neighbourhood, a free Independent state (u. 17), and to Imve enjoyed a republican govcruinent (v, 11). they did 149
—according to the instructions given to Moses (Exodus 20. V>- Deuteronomy 27. 5.) over which no man lialh lifted up any iron—i. e.. Iron tool. Tlie reason of tliis was, that every altar of the true God ouglit properly to have been built of earth 'Exodus 20. 21;; and if it was coi structed of