Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
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
The Giheoniles ohlain a Leaf/ue by Ci /ft. JOSHUA X. Five Kings War ayainsi Gibeon,
Divine commandment, they determined to adhere to their pledge, " be«ause they had sworn by the Lord God of Israel." The Israelitisli princes acted'conscientiously ; they woi-k vrtlUy—they acted with dexterous poliitj', st-eklng liie means of spll'-preservation, not by force, which, they were convinced, would be unsiviiili l)Ut by artful diplomiicy. tooK old sni'ks m|>os» tUcir asses—Travellers in the FJiist transport tlieir lu;;i;age on beasts of burden ; the poorer sort stow all their necessaries, food, clothes, utenfelt themselves bound by their solemn promise, but to prevent the disastrous consequences of their imprudent haste, they resolved to degrade the Gibeonites to a servile condition as a means of preventing their people from being ensnared into idolatry, and thus acted up, as they tiiought, to the true spirit and end of the law. hewers of wood and drawers of water—The menials who performed the lowest offices and drudgery in the sanctuai-y sils together, in a woollen or hair-cloth sack, laid across tlie shoulders of the beast they ride upon. Wine bottlfs, ol<l, rent, and bound up—Goat.skins, which are better adapted for carrying liquor of any kind fresh and gorid, than either earthenware, which is porous, or metallic vessels, which are soon heated by the sun. These skinbottles are liable to be rent v/hen old and much used ; and there are various ways of men<iing them, by inserting a new piece of leather, or by gathering together the edges of tlie rent and sewing them in the form of a purse, or by putting a round flat splinter of wood into the hole, old slioes clouted—Those who have but one ass or mule for themselves and baggage, frequently dismount, and walk—a circumstance which may account for the worn shoes of the pretended travellers, bread dry and monldy—This must have been that commonly used by travellers—a sort of biscuit made in the form of large rings, about an inch thick, and four or five inches in diameter. Not being so well baked as our biscuits, it becomes hard and mouldy from the moisture left in the dough. It is usually soaked in water previous to being used. G-l-t. tJiey went to JosSina untn tlic camp at Ollgal—Arrived at the Israelitish hejvdquarters, the strangers obtained an interview with Joshua and the elders, to whom they opened their business. TUe men of whence they were called Netliinims (1 Chronicles 9.2; Ezra 2.43; 8.20); i.e., given, appropriated. Their chastisement thus brought them into the possession of great religious privileges (Psalm 84. 10).
CHAPTER X.
Ver. 1-."). Five Kings War Against Gibeon. 1. Adoni-iedek—" lord of righteousness,"—nearly s.ynonymous with Melchizedek, "king of righteon.sness." These names were common titles of the Jebusite kings. Jerusalem The original name, "Salem" (Genesis 14. 18; Psalm 76. 2), was superseded by that here given, which signifies "a peaceful possession," or "a vision of peace," in allusion, as some think, to the strikingly symbajic scene (Genesis
22. 14) represented on the mount whei Ton that eit.v was afterwards built. Inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were amongst them—t. c, the Israelites—had made an alliance with that people, and acknowledging their supi-emacy, were living on terms of friendly intercourse with them. 3. they feared greatly The dread inspired by the rapid conquests of tlie Israelites had been immensel.v increased by the fact of a sate so populous and so strong as Gibeon having found it expedient to submit to the power and the terms of the invaders, as one of the royal cities—although itself a republic (ch. 9. 3), it was large and well fortified, like those places in which the chiefs of the country usually established their rt sidcnce. 3. wherefore Adoni-iedek sent, saying, Come up unto me, and help me—A combined attack was meditated on Gibeon, with a view not only to punish its people for their desertion of the native cause, but by its overthrow to interpose a barrier to the farther inroads of the Israelites. This confederacy among the mountaineers of Southern Palestine was formed and headed by the king of .lerusalem, because his territory w.is most exposed to danger, Gibeon being only six miles distant, and because he evidently possessed some degree of pre-eminence over his royal neighbours. 5. the rtve kings of the Amorifes—The settlement of this powerful and warlike tribe lay within the confinea of Moab; but having also acquired extensive possessions on thesouth-west of the,Tordan, their name, as the ruling power, seems to have been given to the region generally
Israel said luito the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell ninong ns—The answer of the Israelites implied that tlie.v had no discretion, that their orders were imperative, and that if the strangers belonged to any of the native tribes, the idea of an alliance with them was unlawful, since God had forl)idden it (Exodus 2:1. 32; 31. 12; Deuteronomy 7. 2). 9. from a very far couittry tliy servants are come, because of the name of the Iord thy
Goel—Tlicy pretended to be a<-tuated by religious motives in seeking to-be allied with his people. But their studied address is wortlij' of notice in appealing to instances of God's miraculous doings at a distance, while they pass b.y those done in Canaan, as if the report of these had not yet reached their ears. 14, 15. the men took of tlielr victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Irord —the mouldy appearance of their bread was, after examination, accepted as guaranteeing the truth of the story, and in tliis precipitate conclusion the Israelites were guilty of excessive credulity and culpable negligence, in not asking by the high priest's Urim and Thummim the mind of God, before entering into the alliance. It is not clear, however, that had they applied for Divine direction tiiey would have been forbidden to spare and connect themselves with an.v of the Can.aanitc tribes who rcxiounccd idolatry and embracc<l and worshijiped the true God. At least, no fault was found with them for making a covenant with the Giheoniles; while, on tlie other liaiid, the violation of it was severely iiunislud (2 Samuel 21. I
(2 Samuel 21. 2), although Hebron was inhabited by Hittites or Hivites (ch. II. 19). and Jerusalem by Jebusites
(i-9. Joshua Re.scijes it. 0-8. the men of Gibeon sent unto .Toshua—Their appeal was urgent, and their claim to protection Irresistible, on the gi-ound, not only of kindness and sympathy, but of justice. In attacking the Canaanltes, Joshua had received from God a general assurance of success (eh. 1.5). lint the intelligence of so formidable a combination among the native princes seems to have depressed his mind with the anxious and dispiriting ldi>a, that It was a chastisement for the hasty and inconsiderate alliance entered into with the Gilieonites.
and ch. 11. 10, 20). 10, 17. at the end of tliree days, tliey hc Trd that they were neighbours, and dwelt among tliem—This information was obtained in their further prog}'esM through the country; for as v. 17 should be rendci ed, " when the children of Israel journeyed they came to their cities." Giljeon was about eighteen or twenty miles from Gilgal. Chepliirith 18. 20; ]'>,ra2. 2."); N(v nemlah 7. 29). Beeroth (2 Samuel 4. 2), now Kl Jii'vich, about twenty minutes' distance from I'",l .lib (Gibeon). KirjathJearim, " the city of forests," now Kuryet-cl-IOnab. [Hoi5INSON.] 18-SJ7. the children of Israel smote tliem not The moral character of the Gibeonites' stratagem was l)ad. The pi'ineesof the congregation did not vindicate either the expedienc,y or the lawfulness of the connection they nad formed, but they felt the solemn obligations of tlieir oath ; and, although the popular clamour was loud against
It was evidently to be a struggle for life and death, not only to Gibeon, but to the Israelites. And In this view the Divine communication that was made to him was seasonable and animating. lie seems to have asked the counsel of God, and received an answer, before setting out on the exiiedillon. 9. •Toslinn tlierefore enme upon tliem suddenly—This Is <»xpliiitied in the following clause, wliere he is described as having accomiilishcd, by a forced march of picked men, iu one night, a distance of
Mil 111, cMiised either by disappoint men tat losing I lie spoils of Lilljcon, or by Ulspleasuie at the ajiparent brwich of the
15D
Sun and Moon stand SliU. JOSHUA XI. Divers Kitu/i Ovtrcora& to scour the country in pursuit of the remaining stragtwenty-six miles, wliioli, accordini; to the slow pace of Eastern armies anil caravans, had formerly been a three glers, a few of whom succeeded in reaching the neighbouring cities. The last act, probably the next day, was the disposal of the prisoners, among whom the five kings were consigned to the infamous doom of being slain (Deuteronoiuy 20. 16, 17), and then their corpses suspended on
Uays' journey (eh. 9. 17).
lu, H. Gor> KKiin-s .\GAiNsr them with Hailstones.
10, 11. The Ijord discomfited them— //cti., terrified, eonfounded th« An\orite allies, prolialjly, l)y a fearful storm five trees till the evening, a*, put yoiir feet upon tlie necks of tliese kings—not as a barbarous insult, Init a symbolical action, expressive of a complete victory (Deuteronomy 33. 2tf ; Psalm 110. 5; Malachi 4. 3). Seven more Kings Conquei{ED. Ver. 28-42. 38-43. thai €lay .loshua took Makkedali—In this and tue following verses is described the rapid succession of victory and extermination n'-'ch swept the whole of Southern Palestine into the hands of Israel. "All those kings and of liglitnins an<t thunder. .So the word is usually employed (1 Samuel 7. 10; Psalm IS. IH; Ui. 6). aiifl slew thein wtth a gi-ent slaiig Utcr at Glbeon—This refers to the fittaek of the Israelites upon-the besiegers. It is evident that thf-re had been much hard fighting around the heights of G.ljeon, for the day was far spent ere the enemy took to flight, chased thein along the way th.it goctU up <o Beth-hoi-on— (. e., the House of Caves, of which there are still traces existing. There were twocontiguous their larid did .losluia take at one lime, because the Lord God of Israel fought lor Israel. And Joshua returned and all Israel witli him, to the cainp at Gilgal."
villages of that name, upper and nether. Upper Bethlioron was nearest Gibeon—about ten miles distant, and approached by a gradual ascent through a long and precipitous ravine. This was the first stage of the flight.
CHAPTER XI.
Tlie fugitives had crossed tlie high ridge of Upper Bethhoron, and were in full flight down the descent to Bethhoron the Nether. The road between the two places is so rocky am) rugged, that there is a path made by means of steps cut ill t he rock. [Roijixson.] Down this pass Joshua continued his victorious rout. Here it was that the Iord
Ver. 1-!). DrvERS Kings Oveecome at the Wateks OF Meko-M. 1-9. And it came to pass, wl»en Jahlu king of Hazor had Jieard those tilings-The scene of the sacred ii.arrative is here shifted to the north of CaiKuiu, where a still more extensive confederacy was formed among t he ruling powers, to oppose the further progress liiterp<>se<l, a.ssistiug his people by means of a storm, which, having been probably gathering all day, burst with such irresistible fury, that " they were more which of the Israelites. Jabin ("the Intelligent"), whic'h seems dio<l with hailstones, than they wliom the children of Israel slew with the sword." The Oriental hail-s'orni is a terrific agent; the hailstones are masses of ice, large as walnuts, and sometimes as two fists; their prodigious to have been a hereditary title (Judges 4. 2), took the lead, from Ilazor t)eing the capital of the northern rogiond-. 10).
It was situated ou the borders of lake Merom. The other cities mentioned must have been in tlie vicinity, though their exact positiou is unknown. 2. tlie kbigs that were on the north of tlie. mountains—the Anti-liiianiis size, and the violence with which they fall, make th<^m always very injurious to property, and often fatal to life. The mii-iiculous feature of this tempest, which fell on the Aniorite army, was the entire preservation of the Israeldistrict, f lie plains south of t'liiitiierotli—the northern part of the Arabah, or valley of (he Jordan, the valley —the low and level countrj including the plain of Sharon, borders of Dor on tlic west—the highlands of Dor, ites from its destructive ravages.
12-1.5. Thh Sun akd Moon Stand Still at TitE Word OFjOSHtTA. liJ-lij. Then spake Joshua to the lrt>i-d . . . and said in the sight of all Israel, Sum, stand still . . . and tlion, Moon—The inspired author here breaks oir the thread of ids history of this miraculous victory, to intnxluce a quotation from an ancient poem, in whicli tlie mighty acts of that day were commemorated. The passage, which is parenthetical, contains a jjoc^/eai description of the victorj' which was miraculously gained by the help of God, and forms an extract from " the book of Jasher," t. e., "the upright '—an antiiology, or collection of national songs, in honour of renowned and eminently pious heroes. The languajie of a poem is not to be literally interpreted, and therefore, when the sun and moon are personified, addressed as intelligent beings, and represented as staniling still, the explanation is, that the light of the sun and moon was supernaturally prolonged by the same laws of refraction and reflection that ordinarily cause the sun to appear above the horizon, when he is in reality below it. [Keil, Bush.] Gibeon (a hill) was now at the back of tiie Israelites, and the height would soon have intercepted the rays of the setting sun. The valley of AJalon (stags) was before them, and so near, that it was sometimes called "the valley of Gibeon." (Isaiah 28. 21.) It would seem, from v. 14, that the command of Joshua Wius in reality a prayer to God for the jjerformance of this miracle; and that, although the pray(:rs of eminently good men like Moses often prevailed with God, never wa.s there on any other occasion so astonishing a display of Divine power made in behalf of his people, as in answer to the prayer of Joshua. Ver. 15 Is the end of the quotation from Jasher; and it is necessary to notice this, as the fact described in it Is recorded In due course, and the eame words, by the sacred historian, f. 4.3.
reacliiiig to the town of Dor, on the Mediterranean coast, below mount Carinel. 3. t!ie Cnnaanife on the east and on tlie west—a particular branch of the Canaanitisli population who ticcupied the w<'stern bank of the Jordan as far uortliward as tlie sea of Galilee, and al.so the coasls of the Meiliterianenn Sea. under Heriuon—now Jebel-essheikh, was the northern boundary of Caiia.an on the east of the Jordan, land of Mlipcli—now (telo-Syria. 4, 5. tliey went out as tlic sand upon the sea-shore in multitude—The chiefs of these several tribes were sumnioued by Jabin, being all piolmbly tributary to the kingdom of Hazor; and their combined lorce.s, according tojosephus, amounted to 300,000 infantry, 10,000 cavalry, and 20,0IX) war chariots, witli horses and chariots very many—The war chariots were probably like those of Kgypt, made of wockI, but nailed and tipped with iron. These appear for the first time in the Canaanite war, to aid this last determined struggle against the invaders; and " it was the use of these which seems to have fixed the place of rendezvous by the lake Merom (now Huleh), along whose level shores they could have full play for their force." A host so formidable in numbers, as well as in military equipments, was sure to alarm and dispirit the Israelites. Joshua, therefore, was favoui'ed with a renewal of the Divine promise of victory (v. (i), and thus encouraged, he, in the full confidence of faith, set out to face the enemy, to-morrow, about this time, will I deliver them up all slain before Israel—As it was impossible to have marched from Gilgal to Merom in one day, we must sup-. pose Joshua already moving north wai'd, and witliin a day's distance of the Canaanite camp, when the Lord gave him this assurance of success. With cliaraetoristio energy he made a sudden advance, probal)ly during the night, and "on the morrow fell" upon them like :i thunder-bolt, when scattered along the rising grounds (Sept.), before they had lime to rally on the plain. In the suddeu panic " the Lord delivered them Into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them." The rout was complete; some went westward, over the mountains, above the gore of the Leoutea, to tildou aud Misre|)hoth-maim
The Five Kings Hanged. Ver. 16-27. 16-37. these live kings hid themselves in a cave (Ileb., the cave) at Makkedali—The pursuit was continued, without interruption, to Makkedah, at the foot of the western mountains, where Joshua seems to have halted with the main body of bis troops, while a detachment was sent forward