.33. to thecording prediction 19.) CHAPTEE XX. of Moses. (Deuteronomy (continued)
Joshua!s Exhortation before his Death. JOSHUA XXIII, XXIV. He Assembles the Tribes.
them with the certain withdrawal of the Divine aid In the further expulsion of the Canaanites; a tlireat foundea on Exodus 23. 33; Numbers 33. 55; Deuteronomy 7. 16.
altar, and repented of their rasli choice in preferring worldly advantages to religious privileges, to remove to the western side of the Jordan, where the whole tribes would form a united and obedient community of worship-
CHAPTER XXIV.
pers. 31. then the children of Reuben, &c., answered repudiating, in the strongest terms, the alleged crime, and deponing that so far from entertaining the intention imputed to them, their only object was to perpetuate the memory of their alliance with Israel, and their adherence
Ver. 1. Joshua Assembling the Tribes. 1. Joshua gatliered all the tribes of Israel to Sliecliem—Anothet and final opportunity of dissuading the people against idolatry is here described as taken by the aged leader, whose solicitude on this account arose from his knowledge of the extreme readiness of the people to conform to the manners of the surrounding nations. This address was made to the representatives of the people convened at Shechem, and which had already been the scene of a solemn renewal of the covenant (ch. 8. 30, 35). The transactiOL now to be entered upon being in principle and object the same, it was desirable to give it all the solemn impressiveness which might be derived from the memory of the former ceremonial, as well as from other sacred associations of the place (Genesis 12. 6, 7; 3S. 18-20; 35. 2-4). they presented themselves before God—It is generally assumed that the ark of the covenant had been transferred on this occasion to Shechem; as on extraordinary emergencies it was for a time removed (Judges 20. 1-18; I Samuel 4. 3; 2 Samuel 15. 24). But the statement, not necessarily implying this, may be viewed as expressing only the religious cliaracter of tlie ceremony. [Hengstenberg.]
to the worship of Israel's God.
30-34. The Deputies Satisfied. 33, 34. it pleased them—The explanation not only gave perfect satisfaction to the deputies, but elicited from them expressions of unbounded joy and thankfulness. "This day we perceive that the Lord is among us," i. e., by His gracious presence and preventing goodness, which has kept you from falling into the sbspected sin, and rescued the nation from the calamity of a fratricidal war or providential judgments. This episode reflects honour upon all parties, and shows that piety and zeal for the honour and worship of God animated the people that entered Canaan to an extent far beyond what was exemplified in many other periods of the history of Israel.
CHAPTER XXIII.
"Ver. 1, 2. Joshua's Exhortation Before His Death.
I. a Ions; time after the Lord had given rest nnto Israel from all their enemies—about fourteen years after the conquest of Canaan, and seven after the distribution of that country among tlie tribes. 2. Joshna called for all Israel—the clause which follows seems to restrict this general expre-ssion as applicable only to the officers and representatives of the people. The place of assembly was most probably Shiloh. Tlie occasion of convening it was the extreme age and approaching deatli of the venerable leader; and the purport of this solemn address was to animate the chosen people and their posterity to a faith-
2-13. Relates God's Benefits. 2. Joshua said unto the people—His address briefly recapitulated tlie principal proofs of the Divine goodness to Israel from the call of Abraham to their happy estaljlishment in tlie land of promise; and showed tliem that they were indebted for their national existence as well as their peculiar privileges, not to any merits of their own, but to the free grace of God. your fathers dwelt on tlie otlier side of the tlood—The Euplirates, viz., at Ur. Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of IVahor—(see on Genesis 11.
ful and unswerving continuance in the faith and worship of the God of Israel.
27.) Tliough Terah had three sons, Nahor only is mentioned with Abraliam, as the Israelites were descended from him on the mother's side through Reljekaii and lier nieces, Leah and Rachel, sen'cd other gods—Conjoin-
3. By Former Benefits. Ye have seen all that the I.ord your God hath done nnto all these nations hecause of yon—The modesty and humility of Joshua are remarkably displayed at the commencement of this address. Sinking all thoughts of his personal services, he ascribed the subjugation and occupation of Canaan entirely to tlie favouring presence and aid of God; and in doing so, he spoke not more piously than truly. This had l)een promised (Deuteronomy 1.30; 3.22); and the reality of the Divine aid was seen in the rapid overthrow of the Canaanites, which had already led to the division of the whole land amongst the tril)es.
ing, like Laban, the traditional knowU<lge of the true God with the domestic use of material images (Genesis
31. 19, 34). 3. I took your father Al)raliam from the other side of the tlood, and led him throiiglxout all the land of Canaan—It was an irresistible impulse of Divine grace which led the patriarch to leave his country and relatives, to migrate to Canaan, and live a "stranger and pilgrim" in that land. 4. I gave unto Esau mount Selr—(see on Genesis 36. 8, 9.) In order tiiat lie might be no obstacle to Jacob and his posterity being the exclusive heirs of Canaan. 13. I sent the hornet before you—
5-11. By Promises. The Lord your God, he shall expel them from before you, as the Lord your God has promised you, &c.—The actual possessions which God had given were a pledge of the complete fulfilment of His promise In giving them the parts of the country still unconqnered. But the accomplishment of the Divine promparticular species of wasp which swarms in warm countries, and sometimes assumes the scourging chara'ter of a plague, or, as many think, it is a figurative expiession for uncontrollable terror (Exodus 23. 27, 28). 14-38. IVow therefore fear the Lord, and serve liim in sincerity andtjnith—After having enumerated so many groun<i3 ise depended on their inviolable fidelity to God's law—on their keeping resolutely aloof from all familiar intercourse and intimate connections with the Canaanites, or In any way partaking of their Idolatrous sins. In the event of their continuing in steadfast adherence to the cause of God, as happily distinguished the nation at that time. His blessing would secure them a course of brilliant and easy victories (Leviticus 28. 7; Deuteronomy 28. 7; 32.
for national gratitude, Joshua calls on them to declare, in a pulilic and solemn manner, whether they will be faitliful and obedient to the God of Israel. He avowed tliis to be his own unalterable resolution, and urges them, if they were sincere in making a similar avowal, "to put away the strange gods that were among them"—a requirement which seems to Imply that some were .suspected of a strong hankering for, or concealed practice of, the idolatry, whether in the form of Zabaism, the fire-worship of their Chaldean ancestors, or the grosser superstitions of the Canaanites. 36. Joslnia wrote these words in the books of the law of God—Registered the engagements of that solemn covenant in the book of sacred history, took a great stone—According to the usage of ancient times to erect stone pillars as monuments of puhlk trans-
80). 11. Take good heed, therefore, that ye love the Ijordyour God—The sum of his exhortation is comprised in the love of God, which Is the end or fulfilment of the law (Deuteronomy 6. 5; 11. 13; Matthew 22. .37).
12. By TIIRKATKNINGS in case of DlSOnEDIENCE. 13. El»e If ye do In any wise go back, and cleave to the remnant of those nations—By "going back'" is meant transgression of the Divine law; and as marriage connections witli the Idolatrous Canaanites would present many and strong temptations to transgress it, tliese were strictly actions, set It up under an oak—Or terebinth, in all likelihood, the same as that at the root of wlilch Ja(«h burled the Idols, and charms found in uis family, tlutt 157 prohibited (Exodus Hi. 12-16; Deuteronomy 7. 3). With his eye, as It were, upon those prohibitions, Joshua threatens