CHAP. V.

In this chapter we find that the Canaanites, hearing of this wonderful event, are greatly terrified; circumcision is renewed; the passover is kept at Gilgal; the manna ceaseth; and an angel appeareth to Joshua.

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rites, that is, all which remained, for two of their kings had been already killed, and which [were] on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which [were] by the sea, near the Mediterranean, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was their spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. God impressed the fear and dread of them upon their minds; they lost all their courage, and could think of no means of safety. This was an happy event for the Israelites; it raised their courage, and gave them time for circumcision and the passover.

Accordingly, At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, or knives of flints, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. The first time was, when they came out of Egypt to Sinai; but it had been neglected since then s it was now proper to be renewed, as it was a seal of the covenant which conveyed the promised land to them. 3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins, a place which had ♣ that name given it from this circumstance. And this [is] the cause why Joshua did circumcise: all the people that came out of Egypt, [that were] males, and above twenty years old, had joined in the rebellion, [even] all the men of war, and they died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of 5 Egypt. Now all the people that came out were circumcised but all the people [that were] born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, [them] they had not circumcised, because they were uncertain of their stay in any place. For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people [that were] men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not show them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give 7 us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. And their children, [whom] he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way; but it was peculiarly proper to be done now, as they were going to eat the passover, which no

8 uncircumcised person was allowed to do. And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. This was a further trial of their faith, as it disabled them from war in 9 an enemy's country. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you; either that for which Egypt reproaches you, or rather, that for which you reproach the Egyptians, and which is also a reproach to yourselves, that ye are not a circumcised people. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal, that is, rolling, unto this day.*

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And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. Thus calling to remembrance their deliverance out of Egypt, and receiving by this ordinance, a token of God's favour, a confirmation of his promises, and an earnest 11 of their possessing the land. And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched [corn] in the selfsame day.t

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And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more, but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. Thus God showed them that the manna was a miraculous sufifily, by its ceasing when it was no longer necessary.

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, viewing the country, and seeing where it was most proper to attack the city, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand whether it was an angel, or Christ, the Lord of angels, is not certain; he appeared as commander of an army, in a military posture; and, notwithstanding the terror and majesty of his appearance, Joshua went unto him, with undaunted courage, 14 and said unto him, [Art] thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay, I am no mortal man, as thou thinkest; neither Israelite nor Canaanite, especially not an adversary, but [as] captain, or prince of the host of the LORD am I now come, to defend and assist them. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my LORD unto his servant? Showing the most profound reverence, humbly desiring to receive his orders, and expressing his 15 readiness to obey them. And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy; the same command as was given to Moses, (see Exodus iii. 5.) and showed that God

Joshua had certainly a command from God to do this, else it would have been a most rash and imprudent thing, considering their situation, and how near Jericho was.

They kept the feast of unleavened bread after the passover, according to divine appointment, and ate old corn, which the inhabitants had left in their barns, when they fled to the cities, and probably also ripe standing corn, both in the same day; thus coming in harvest time they had plenty.

was with Joshua as he was with Moses; and this was designed to fill Joshua's mind with further reverence, and submission, and to prepare him to receive the instructions that were given him in the next chapter, with a becoming temper. And Joshua did so.

REFLECTIONS.

HOW kind and merciful are God's dealings with Israel,

notwithstanding their many provocations! He put fear into their enemies to make the conquest easy, and the success sure. He renewed a rite that would be a seal of the promise of Canaan, and a pledge of its possession; a seal of the righteousness of faith, and of those spiritual blessings which were promised to the pious descendants of Abraham. He renewed the passover, which called to remembrance their deliverance from Egypt; and both these were tokens of his continued favour. These actions, in these circumstances, so contrary to the rules of human policy, and which might have exposed them to so much danger from the Canaanites were considerable proofs of the divine authority of the Mosaical law, and God's interposition for Israel; and were designed to raise their courage, and strengthen their faith. Yet he did not multiply miracles unnecessarily; which would have made them lose their use and benefit; and therefore he removed the manna when corn was to be had.

2. Let us rejoice in the character of the Lord Jesus Christ, as captain of the Lord's host. He is the captain of our salvation. All his faithful followers are the true Israel of God; he is engaged on their side; and though a host should be encamped against them, they have no reason to fear, for he is the commander and leader of his people; wise, tender, powerful, and faithful. He leads on his charge against his enemies; and through his gracious assistance, we shall be more than conquerors.

3. A due reverence becomes us when we draw near to God, and receive messages from him: Loose thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. This is applicable to us. Christ makes no personal appearance as the representative of God now; but ministers are his ambassadors; and when we come to join in religious worship, and attend God's house, let us remember it is holy ground; and outward expressions of reverence, when we come to appear before God, are very becoming and necessary. Lifting up the hands and eyes, and especially kneeling, are recommended to us in the New Testament, by the example of Christ and his apostles. And every humble worshipper will not only engage his heart to approach God, but will show all the external marks of reverence in his worship; for God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of his saints, and holiness becomes his house; and he has expressly required that we glorify him with body and spirit, which are his.

CHAP. VI.

In this chapter we have an account of the manner in which the city of Jericho was to be surrounded; the execution of the divine order, and the fulfilment of the divine promise; the deliverance of Rahab and her house; and a solemn curse denounced on the man who should attempt to rebuild the city.

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OW Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.* 2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, by the angel, the captain of his host, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, [and] the mighty men of valour; perhaps the best forces of the Canaanites were collected to defend it, being a frontier town; but notwithstanding this, it shall be taken, and 3 the king and the men of valour be slain. And this shall be the method of doing it, ye shall compass the city, all [ye] men of war, [and] go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days, to exercise thy faith, obedience, and patience. 4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of ram's horns and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.f 5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long [blast] with the ram's horn, [and] when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall 6 ascend up every man straight before him. And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, who were to carry the ark upon this extraordinary occasion, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets 7 of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD. And he said unto the people, the men of war, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed, the men of the two tribes and a half, 8 (ch. i. 14.) pass on before the ark of the LORD. And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets : and the 9 ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, [the priests] going on, and blowing with the trumpets, obeying with cheerfulness 10 and faith. And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, nei

It was a strong city, with high walls, and for this reason the inhabitants thought themselves secure.

Not the silver trumpets, but only rams' horns, which in some countries are used by shepherds and swineherds to this day. God chose these mean instruments, to put the greater honour upon his ark and priests, and to try the faith of his people.

ther shall [any] word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout; ye shall march with profound silence, that ye may have time to contemplate the height of the wall, and the strength of the city, and to recollect former wonders, and divine promises; thus preparing your minds for 11 the event. So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going

about [it] once and they came into the camp, and lodged in 12 the camp. And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the 13 priests took up the ark of the LORD. And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, [the priests] going on, and blow14 ing with the trumpets. And the second day they compassed

the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six 15 days. And it came to pass on the seventh day, which was probably their sabbath, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city. This was done to testify their faith in God's promise (Heb. xi. 30.) and joyful assurance of success; to encourage one another in the following as17 sault, and to strike fear into their enemies. And the city shall be accursed, [even] it, and all that [are] therein to the LORD. This direction was probably given just before they shouted, that they might know how to treat the city; it was to be accursed, that is, devoted to destruction, and consecrated to God, as being the first fruits of their vietory in Canaan ; they must make an example of this city, as a warning to others, to incline them either to make peace, or to quit their towns without compulsion: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that [are] with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent; this both justice and gratitude required; but they were not on any 18 account to touch the spoil: And ye in any wise keep [yourselves] from the accursed thing, lest ye make [yourselves] accursed, liable to that curse, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, liable to punishment, and trouble it, by exposing the whole camp to the displeas 19 ure of almighty God. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, [are] consecrated unto the LORD: they 20 shall come into the treasury of the LORD.* So the people shouted when [the priests] blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall

Or, all the idols shall be utterly destroyed; the rest shall pass through the fire, as directed in Numb. xxxi, 22, 23, and so be consecrated to God's service.