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inhabitants of this lower world. How happy is the church under the divine care, who has all elements and all worlds at his command! Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord!

3. Let the success we have experienced in our spiritual warfare over some enemies, make us resolute and courageous. It should animate us against our fears, and excite and support our courage, for there is still the same power and grace in God. Let us go forth in an humble dependence on him to fight for us, to bring every enemy into subjection, and to bruise Satan under our feet; and we shall at length be more than conquerors over all our enemies, through him who loved us.

CHAP. XI.

This chapter gives an account of the conquest of the northern parts of Canaan; Providence kept them quiet for a while, till Israel was refreshed, and fit to begin another campaign.

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ND it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor, who was the chief king of that part of the country, had heard [those things,] that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to 2 the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, And to the kings that [were] on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Cinneroth, and in the valley, and in the 3 borders of Dor on the west; [And to] the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and [to] the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and [to] the Iivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh, who 4 all united against Israel, as a common enemy. And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that [is] upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many; a prodigious army, with horses and chariots, armed with iron weapons, and thought they should 5 easily destroy the Israelites, who only fought on foot. And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

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And the LORD said unto Joshua, who went to ask direction from him, Be not afraid because of them:* for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel : thou shalt hough their horses, cut their sinews, and thus unfit 7 them for war, and burn their chariots with fire. So Joshua

We can scarcely suppose that Joshua was afraid; but some of the people might be discouraged by their number, and horses, and chariots; therefore Joshua is directed to encour age them in the name of the Lord, and to assure them of success: and he fixes the time.

came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them before they were aware, or had time to draw up in order of bat8 tle. And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, a chief city of Syrophænicia, which lay on the coast of the Mediterranean sea, and unto Misrephothmaim, or, the salt pits, (in the Hebrew, burnings of waters) and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none re9 maining. And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him, he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire. This showed his readiness to obey God's command, and his firm confidence in his power and promises; for no doubt it was an act of great selfdenial to destroy the horses and chariots, which would 10 have been so useful in their further conquests. And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword, that is, Jabin, the chief of these confederate kings, who had escaped to his own city: for Hazor before11 time was the head of all those kingdoms. And they smote all the souls that [were] therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying [them] there was not any left to breathe : 12 and he burnt Hazor with fire. And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, [and] he utterly destroyed 13 them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.

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[as for] the cities that stood still in their strength, that were not destroyed in the attack, nor utterly ruined in the taking of them, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; [that] did Joshua burn, as a warning to the others, and because the 14 king thereof was chiefly concerned in raising this last war. And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe; they left none to molest 15 them, or to infect them or their posterity by their idolatry. As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.

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So Joshua took all that land, the hills and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same; either the mountainous part of the country, or, as some think, Bethel, the mountain were Jacob once lived, and where he was 17 first called Israel. [Even] from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon and all their kings he took, and smote 18 them, and slew them. Joshua made war a long time with VOL. II. LI

19 all those kings.* There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon all [other] they took in battle, that is, by assault; this made the war so long. They might have had some terms of peace, but they were desperately resolved to fight it out to 20 the last; For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, [and] that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses. God gave them up to their own pride and stubbornness, as a punishment for their idolatry, lewdness, and other abominations. And at that time came Joshua, and Caleb also, (see chap. xv. 14.) and cut off the Anakims from the mountains; that tall, gigantic people, who had affrighted the spies, and who dwelt in the caves or strong holds; these were cut off some at one time, and some at another; from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel; Joshua destroyed them utterly with 22 their cities. There was none of the Anakims left in the land

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of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained; these were Philistine giants, from 23 whence came Goliath. So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel, according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war, that is, open wars ; Joshua so far subdued it, that none of the inhabitants dared to rise up in arms, so that he could peaceably make a division; and he assigned to each tribe their inheritance; who afterward divided it among themselves.

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REFLECTIONS.

WE may observe the goodness of God in animating his

people when fresh difficulties arose. The chariots and horsemen terrified Israel; they had never seen such a sight before they were no match for such an host. Josephus mentions twenty thousand chariots, and some hundred thousands of men. But when God says, Be not afraid, that is enough, if there were a thousand times as many. Such encouragement he gives to the good soldiers of Jesus Christ, who are fighting for the heavenly Canaan. He assures them of success, and encourages them against their fears. Let us then thank God, and take courage. Let us depend on him, whose right hand and holy arm is able to baffle the proudest, the most powerful and numerous foes, 2. It is a good thing to be able to appeal to God that we have done as he commanded us. A remarkable manner of speaking

It was about five years before that country was entirely subdued. This was a great exercise of their faith and patience; it kept them dependent on God, as they still wanted Is help; and made them bold, warlike, and resolute, to secure their conquests.

is made use of in this chapter; it is often said, as God commanded Moses. This intimates to us our duty. We are to observe the commands of the divine law; what Jesus, who had a divine commission, has enjoined. We are to look narrowly into our lives, and to compare them with the rule. We are not only to do this or the other thing that he commands, but to leave nothing undone; to walk in all his statutes and ordinances blameless, and to be complete in all the will of God. Then we may review our work with pleasure, and God will accept it through Jesus Christ, and mercifully reward it through the riches of his grace.

3. Sometimes God's people meet with the most formidable enemies at last, in the close of their days, when their warfare is just accomplished. The Anakims had so terrified Israel before, that they thought they should never enter and possess Canaan; and thereby these enemies exposed them to sorrow and labour for forty years. Thus Satan is sometimes most busy, and temptations are most strong, at the end of life. Death is then to be attacked; Christians have many fears about it; some are all their life time subject to bondage; but God will give them the victory, and not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able. Israel at length rested from war. Death is the last enemy to be destroyed; and then our warfare will be over. But we are not, till then, to think ourselves secure, and past all danger. Let us resolutely press on; over this last foe we are sure of victory; and, if we are faithful unto death, we shall receive a crown of life; and enter triumphantly into that rest which remains for the people of God.

CHAP. XII.

This chapter contains only a recapitulation of Israel's victories over the Canaanites, under Moses and Joshua.

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OW these [are] the kings of the land, which the chil

other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon, unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, [and] ruled from Aroer, which [is] upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, [which is] the border of the chil3 dren of Ammon; And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, [even] the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, 4 under Ashdothpisgah: And the coast of Og king of Bashan, [which was] of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ash5 taroth, and at Edrei, And reigned in mount Hermon, and in

Salcha, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites, and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon 6 king of Heshbon. Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it [for] a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

And these [are] the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon, even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir: which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel [for] a possession according to their divisions; 8 In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Per9 izzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: The king of Jericho, 10 one; the king of Ai, which [is] beside Bethel, one; The 11 king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; The king 12 of Jarmoth, one; the king of Lachish, one; The king of Eg13 lon, one; The king of Gezer, one; The king of Debir, one; 14 the king of Geder, one; The king of Hormah, one; the 15 king of Arad, one; The king of Libnah, one; the king of 16 Adullam, one; The king of Makkedah, one; the king 17 of Bethel, one; The king of Tappuah, one; the king 18 of Hepher, one; The king of Aphek, one; the king of 19 Lasharon, one; The king of Madon, one; the king of Ha20 zor, one; The king of Shimronmeron, one; the king of Ach21 shaph, one; The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megid22 do, one; The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jockneam of 23 Carmel, one; The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the 24 king of the nations of Gilgal, one; The king of Tirzah, one : all the kings thirty and one.

CHAP. XIII.

There is nothing remarkable in this chapter. It contains only an account of the land which remained unconquered; a command to divide the land on this side Jordan; and an account of the country which Moses divided to the two tribes and a half on the other side Jordan.

TO W Joshua was [old] and stricken in years; and the

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years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possess2 ed. This [is] the land that yet remaineth all the borders 3 of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, From Sihor, which [is] before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward,

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