Commentary on the Holy Bible

Joshua, the son of Nun, of the Tribe of Ephiaini, was first called Oslid or Hoshca rrri. Num. xiii, IG, which signifies sare^/, a Saviour, or Salvation; but afterwards Moses, guided no doubt, by a prophetic spirit, changed his name into iw,-.' YeJios/iud, or Joshua, which signifies, he shall save, or the Salvation of Jehovah; referring, no doubt, to his being God's instrument in saving the people from the hands of their enemies, and leading them from victory to victory over the different Canaanitish nations, till he put them in possession of the Promised Land, On the change and meaning of tlu' name, see the note on Num. xiii. IG. By tlie Septuaginthe is called Ujoui Nai/>i, Jesus Naue, or Jesus son of Nave: and in the New Testament, he is expressly called I)i3-off Jksus. See Acts vii. 45. Heb. iv. 8. Joshua was denominated the servant of Moses, as he seems to have acted sometimes as his secretarj/, sometimes as his Aid flu camp, and sometimes as the general of the army. He was early appointed to be the successor of Moses, see Exod. xvii. 14. and under the instruction of this great Master, he was fully qualified for the important office. He was a great and pious man, and God honoured him in a most extraordinary manner, as the sequel of the history amply proves. From the preceding Books it appears, that he became attached to Moses shortly after the Exodus from Egvpt; that he was held by him in the highest esteem; had the connnand of the army confided to him in the war with the Amalckites; and accompanied his master to the Mount, when he went up to receive the Law from God. Tlicse were the highest honours he could possibly receive, during the life-time of Moses.

Connnentators and critics are divided in opinion, whether the Book that goes under his name, were actually com])ilod bv him.

It is argued by tliose who deny Joshua to bo the author, that there are botli names and trarisactions in it, which did not exist till considerably after Joshua's time. The account we have chap. iv. 9. of the twelve stones set up by Joshua in the midst of Jordan, remaining to the present dai/, seems to prove that the Book, at least this verse, was hot written till afler Joshua's time: the

same may be said of the account of Ai, tliat Joshua made it a heap for ever, even a desolatio7i to the present daij, chap. viii. 28. which is a proof however, that the Book was not written after the time of the K'mgs, as Ai subsisted after the return from the capti\aty, see Ezra ii. 28. The men of Beth-el and Ai two hundred twenty and three. It is supposed also, that the relation of the marriage of Achsah, daughter of Caleb, with Olhniel the son of Kenaz, necessarily belongs to the time of the Judges; Josli. xv. 16 — 19. as also the account of the capture of Leshem by the Danitcs, chap. xix. 47. compared with Judges xviii. 7, 29.

" What is related chap. xv. 63. concerning the Jebusiies dwelling with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day; must certainly have been written before the time of David; for he took the strong hold of Zion, and expelled the Jebusites. See 2Sam. v. 7 — 9. Also, what is said chap. xvi. 10. they drove not out the Canaaniies that dxcelt in Gezer: hut they dzcell among the Ephraitnites unto this day — must have been written before the time of Solomon; for in his time, Pharaoh king of Egypt, had taken Gezer, burnt it with fire, slain the Canaanites that dwelt in it, and gave it a present to his daughter, the wife of Solomon, 1 Kings xix. 16. The country of Cakd mentioned chap. xix. 27. had not this name till the time of Solomon, as appears from 1 Kings ix. 13. and the city called Joldheel chap. xv. 38. had not this name till the reign of Joash, as appears from 2 Kings chap. xiv. 7. it having been pre\iously called Selah. The like may be said of Tijix, chap. xix. 29. and of Galilee, chap. xx. 7. and xxi. 32."

These are the principal objections which are made against the Book, as being the work of Joshua. Some of these difficulties might be so removed, as to render it still probable thai Joshua was the author of the whole Book, as some think to be intimated chap. xxiv. 26. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the laxv of the Lord: (but this probably refers to nothing more, than the words of the Covenant which was then made, and which is included in ver. 2 — 24.) but there are other difficulties that cannot be removed on the above supposition; and tlierefore it has been generally supposed, that the Book was written by some inspired person, after the time of Joshua; and positively before many kings had reigned in Israel. The Book has been attributed to Samuel; though some give this honour to Ezra.

After all, I cannot help considering tlie Book in the main, as the composition of Joshua himself. It is certain that Moses kept an accurate register of all the events that took j^lace during his administration in the wilderness; at least from the giving of the Law, to the time of his death. And in that wilderness he wrote the Book of Ge7iesis, as well as the others that bear his name» Now, it is not likely that Joshua the constant servant and companion of Moses, could see all this, be convinced, as he must be, of its utihty, and not adopt the same practice; especially, as, at the death of Moses, he came into the same office. I therefore take it for granted, that the Book of Joshua is as truly his work, as the Commentaries of Caesar, are his, and all the real difficulties mentioned above, may be rationally and satisfactorily accounted for, on the gi'ound, that in transcribing this Book in after ages, especially between the times of Joshua and the Kings, some few changes were made, and a very few slight additions, which referred chiefly to the insertion of names by which cities were (hen known, instead of those by which they had beerv anciently denominated. This Book tlierefore, I conceive to be not the work of Ezra, nor of Samuel,, nor of any other person of tliosc times; nor can I allow that " it is called the Book of Joslina, l)oraiisc lie is the cliiil' siihjoct of it, as tlif iicroic poem of Virj;!! is called the /Tiwrn, i)ccau.sf of tiie Prince whose travels and actions it relates," hut f conceive it to be called the Book of Joslnia, 1. Because /oA7/»fl Kro/<' //. 'J. Because it is the relation of his own conduct in (lie con(|iu'st, di\isi()n, and settlement of the Promised Land. 3. Because it f ontains a mnltiludc of jnirtiadars lliat only li'uiisclj, or a constant cijetvilr.css, could ])ossi!)l\' relate. 4. Because it was evidently designed to he a corUiiiva/ion of the Book of Deuteronomy, and is so connected with it, in narrative, as to prove that it must ha\u heen immediately cowJweHCfrf, on the trrwiiia/ion of the other..5. I might add to this,, that witli the exception of a few individuals, the whole of the ancient Jewish and ("iiristian Churches, have uniformly acknowledged Joshua to be its Author.

Ilie Book of Joshua is one of the most Im])ortant writings in the Old Covenant; and sliould never be sc])arated from the Pentateuch, of whic h it is at once both the continuation and completion. Between this Book and i\\c Jive Books (J' Moses, there is the same analogy as between tlie,/owr GosjH-ls and the Acts of the Apostles. The Pkntatkccu contains a history of the Acts of the great Jewish Lcgishdor, and the Laws on which the Jmish Church should he established. The Book of Joshua gives an account of the cstdhlishmcnl of thai Church in the Land of Canaan, according to the oft repeated promises and declarations of God. The Gospels give an account of the transactions of Jesus Cuiiist, the great Christian legislator, and of those laws on whicli his Church should be established; and by which it should be governed. The Acts of the Apostles, give an account of the actual establishment of that Church, according to the predictions and promises of its great Founder. Thus then, the Fcntatetich bears as jjointed a relation to the Gospels, as the Book o( JoxhiM does to the Acts of the Apostles. And we might, with great appearance of probability, carry this analogy yet farther, and shew that the writings of several of the Prophets bear as strict a relation to the Apostolical Ejiistles, as the l^ooks of Ezekiel and Daniel do to the Apocali/psc. On this very ground of analogy, Christ obviously founded the Christian Church: hence he had his ticelve disciples, from whom the Christian Cliurch was to spring, as the Jenish Church, or txcelve tribes sprang from the txcelvc sons of Jacob. He had his seventij, or seven ty-lxco disciples, in reference to the seventy-txLO ciders, six chosen out of each of the twehe tribes who wore united with Moses and Aaron, in the administration of ju>tice, &c. among the people. Christ united in his person the characters both of Moses and Aaron, or Le^-islator and Ilin-hpriest; hence he ever considers himself, and is considered by his Apostles and followers, the same in the Christian Church, that Moses and Aaron were in the Jewish. As a rite of initiation into his Church, he instituted baptism in the place of circumcision; both being Ivpes of the jmrification of the heart, and holiness of life: and as a rite of establishment and confrmation, the holv cucharist in place of the paschal lamb; both being intended to commemorate the atonement made to God for the sins of the jieoplo. Tlie analogies are so abundant, and indeed universal, that time would fail to enumerate them. On this very jirinciple, it would be a matter of liiiih utilitv, to read these Old Testament and the Nexc Testament Books together; as they reflect a strong and mutual liffht oi; each oUier; bear the most decided testimony to the words and truth of prophecy; and shew tlie ample fultilment of all the ancient and gracious designs of God. This appears paiiicjlarlv evident in \^o fve Books of Moses, and the Book of Josliua, compared and collated witlv the four Gospels and Ihe Acts of the Apostles; and the analogy will be the more complete as to the number of those Books, though that is a matter of minor consideration, when we consider Joshua as we ought, a co7iti?i2iatlon of the Book of Deuteronomy, though written by a different hand, which two books should be rated only as 0}ie history. Of Judges and liitth it ma}- be said, they are a sort of supplement to the Book of Joshua.

Wlioever goes immediately from the reading of the Fefitateuc/i, to the reading of die Gospels; and trom the reading of Joshua, to that of the Acts, will carry with him advantages, which, on no other plan, he will be able to command. Even a commentator himself will derive advantages from this plan, which he will seek in vain from any other. To see the wisdom and goodness of God in the ritual of Moses, we must have an eye continually on the incarnation and death of Christ, to whicli it refers. And to have a proper view of the great atonement made by the sacrifice of our Lord, we must have constant reference to the Mosaic Law, where this is shadowed forth. Without this reference, the Law of Moses is a system of expensive and burthensome ceremonies, destitute of adequate meaning: and without this entering in of the Law, that the offence might abound, to shew the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the fiailty of man, and the holiness of God; the Gospel of Christ, including the account of his incarnation, preaching, miracles, passion, death, burial, ascension, and intercession, would not appear to have a sufficient??eceuS"«/y to explain and justify it. By the lawis the A-note-fcrf^e o/" 5«rt; and by the gospel, its cure. Either, taken separately, will not answer the purpose, for which God gave these astonishing revelations of his justice and his grace.

God commands Joshua to lead the people over the Jordan, and promises to put them in possession of the whole land. He encourages and commands him to be obedient, and promises him his continual presence and protection. — Chap. i.

Joshua sends tw.o spies to examine the state of the inhabitants: they are received and concealed in the house of Rahab, wuUi W'hom and her family they make a covenant. After three days, they return to Joshua, and make a favovu'able report. — Chap. ii.

The whole Israelitish camp pass the Jordan, opposite to Jericho. The waters of the Jordan are miraculously cut off, and stand in a heap till the whole camp passed over. — Chap. iii.

By the command of God, twelve stones are taken up from the bed of the river; and twelve other stones are set up in it, as a memorial. The twelve stones brought out of the river are set up in Gilgal, as a monument of the miraculous interposition of God. — Chap. iv.

At the command of God, Joshua circumcises the Israelites — they keep their first pass-over; and Joshua is encouraged by the appearance of an extraordinary person, who calls himself Captain of the Lord's host. — Chap. v.

The Israelites invest Jericho, and surround it seven days, the priests blowing with seven trumpets.— On the seventh day, at the command of Joshua, the people shout, and the walls of Jericho fall down — the Israehtes enter and put all to the sword, except Rahab and her family. The city is laid under a curse. — Chap. vi.

Three thousand men being sent against.^/, ar.e repulsed, and thirty -six of them slain: Joshua being distressed, and the people greatly discouraged, he enquires of the Lord wliy they fell be- fore their enemies? And is answered, tliat conUiuy to the express co;jnuand ol (jod, soiue of tlic people had secreted part of the spoils of Jericho, which they had been ordered wholly to destrov. An encpiiry is inslitiitctl; and Ac/uiii, the son of Zcra/i, is discovered to have taken a rich Babylonish garment, '20O shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold. IJe is sentenced to be stoned lie and all his property, his asses, sheej), oxen, and tent, are destroyed in the \alley of Ac/ior, and a heap of stones raised over the place. — Chap. vii.

Thirty thonsand men attack Ai, and take it by stratagem: iht-;. j)iit liie iniialjitants to the sword, to the amount of twelve thousaml jjersons, and hang the king j they preserve the cattle and spoil to themselves. Joshua builds an altar to the Lord, and oHers sacriHces, writes the Law upon the stones of it, and reads all the blessings and curses over against Moiuit Gcrizim and FJjaly.iis the Lord conunanded Moses. — Chap. viii.

The Gibeonites send ambassadors to the Israelites, and pietcnding to be of a very distant nation, get the j)rinces of Israel to make a league with them: tiie ilecejttion is discovered, and they are condennied to a state of perpetual slavery. — Chaj). ix.

The kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish,;uul Kglon, attack the Gibeonites, becau3C they had made a league with the Israelites. They send to Joshua for assistance. Joshua attacks those five kings, and during the battle, by an extraordinary liill of hail-stones, many are killed; and at the intercession of Joshua, the sun and moon stand still, and the day is prolonged till all the confederate Amorites are destroyed. The five kings are taken in a cave at Makkedah, brought out and hanged. The Israelites afterwards take and destroy Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Hebron, Dcbir, and all the country of the hills, sontli, vale, and sprhigs. — Chap. x. Many Canaanite, Amoritc, Hittite, Perizzite, Jebusite, and Hivite kings join together against Israel: Joshua attacks and discomfits them at Merom. Afterwards he attacks the Anakim, and conquers the whole land. — Chap. xi.

A catalogue of all the kings and kingdoms that were conquered in this war; thirty-three in the whole; two on the east side of Jordan, and thirty-one on the west. — Chaj). xii.

An account of the countries not yet subjugated to the Israelites. The manner in which the territories of Sihon and Og were divided among the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe oi Manasseh. — Chaj). xiii.

The borders of the tribe of Judah described. — Othniel smites Kiijath-sepher, and marries Achsah, the daughter of Caleb. — The cities of the tribe of Judah arc enumerated. — Chap. xv.

The boundaries of the children of Joseph. — The Canaanites of Gezer not expelled, but become tributary to the Ephraimites. — Chap. xvi.

The boundaries of the half tribe of Manasseh. — The inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad. — The Canaanites are not expelled by the children of Manasseh, but serve under tribute.— The children of Joseph complain that their portion is too small for them: and Joshua commands them to subdue and inhabit the mountain country of the Perizzites. — Chap. xvii.

The tijbernacle of God is set up at Shiloh, and the remnant of the land is fiu-ther examined and divided by lot. — Benjamin's portion is described Chap, xviii.

The lot of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Aslier, Naphtali, and Dan. — The Danltes take rtie city of Leshem: and the Israelites give Joshua the city of Timnath-serah, which he rebuildsand inhabits. — Chap. xix.

Six cities of refuge are appointed, at the commandment of God. — Chap. xx.

The Levites have forty-eight cities appointed to them out of the different tribes. — Tliey and their suburbs are described. — The people enjoy rest, all the promises of God being accomplished. Chap. xxi.

Joshua dismisses the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. — On their return, they build an altar of testimony on the east side of the Jordan, at which the other tribes are alarmed, fearing some idolatrous design; and preparing to go to war with them, they first send Phinehas and ten of the princes to require an explanation. — They enquire into tlie business, and find that the altar was "built to Jehovah, merely to prevent all idolatrous worship: and the people are satisfied. — Chap. xxii.

Joshua, in his old age, exhorts the people to be faithful to their God. — Chap, xxiii.

He assembles all the tribes at Shechem — ^recounts God's merciful dealings witli them, and the deliverances he had wrought for them and their fathers; and causes them to make a solemn covenant, which he writes in the book of the Law. — Joshua dies, aged 1 10 years; and shortly after, Eleazar, the high-priest, dies also.— Chap. xxiv.

N.B. In pursuance of the promise made in the General Preface, I have given in the Chronological note, at llie head of each transaction, in the following ]5ook, not only the Year of the World, the Year before Christ, and the Yeur of the Exodus from E^ypt, but also the Year before the first OLYMPIAD. According to the AnmdeUan Marbles, and the most accurate computation, the first OLYMPIAD commenced in the 3938 year of the Juliati Period; 3228 years from the Creation; 780 years from ihe foundilion of the Athenian Empire; 408 years after the taking of Troy; 24 years before the building qf Home, and 776 before tlie Incarnation of our Lord,

Moses bfin^ dead, God coiiimisaion.% Jns/iii/i to bring the people into the promised land, 1, 'J. The extent of the land to be possessed, 3, 4. Joshua is assured ofzictorj/ over all his enemies, and is exhorted to courage and activity, 5, 0. and to be careful to act, in all things, according to the Law of Meses, in zchic/i he is to meditate daif and night, 7, 8. lie is again e.ihorled to courage, tcith the promise of continual support, tj. Joshua commands the uliirri. to prepare the people for their passage oxer Jordan, 10, 11. The lieubenites, Gadiies, and half tribe ff Mavassthyure put iu mind of their engagement to pass over teith their brethren, IQ — 15. Tlity promise the stricte-l obedience, and pray for the prosperiti/ of their leader, \G — 18.

All. Ei"d. isr. ^^ the servant of the Lord, it therefore arise, go over this Jordan,

Aiim.nnie cume to })ass, that the Lohd spake thou, and all this people, mUo the

^li'l^'"!!^*!':!" inito Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' land which I do give to them, neii

Verse I. Noiv after the death of.^fiiKsl »nM va-yehi, and it tvas, or happened, afitr the tlcatli of Moses. Even the first words ill tins hook siieiv it to be a continuation of the preceiliii[j, ami lutuiialt'ly coiinecleil with the narrative in ihe last cinpter of Deuteronomy, of iviiich I suppo.-e Joshua to h.ive been tlie author; and that chapter to have originally iiia<lc the commenccmtnt of this book: see the notes there. The time referred lo here, must have been at tlic conclusion of the thirii/ days, in uhich they niouriicd for Mose.s.

Verse 'Z. Hfoses my sen-ant] The word servant, as applied both to Moses and.losiiun, is to be understood in a very peculiar sense. Il signilks God's prime minini:r, the person to the children of LiraeL by whom he issiie<l his orders; and by «liom he accomplished all his purposes and desifjns. No per.<on ever bore this title in the like sense, but the Redeemer of mankind; of whom both Moses and Jo:-luia were types.

Go over this Jordun] The account fjivcn by Josephus of this river, may not be unacceptable here. " Panium \t thought to be the fountain of Jordan; but in reali'y it is carried thither in an occult manner, from the place called I'hiata. This place lie* on the road to Trachonilis, and is one hundred and tueniy furlongs from Crpsarea, not far out of the road, on the rii;ht hand. It has its name I'hiala, (a IkiwI' or basin) very ju.*tly, frt.m the roundness of its circumference, being round like a wheel. Jt is always full, witliout ever

3 ^ * Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses- 4 ^ From the walderness and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites; and unto the great sea, toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

.5 ^ " There shall not any man be able to sfe^nd before thee all the days of thy life: '^ as 1 was with Moses, so ^1 will be with thee: 'I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6 ^ Be strong and of a gootl courage: for " unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

JOSHUA. and promises him success.

I 7 Only be thou strong and very [courageous, that thou mayest ob- Isei-ve to do according to all the law, j' which Moses my servant commanded thee: "turn not from it io the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest ' prosper whither- I soever thou goest.

j 8 "This book of the law shall not depart out

of thy mouth; but " thou shalt meditate therein

' day and night, that thou mayest observe to do

according to all that is written therein: tor

then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and

and of a good courage; '' be not afraid, neither

be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is

'. with thee whithersoever thou goest.

''Or. llinu shntt muse this people to inherit the Intid, <frr. 'Numb. *r.