Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, Joshua · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Verſ. 2. ANd the Lord ſaid unto Joſhua, &c.] Who now appeared to Joſhua in the ſhape of an armed man, as was ſaid before, chap. 5.13.
Verſ. 3. And ye ſhall compaſſe the citie all the men of warre and go round about the citie once, &c.] This no doubt they were enjoyned to do at ſuch a diſtance from the walls, that they might not be in danger of any arrows or other things which the inhabitants might ſhoot at them. That which is moſt worthy our enquiring in this courſe which the Lord here preſcribes for the taking of Jericho, is, why the Lord would have ſuch means uſed for the effecting of this, as were not onelyonly ſo unlikely to effect it, but alſo ſo abſurd and ridiculous in the eye of reaſon; what likelihood was there in humane judgement, that their tracing about the city once every day for ſix dayes together, and ſeven times the ſeventh day, or that the Prieſts blowing with trumpets of rams-horns, and the ſhouting of the people, ſhould batter down the walls of ſo ſtrong a city? yea, the appointing of trumpets of rams-horns for the Prieſts, had above all the reſt a ſhew of ridiculouſneſſe. Had they made uſe of the ſilver trumpets of the Sanctuary, there had been both more ſtate, and a better ground of hope in the ſounding of thoſe ſacred ſignes of Gods preſence amongſt them; but theſe trumpets of rams-horns might ſeem onelyonly fit to move laughter for a work of ſuch importance as they had now in hand. But to all this now it may be anſwered; Firſt, that hereby the Lord made it manifeſt beyond all exception, that it was he onelyonly that delivered the city into their hands: The leſſe they did herein, the leſſe cauſe had they to aſcribe any thing to their own wiſdome or valour; and the more ridiculous the means were that were uſed, the more evident it was that the work was not done by any power of the means, but by the ſole power of God. Secondly, that hereby the almighty power of God was the more magnified, who could effect ſuch great works by ſuch unlikely and ſimple means; for this did diſcover plainly, how farre the power of God did ſurpaſſe the reach of mans wiſdome, even that (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1. Cor. 5.25) The fooliſhneſſe of God is wiſer then men, and the weakneſſe of God is ſtronger then men. And thirdly, that the more abſurd and ſimple the means appointed were in reaſon, the better was the faith of Gods people tryed, whether they would in confidence of Gods promiſe do what he enjoyned them, however ſtrange it might ſeem to them, and would become fools, that they might be wiſe, as the ſame Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1. Cor. 3.18. So that we ſee the Lord did in great wiſdome preſcribe this courſe for the taking of Jericho, which reaſon was like to ſcorn and deride: yea, and herein we have beſides an obſervable figure of Gods ſubduing the world to Chriſt our Joſhua, or Jeſus, in theſe dayes of the Goſpel. For as by trumpets of rams-horns, that is, by the fooliſhneſſe of preaching (for ſo carnall men judge of it, 1. Cor. 1.21.) doth the Lord beat down all the ſtrong holds, and fortifications of Satan raiſed in mens hearts, even every high thing that exalts it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, 2. Cor. 10.4, 5. That which the world counts fooliſhneſſe, 1. Cor. 1.23. We preach Chriſt crucified, to the Jews a ſtumbling block, and to the Greeks fooliſhneſſe, it proves the mighty power of God unto ſalvation to thoſe that believe: and thus hath God provided, that all the glory ſhould redound to him, and not unto his inſtruments the preachers of the Goſpel: We have this treaſure in earthen veſſels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us, 2. Cor. 4.7.
Thus ſhalt thou do ſix dayes, &c.] Six dayes together, once a day, are the Iſraelites here appointed to march about Jericho in a ſolemn manner, as is afterwards expreſſed, and on the ſeventh day, verſ. 4. they were to do it ſeven ſeverall times; this doubtleſſe was to exerciſe the faith and patience of the people. It had been as eaſie for God to have cauſed the walls of Jericho to fall at the firſt dayes compaſſing the citie, as after ſeven dayes toyl; but thus God loves to try the faith and patience of his people, to ſee whether they will wait for the accompliſhment of his promiſes, when they are not preſently fulfilled. As for their marching about the citie on the ſabbath day (which muſt needs be granted, becauſe they did it ſeven dayes together) we need not ſtumble at it: for Gods precept is the rule of righteouſneſſe, nor can men ſinne in doing what God hath commanded.
Verſ. 5. And it ſhall come to paſſe that when they make a long blaſt, &c.] See the note upon Exod. 19.19.
And the wall of the citie ſhall fall down flat, &c.] But how was it then that Rahabs houſe did not fall together with the wall? for it is expreſſely ſaid before, Chap. 2.15. that her houſe was upon the wall, and ſhe dwelt upon the wall, and yet after the wall was fallen it is ſaid, verſ. 22. of this chapter, that Joſhua commanded the two men that he had formerly ſent to ſpie out the countrey, to go into the harlots houſe, and to bring her out, and all that ſhe had. Now to this I anſwer, that doubtleſſe therefore all the wall about the city did not fall, but onelyonly that part of the wall over againſt which the Iſraelites were in a long train, when they had compaſſed the city the laſt time, that ſo they might go up, every man right from the place where they were, and enter at this breach into the citie. And indeed, this makes the fall of the citie wall the more ſtrange and miraculous.
Verſ. 9. And the armed men went before the prieſts that blew the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark.] I doubt not but this order preſcribed here by Joſhua, for the peoples marching about the citie, was formerly given him in charge by the Lord, though it be not there expreſſed. However, very obſervable is the peoples readineſſe in obeying his command, which makes it to me moſt probable, that Joſhua had told them what the Lord had imparted to him, concerning the falling of the citie wall, which they believing the rather, becauſe of the miracle they had ſo lately ſeen of the dividing of Jordan, were the readier to do what Joſhua enjoyned them, and thence is that which the Apoſtle ſaith, Heb. 11.30. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compaſſed about ſeven dayes. It is queſtioned by ſome, why thoſe Iſraelites were armed that went before the ark, ſeeing the wall was to fall of it ſelf? But this ſcruple is altogether cauſeleſſe, for it was fit they ſhould be armed for their own defence, and the defence of the ark, in caſe the inhabitants ſhould ſally out upon them: and beſides, they were to go up, upon the citie to deſtroy the inhabitants, ſo ſoon as ever the wall was fallen, and their going armed beforehand, did teſtifie that they believed what God had ſaid herein, and were ready to execute the Lords command. The greateſt difficulty in theſe words is, who are here meant by the rereward that came after the ark? Some hold that this is meant of the tribes of Dan, Aſher, and Naphtali, and that becauſe, Numb. 10.25. their camp is called the rereward, and uſed alwayes as the Iſraelites travelled through the wilderneſſe to march in the rere, which order they conceive was here obſerved for the greater pomp and ſtate. But yet becauſe the words ſeem ſo plainly to imply, that all the people that were armed went before the ark; Let him that is armed paſſe on before the ark of the Lord, verſ. 7. and here again, the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, therefore it may ſeem more probable which others ſay, that by rereward, here is meant the remainder of the people that were not armed.
Verſ. 16. Joſhua ſaid unto the people, Shout, &c.] The following reaſon, for the Lord hath given you the citie, ſhows the ground why this ſhouting was enjoyned them, to wit, firſt, to ſtrike the hearts of the men of Jericho with fear: ſecondly, to teſtifie their faith in Gods promiſe, and their joyfull aſſurance that now the citie ſhould be delivered up unto them: and thirdly, to encourage one another in the following aſſault.
Verſ. 17. And the city ſhall be accurſed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord.] This Joſhua received in charge from the Lord, though it were not formerly expreſſed, as is evident, 1. Kings 16.34. In his dayes did Hiel, the Bethelite, build Jericho: he laid the foundation in Abiram his firſt-born, and ſet up the gates thereof in his youngeſt ſonne Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Joſhua the ſonne of Nun. And by Joſhua no doubt this charge was given to the people, before the time when they were to ſhout: but here it is inſerted, vvhen it vvas to be put in execution, to make vvay to the follovving ſtory of Achans tranſgreſſion, chap. 7. Why this citie vvas thus deſtroyed rather then the other cities vve need not enquire, ſince it is enough that it pleaſed God ſo to appoint. But probably, tvvo reaſons may be given: firſt, that hereby the other inhabitants might be vvarned not to ſtand out againſt God, or if they did, to render them the more inexcuſable: and ſecondly, that it might be offered to the divine juſtice as a kind of firſt-fruits, as the words implie, the citie ſhall be accurſed to the Lord; thereby acknowledging that the whole land was his, but that he was pleaſed to give it them. As concerning things accurſed or devoted, ſee the notes upon Levit. 27.28.
Verſ. 19. But all the ſilver and gold, and veſſels of braſſe and iron, are conſecrated unto the Lord.] Under theſe we may probably conceive that all other metalls are comprehended, and happely they were made to paſſe through the fire ere they were brought into the Lords treaſurie, as thoſe were, Num. 31.22, 23. OnelyOnly the gold, the ſilver, the braſſe, the iron, the tinne, and the lead, Every thing that may abide the fire, ye ſhall make it go through the fire and it ſhall be clean: concerning their images of gold and ſilver, there is no queſtion to be made but that either they were melted and ſo brought into the treaſurie, or elſe utterly wafted with the things in the citie, according to that law, Deut. 7.25. The graven images of their gods ſhall ye burn with fire; thou ſhalt not deſire the ſilver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, leſt thou be ſnared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.
Verſ. 20. The wall fell down flat, ſo that the people went up into the citie, &c.] Thus God without the help of the Iſraelites beat down the walls of Jericho, wherein the Iſraelites were to have no part of the ſpoil. See the former note upon verſ. 5.
Verſ. 23. And they brought out all her kindred and left them without the camp of Iſrael.] That is, having fetched Rahab, her kindred, and all ſhe had out of her houſe, they carried them to ſome place without their camp, and there they left them. And thus both the Iſraelites teſtified what an eſteem they had of the holineſſe of their camp where God was pleaſed to dwell amongſt them; and withall, Rahab and her kindred were hereby taught to acknowledge bewail and forſake the impuritie of their gentile condition; and were kept as aliens from the common-wealth of Iſrael, till they had made profeſſion of their deſire to imbrace the religion and faith of Iſrael, and were cleanſed from their former pollutions according to the Law, Numb. 31.19. And do ye abide without the camp ſeven dayes: whoſoever hath killed any perſon, and whoſoever hath touched any ſlain, purifie both your ſelves and your captives on the third day and on the ſeventh day.
Verſ. 24. And they burnt the citie with fire and all that was therein.] It might well in reaſon have been very grievous to the people to deſtroy ſuch goodly houſes wherein they might ſo conveniently have ſeated themſelves, and the whole prey and ſpoil of ſo fair a citie, which might ſo greatly have enriched them. But herein is noted their obſervable obedience at preſent to the Lords command, not a man of them offering to meddle with one jot of the ſpoil, ſave onelyonly Achan, of whoſe ſacriledge we have the relation in the following chapter.
Verſ. 26. Curſed be the man before the Lord, that riſeth up and buildeth this citie Jericho.] God would have the ruines of this town remain as a perpetuall monument of the power of God ſhewed both in his ſeveritie againſt this idolatrous citie, and his merciemercy to his people; and therefore Joſhua is by the Lord appointed to curſe him that ſhould by building this citie again as it were blot out the memoriall of this miraculous work. For that Joſhua pronounced this curſe by Gods command is evident 1. Kings 16.34. In his dayes did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his first-born, and ſet up the gates thereof in his youngeſt ſonne Segub, according to the word of the Lord which he ſpake by Joſhua the ſonne of Nun.
He ſhall lay the foundation thereof in his firſt-born, and in his youngeſt ſonne ſhall he ſet up the gates of it.] That is, let it coſt him the loſſe of all his children: the firſt when he begins it, the other as he goeth forward with the work, and the laſt when he finiſheth it. For the hanging up the gates is counted as it were the finiſhing of a citie. How this curſe fell upon Hiel the Bethelite who in Ahabs reigne built this citie again, is noted in the place before cited, 1. Kings 16.34.