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. 21 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 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.

1.

REFLECTIONS.

WE may observe the goodness of God in animating his

men.

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 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 his 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.

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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 vic tory, 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.

1.

OW these [are] the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the 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 Per. 9 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 Eg, 13 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 Ha 20 zor, one; The king of Shimronmeron, one; the king of Ach 21 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.

1

Now

OW Joshua was [old] and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old [and] stricken in 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,

:

[which] is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, 4 the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites : From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah, that [is] beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amo5 rites: And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sun rising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the 6 entering into Hamath. All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, [and] all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as 7 I have commanded thee. Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Ma 8 nasseh, With whom the Reubenites, and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them beyond Jordan eastward, [even] as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them: From Aroer, that [is] upon the bank of the river. Arnon, and the city that [is] in the midst of the river, and all 10 the plain of Medeba unto Dibon; And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the !! border of the children of Ammon: And Gilead, and the bor

der of the Geshurites, and Maachathites, and all mount Her12 mon, and all Bashan unto Salcah; All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who re, mained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses 13 smite, and cast them out. Nevertheless, the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israel 14 ites unto this day. Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the Lord GOD of Israel made by fire [are] their inheritance, as he said unto them. 15 And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben 16 [inheritance] according to their families. And their coast

was from Aroer, that [is] on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that [is] in the midst of the river, and all the plain 17 by Medeba; Heshbon, and all her cities that [are] in the 18 plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon, And Ja19 haza, and Kedemoth, and Mephath, And Kirjathaim, and Sib20 mah, and Zarethshahar, in the mount of the valley, And Beth21 peor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth, And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, [which were] dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the 22 country. Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that 23 were slain by them. And the border of the children of Reubea was Jordan, and the border [thereof.] This [was] the in

24

heritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.

And Moses gave [inheritance] unto the tribe of Gad, [even] unto the children of Gad according to their families, 25 And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that [is] 26 before Rabbah; And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh,

and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of De27 bir; And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and [his] border, [even] unto the edge of the sea of Chinneroth on the other side Jordan eastward. 28 This [is] the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities and their villages.

29

And Moses gave [inheritance] unto the half tribe of Manasseh and [this] was [the possession] of the half tribe of 30 the children of Manasseh by their families. And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which [are] in Bashan, 31 threescore cities: And half Gilead, and Ashteroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, [were pertaining] unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, [even] to 32 the one half of the children of Machir by their families. These [are the countries] which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, 33 eastward. But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not [any] inheritance: the Lord God of Israel [was] their inheritance, as he said unto them.

CHAP. XIV.

We have in this chapter a general account of the manner in which the land was to be divided between the nine tribes and a half on this side Jordan ; Caleb's claim of Hebron, and his request granted.

'Α

ND these [are the countries] which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance unto them, according to the direction of Moses, 2 Numbers xxxiv. 17, 18, and the following verses. By lot [was] their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses,* for the nine tribes, and [for] the half tribe

This was the best method of doing it, as it was acknowledging God's right to the Jand, and leaving it to his disposal; it was the way to prevent murmuring, and to make them content; and it would make it evident that the prophecies of Jacob and Moses, concerning the situation of the several tribes, were from God.