NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. [1451-1096 B.a. asses that carry their clothes, provisions, or merchandise, if their shoes had not presented an old and a worn appearance, suspicion and detection would have been the probable result. covenant-a friendly agreement; the Israelites believed the evidence of their senses, and did not inquire of God. The elders then sat down with the princes of the Gibeonites, and ate of their victuals, according to ancient custom, in token of amity. hewers of wood, &c. for all Israel during the campaigns of Joshua; but only for the tabernacle service when the tribes obtained possession of their inheritance. This service was only severe at the great festivals. The Gibeonites were not slaves but tributaries. stood still-the popular idea of the suu travelling round the earth is here expressed, but not the philosophical one that the earth revolves round its own axis; but in scripture, popular language is always adopted. There are many corroborations of this wonderful event in eastern writings-in the annals of China, in Herodotus, and in Homer. many-thirty-one kings in all. This great number of kings for so small a territory as Canaan is not surprising, since the early nations consisted of small states independent of each other. These states generally included but one town or city, with an extent of country round it sufficient for its supplies of the fruits of the earth. gave-Lesson 32, 'tribes.' returned-they had been absent from their families and possessions about six years. Lesson 29, leave.' allar a huge pile of stones, intended for a witness to future generations. feared-this state of mind was creditable to the nine tribes and a half, but, alas! they were soon led into idolatry. but for a witness-this showed their attachment to the Mosaic institutions and also their feeling of just pride as belonging to the nation of Israel, in whom centered ali the blessings promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. AI-a city of ancient Canaan between which and Bethel Abraham pitched his tent, and built an altar. It was about nine miles north of Jericho, and three miles west of Bethel. ACHAN OR ACHOR-'distress;' the valley was called Achor from the circumstance of Achan's transgression JOSHUA COMMANDS THE SUN TO STAND STILL. "SUN, STAND THOU STILL UPON GIBEON; AND THOU, MOON, IN THE VALLEY OF AJALON." "Stand still, refulgent orb of day! The Jewish victor cries: So shall at last an angel say, And tear it from the skies. PERIOD IV. THE TABERNACLE IS SET UP. A flame intenser than the sun Shall melt his golden urn; Time's empty glass no more shall run, Then with immortal splendour bright, On the bright ranks of happy souls, O let not sordid base desire, The soul's dark rayless night, Unfit us for heaven's sacred choir, BUTCHER. 32. CANAAN DIVIDED. JOSHUA'S EXHORTATIONS. Joshua xiii.-xxiv. When Joshua was old and stricken in years, the Lord said unto him, "Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed." Joshua had conquered thirty-one kings and their countries, but he had not conquered the whole of the land. The Levites had forty-eight cities assigned to them, with land round them. Caleb asked for Hebron for his inheritance. The tribes of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem, and they dwelt together. The Tabernacle was set up at Shiloh, and the cities of refuge were appointed. Canaan was then divided among the tribes by lot. The Anakim were destroyed. The children of Joseph's two sons had two portions allotted to them. God had fulfilled all the promises he had made to Israel. The bones of Joseph, which were brought from Egypt, were buried in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the Shechemites: it was the inheritance of the Ephraimites, who were called, "the children of Joseph." Before his death, Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, judges, and officers, and said unto them," Ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations THE DEATH OF JOSHUA. [1451-1096 B.C. because of you; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you. And the Lord your God shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land as the Lord your God hath promised unto you. Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses. That ye 'come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to 'swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them but cleave unto the Lord your God." Joshua reminded the Israelites of God's gracious goodness towards them, he warned them against 'idolatry, and he said God would 'cut them off if they forsook him. He told them of their former idolatry, and said, "As for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord." The people answered, "The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey." All these exhortations were delivered at Shechem. So Joshua let the people depart every man unto his inheritance. Joshua died soon after, being a hundred-and-ten years old and he was buried in TimnathSerah. And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord, which he had done for Israel. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. stricken &c.-weakened by age; less active than formerly. forty-eight-the suburbs of these cities extended to about 2,000 cubits or 3,000 feet round each; these suburbs were sufficiently extensive for their gardens and the pasturage of their cattle. It was not necessary that the Levites should engage in agriculture, as the tithes and first-fruits assigned to them, and brought by the other tribes, were more than sufficient for their wants. became afterwards a source of much trouble and sin in Israel. Lesson 33, tributaries.' divided (Divisions of Canaan.) See Geographical Notes. tribes-the tribes were twelve, according to the twelve sons of Jacob but the withdrawal of the tribe of Levi for the exclusive service of the tabernacle left the number but eleven. The two sons of Joseph having however been adopted as heads of tribes instead could not-this was unhappily the of their father, the number twelve, case with other tribes, as well as with among whom Canaan was to be divithat of Judah. No doubt they were ded, was thus rendered complete. impatient to enjoy their newly acquired Lesson 16. possessions, and were thus gradually weaned from their trust in God as their keep preserve from alteration and captain. This compromise with the injury. remnants of the original inhabitants do obey cheerfully and heartily. PERIOD IV.] NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. come not-mingle not with them; | form no intimate connexions with them. Lesson 35, 'look.' mention they were scrupulously to avoid every allusion to the idols of the people around them. swear-the highest and most unexceptionable witness is appealed to by an oath; God is that witness, not those things of the imagination which idolaters swear by and worship. idolatry-the worship of any being, creature, or thing, instead of God; and also the worshipping of the true God under any figure or other representa tion of him. These sins are forbidden by the first and second commandments. Lesson 22, Ten Commandments.' cut them off-from their land by allowing other nations to carry them away captive. Many of them should also be cut off, or slain by the sword, famine, and pestilence. Lesson 108, 'taken.' former-referring to the idolatry practised by Abraham's kindred on the other side of the river Euphrates. exhortations-encouraging and warning addresses, or incitements to obedieuce. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. HEBRON--the district within which Hebron was included was given to Caleb, but the city itself belonged to the priests, inasmuch as it was one of the cities of refuge. Lesson 29. JEBUSITES-Jebus was an ancient name of Jerusalem from its founder the father of the Jebusites, a tribe of the Canaanites who occupied the city and the surrounding country. Lesson 56. JERUSALEM-fountain of peace,' or 'vision of peace;' was the metropolis of the land of Israel. It is often spoken of in the Scriptures as the Holy City, because God chose it to place there his name, his temple, and his worship. It was in the southern portion of Canaan. and was situated partly in Judah and partly in Benjamin. Joshua partly conquered it, and the Israelites and the Jebusites jointly occupied the city, but in different parts. Lesson 27, Salem.' SHILOH 'peace;' a place which was in the southern part of Ephraim about fifteen miles north of Jerusalem; it was situated on a mountain to the north of Bethel. At this place the Tabernacle was set up, and here the ark of God remained nearly three hundred and fifty years, until it was taken by the Philistines. At Shiloh the promised land was divided among the tribes by lot, and the cities of the Levites, and those of refuge were appointed. ANAKIM-a gigantic tribe who lived in some parts of Canaan; they were descended from Anak, a son of Arba, who gave the name to Kirjath-arba, afterwards Hebron. The unbelieving spies saw them and were afraid of them. TIMNATH-SERAH-a city in the mountains of Ephraim, the inheritance, residence, and burial place of Joshua. DIVISIONS OF CANAAN. REUBEN-the territory of the Reubenites was bounded on the south by the river Arnon, on the east by the Moabites and Ammonites, on the north by the tribe of Gad, and on the west by the Jordan. Reuben was guilty of gross immorality, and was thus punished; as the eldest son, the priesthood should have belonged to him, but it was transferred to Levi; while his birthright was transferred to Judah. GAD-the Gadites were situated north of the Reubenites, east of Jordan, west of the Ammonites, and south of the half tribe of Manasseh. MANASSEH (HALF-TRIBE)-Half the Manassites were east of the Jordan and north of the Gadites, bounded on the north by part of the Lebanon range, and on the east by the hills of Bashan and Mount Hermon. NAPHTALI-this tribe inhabited the country over against the half-tribe of Manasseh, the river Jordan running between them; and had the Jordan on the east, the springs of Jordan and Mount Lebanon on the north, the tribe of Asher on the west, and Zebulon on the south. ASHER-lay west of Naphtali; the western boundary of this tribe was the "HOLY RESOLUTIONS." [1451-1096 B.C. Mediterranean Sea, Phoenicia was on the north, Naphtali on the east, and Zebulon on the south. ZEBULON-this tribe had for its northern border the divisions of Naphtali and Asher, the Mediterranean Sea was its boundary westward, the Jordan eastward, and Issachar southward. ISSACHAR-extended from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan, having Zebulon to the north, and the other half-tribe of Manasseh southwards. MANASSEH (HALF TRIBE)—the tract this half-tribe occupied lay southward of Issachar, its eastern and western borders being the same as those of that tribe, while to the south the Ephraimites had their portion. eastern boundaries, Manasseh on the north, and parts of Dan and Benjamin on the south. BENJAMIN this tribe had part of the Jordan and the Dead Sea for its eastern border, Ephraim on the north, Dan on the west, and Judah on the south. DAN-extended from the lot of Benjamin to the Mediterranean, having Ephraim on the north, and the Philistines and part of Judah on the south. JUDAH-lay west of the Dead Sea, south of the tribe of Benjamin and part of Dan, east of the land of the Philistines, and north of the land of Edom. SIMEON the inheritance of Simeon was within that of Judah, being placed in its southern extremity, having Judah and Dan north, and Edom on EPHRAIM-had the Mediterranean HOLY RESOLUTIONS. "AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD." God of my life, through all its days My grateful powers shall sound thy praise; When anxious cares would break my rest, DODDRIDGE. |