Joshua 4
DOYLY— until we were passed over.] The use of the word “we” proves that this book was written by Joshua, or by some one else alive at the time. Bp. Tomlone.
Joshua 4:2
- — Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again &c.] Make to thee knives of flints, literally: at this day they circumcise in the East with knives made of stone. The great number of stone hatchets and knives found in Britain leaves no room to doubt that stones may be sharpened to answer all the purposes of metal; and that stone knives, similar to those in the East, were formerly used in our own country. Script. illust. See the note on Exod. iv. 25. “Circumcise again,” that is, renew the rite of circumcision. This does not imply that those who had been already circumcised were now to be circumcised again, but that another general circumcision was to be held of those, on whom the rite had been omitted. It is probable that the first general circumcision had been held at mount Sinai, in the first month of the second year, after they came out from Egypt, when they kept the passover, Numb. ix. 1—3. The reason of the omission of this rite during the last forty years, is given at ver. 6. As they were then in a wandering condition, and wholly uncertain at what time the removal of the cloud would summon them to proceed on their journey, they would have endangered their lives by submitting to an operation which rendered them incapable of moving immediately with safety. Bp. Patrick. The Israelites, on the present occasion, gave a signal proof of their faith, in submitting to this painful operation in the face of their enemies, relying on the Divine protection till they were healed; for Gilgal was only two miles from Jericho. Dr. Hales.
Joshua 4:3
- And Joshua — circumcised the children of Israel] No person, left to himself, could have acted as Joshua did. He was arrived in an enemy’s country, and it was necessary for him to keep the people upon their guard, as they had powerful nations to encounter. What then was his first action when he came among them? He made the whole army undergo an operation, which rendered every person in it incapable of acting. The people of the next hamlet might have cut them to pieces; see Gen. xxxiv. 25. The history tells us, that it was by Divine appointment, and so it must necessarily have
Joshua 4:9
- — set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan.] By altering a letter in the Hebrew text, this verse may be rendered, agreeably to some ancient translations, “Joshua set up twelve stones from out of the midst of Jordan, from under the place, &c.” Josephus seems to have had no notion of any more than one monument set up on this occasion. Shuckford.
— and they are there unto this day.] The stones remained until the time when this book was written, that is, till a short time before Joshua’s death, when he is thought to have composed it. Dr. Wells. Many a great work had God done for Israel which was now forgotten. Joshua therefore will have monuments of God’s mercy, that future ages might be both witnesses and applauders of the great works of their God. Bp. Hall.
Joshua 4:12
- — Reuben, &c.] They were the first that passed over (according to their engagement, Numb. xxxii. 20, 21, 27, of which Joshua put them in mind, Josh. i. 13,) ready to encounter any enemy that might have opposed their landing. Bp. Patrick.
Joshua 4:18
- — flowed over all his banks.] All this is so particularly taken notice of, to shew that the passage of the Israelites was purely owing to the miraculous power of God; and that the miracle was the greater, on account of the passage being made when the river was in this state. Dr. Wells.
Joshua 4:19
- — the tenth day of the — month.] In which same month they came out of Egypt, on the fifteenth day: so that there wanted just five days of forty years since their coming from thence. Bp. Patrick.
Joshua 4:20
- And those twelve stones — did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.] We find many publick memorials of the most signal miracles, which are recorded in the Jewish history, not only in the names given to the places where they had been wrought, from the event, and at the time, but in sensible objects and monuments, set up at the moment the miracles had taken place, and constantly preserved with the most religious reverence. Thus the tables of stone in the ark were a monument of the miraculous deliverance of the Law at Sinai: the vessel of
Before CHRIST 1451. c Numb. 32. 27. armed. pinched up. Joshua speaketh to the children of Israel. JOSHUA. The Canaanites are afraid.
of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers † in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
Joshua 4:24
- That all the people of the earth &c.] These two great miracles were wrought by God, that all the nations round about might acknowledge the power of the God of Israel, and that the people of Israel especially, for whom these wonders were wrought, might fear, that is, religiously worship and serve Him for ever. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells.
Chap. V. ver. 1. — Amorites, — Canaanites.] Under the Amorites and Canaanites are here included the several other nations of Canaan, as the Hittites, Hivites, &c. these two being the most powerful nations. The Amorites on the side of Jordan “westward” are distinguished from the Amorites eastward of Jordan, whom the Israelites had subdued already. The Canaanites “by the sea,” that is, by the Mediterranean sea, are the nation more properly called by this name, of which, however, there were colonies in other parts. In the consternation, or “melting of hearts,” of this people, here mentioned, the providence of God is very discernible, since, by this means, the Israelites were securely circumcised, (as is now to be related;) whereas, if the people of Canaan had been at this time courageous and vigilant, they might have taken them at an advantage, as appears
kept at Gilgal. 12 Manna ceaseth. 13 An Angel appeareth to Joshua.
AND it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.