Joshua 22:1-4
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
Reubenites <07206> [Reubenites.]
We have already seen, that a detachment of 40,000 men, of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, had passed over Jordan armed, with their brethren, according to their agreement with Moses. The war being now concluded, the land divided, and their brethren settled, Joshua assembles these warriors; and with commendations for their services and fidelity, he dismisses them, having fist given them the most pious and suitable instructions. They had now been about seven years absent from their respective families; and though there was only the river Jordan between the camp of Gilgal and their own inheritance, yet it does not appear that they had, during that time, ever revisited their home, which they might have done at any time of the year, except the harvest, as the river was at other times easily fordable.
carried out <08104> [Ye have.]
<08085> [obeyed.]
secure <05117> [given rest.]
<03212> [get.]
Numbers 32:20-28
land ......................... land <0776> [land.]
return <07725> [ye shall.]
obligation <05355> [be guiltless.]
land ......................... land <0776> [this land.]
do <06213> [if ye will.]
know .... sin <02403 03045> [be sure your sin.]
If the persons concerned prevaricated, and so imposed on men, or if they afterwards refused to fulfil their engagement, God would most certainly detect and expose their wickedness, and inflict condign punishment upon them. Of all the ways, says Dr. South, to be taken for the prevention of that great plague of mankind, Sin, there is none so rational and efficacious as to confute and baffle those motives by which men are induced to embrace it; and among all such motives, the heart of man seems to be chiefly overpowered and prevailed upon by two, viz. secrecy in committing sin, and impunity with respect to its consequences. Accordingly, Moses, in this chapter, having to deal with a company of men suspected of a base and fraudulent design, though couched under a very fair pretence, as most such designs are, endeavours to quash it in its very conception, by secretly applying himself to encounter those secret motives and arguments, which he knew were the most likely to encourage them in it. And this he does very briefly, but effectually, by assuring them, that how covertly and artificially soever they might carry on their dark project, yet their sin would infallibly find them out. Though the subject and occasion of these words are indeed particular, yet the design of them is manifestly of an universal import, as reaching the case of all transgressors, in their first entrance on any sinful act or course.
servants <05650> [thy servants.]
armed <02502> [armed.]
lord <0113> [as my lord.]
Deuteronomy 3:18
instructed <06680> [I commanded.]
Israelites .... battle <02428 01121> [meet for the war. Heb. sons of power.]
