Joshua 4:1--5:15
other <08552 05674> [were clean passed.]
men <0582 08147> [twelve men.]
[the priest's fees.]
stones <08147 068> [twelve stones.]
put ..... place where you camp <03240 04411> [leave them.]
appointed <03559> [prepared.]
reminder <0226> [a sign.]
children <01121> [when your.]
someday <04279> [in time to come. Heb. to-morrow.]
water ...................... water <04325> [the waters.]
memorial <02146> [memorial.]
did .... Joshua ........................... Joshua <06213 03091> [did so as Joshua.]
set up twelve <06965 08147> [set up twelve.]
day <03117> [and they are there.]
These words might be written by Joshua at the close of his life, or perhaps be added by some later prophet. It seems from this verse, that there were two sorts of stones erected as a memorial of this great event: twelve at Gilgal (ver. 20,) and twelve in the bed of the Jordan; which last might have been placed on a base of strong stone work, so high as always to be visible, and serve to mark the very spot where the priests stood with the ark. Drs. Kennicott and Shuckford, however, would read here with the Syriac, {mittoch,} "from the midst," instead of {bethoch,} "in the midst;" and render, "And Joshua took up the twelve stones (taken) from the midst of Jordan," etc. But this reading is unsupported by any MS. yet collated; and it appears wholly unnecessary.
standing .... middle <05975 08432> [stood in the midst.]
Moses <04872> [Moses.]
quickly <04116> [hasted.]
ark <0727> [that the ark.]
Reubenites Gadites ............... Israelites <01121> [the children.]
battle-ready troops <02502 06635> [prepared for war. or, ready armed.]
plains <06160> [to the plains.]
honor <01431> [magnified.]
respected .......... respected <03372> [they feared him.]
up <05927> [Come ye up.]
<03709> [the soles.]
<05423> [lifted up. Heb. plucked up. that the waters.]
As soon as the priests and the ark were come up out of Jordan, the waters of the river, which had stood on a heap, flowed down according to their natural and usual course, and again soon filled the channel. This make it abundantly evident, that the miraculous change which had been given to the river was not from any secret natural cause, but solely by the power of God, and for the sake of his chosen people; for when Israel's host had passed through, and the token of his presence was removed, immediately the waters went forward again: so that if it be asked, "What aileth thee, O Jordan, that thou wast driven back?" it must be answered, it was in obedience to the God of Israel, and in kindness to the Israel of God.
<03212> [and flowed. Heb. went.]
first month <02320 07223> [first month.]
Gilgal <01537> [Gilgal.]
That is, the place afterwards called Gilgal; for it is so called here by anticipation. It was about ten furlongs east from Jericho, and fifty west from the Jordan. See Josephus and Calmet.
Israelites .... children <01121> [When your.]
someday <04279> [in time to come. Heb. to-morrow.]
Lord ....................... Lord <03068> [as the Lord.]
The parents must take that occasion to tell their children of the drying up of the Red Sea forty years before: "As the Lord your God did to the Red Sea." It greatly magnifies later mercies to compare them with those before enjoyed; for, by making the comparison, it appears that God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. Later blessings should also bring to remembrance former mercies, and revive thankfulness for them.
dried ....................... dried <03001> [which he dried.]
nations <05971> [all the people.]
power <02389> [that it is.]
obey <03372> [ye might.]
<03117> [for ever. Heb. all days.]
kings ............. kings <04428> [all the kings.]
Canaanite <03669> [Canaanites.]
west ............. seacoast <03220> [which were by.]
When <08085> [heard.]
breathe <07307> [neither was.]
flint knives <02719 06697> [sharp knives. or, knives of flints.]
Before the use of iron was common, all the nations of the earth had their edge tools made of stones, flints, etc. Our ancestors had their arrows and spearheads made of flint; which are frequently turned up by the plough. And even when iron became more common, stone knives seem to have been preferred for making incisions in the human body. The Egyptians used such to open the bodies for embalming; and the tribe of Alnajab in Ethiopia, who follow the Mosaic institution, perform the rite of circumcision, according to Ludolf, {cultris lapidibus,} with knives made of stone.
circumcise <04135> [circumcise.]
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
Hill .... Foreskins <06190 01389> [the hill of the foreskins. or, Gibeah haaraloth.]
circumcised .................. uncircumcised <04135> [they had not.]
traveled <01980> [walked.]
sworn ............. see ...... sworn <07650 07200> [sware that.]
land ........... land <0776> [a land.]
sons <01121> [their children.]
<08552> [when they, etc. Heb. when the people had made an end to be circumcised. till they were whole.]
taken away <01556> [I rolled away.]
Gilgal <01537> [Gilgal.]
That is, rolling.
celebrated ... Passover <06453 06213> [kept the passover.]
produce <05669> [old corn.]
The people would find abundance of old corn in the deserted granaries of the affrighted inhabitants: and the barley harvest being ripe, after offering the sheaf of first-fruits, they ate also new parched corn; and thus the manna being no longer necessary, ceased, after having been sent them regularly for almost forty years. To Christians the manna for their souls shall never fail, till they arrive at the Canaan above, to feast on its rich and inexhaustible provisions.
unleavened bread <04682> [unleavened cakes.]
manna ................... manna <04478> [the manna.]
ate ............ ate <0398> [but they did eat.]
looked <05375> [he lifted.]
man <0376> [a man.]
sword <02719> [his sword.]
enemies <06862> [Art thou for us.]
commander <08269> [but as captain. or, Prince.]
bowed ..... face <05307 06440> [fell on his.]
say <01696> [What saith.]
<0113> [my lord.]
<05394> [Loose.]
Joshua ................ Joshua <03091> [And Joshua.]
Many persons have been puzzled to know what was intended by this extraordinary appearance of the angel to Joshua, because they supposed that the whole business ends with the chapter; whereas it is continued in the succeeding one, the first verse of which is a mere parenthesis, simply relating to the state of Jericho at the time when Joshua was favoured with this encouraging vision; by which he was shewn that their help came from God alone, and that it was not by human might or power, but by the Lord of hosts they were to obtain the victory.
