A briefe exposition of such chapters of the olde testament as vsually are redde in the church at common praier on the Sondayes set forth for the better helpe and instruction of the vnlearned. By Thomas Cooper Bishop of Lincolne.

The first Sunday after Trinitie at Mornyng prayer.

Iosua. 10.

[ A] NOwe when Adonizedec King of Hierusalem had heard howe Iosuah had taken Ai, & had destroyed it: (and how that as he had done to Iericho and her king,* 1.1 euen so he had done to Ai and her king) and how the inhabitours of Gi∣beon had made peace with Israel, and were among them:

2 They feared excéedingly, for Gibeon was a great Citye as any Citie of the kingdome, and was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were verye mightie.

3 Wherefore Adonizedec king of Hierusalem sente vnto Hoham king of Hebron, and vnto Pira king of Iarmuth, and vnto Iaphia king of Lachis, and vnto Dabir king of Eglon, saying. 4 Come vp vnto me, and helpe me, that we maye smite Gibeon: for they haue made peace with Iosuah, and with the Children of Israel.

5 Therefore the fiue kinges of the Amorites, the kyng of Hierusalem, the kyng of Hebron, the kyng of Iarmuth, the king of Lachis, and the king of Eglon, gathered themselues together, and went vp, they with all their hoastes, & besieged Gibeon, and made warre against it.

6 And the men of Gibeon sent vnto Iosuah to the hoast in Gilgal, saying, Withdraw not thy hand from thy seruants, come vp to vs quicklye, and saue vs, and helpe vs: for all the kings of the Amorites which dwell in the mountaynes are gathered together agaynst vs.

7 And so Iosuah ascended from Gilgal, he and all the peo∣ple [ B] of warre with him, and all the men of might.

8 And the Lorde saide vnto Iosuah, Feare them not: for I haue deliuered them into thine hande, neither shall anye of them stande againste thée. 9 Iosuah therefore came vnto them sodenly, and went vp from Gilgal all night.

10 And the Lorde troubled them before Israel, and slue them with a greate slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them a∣long the way that goeth vp to Bethoron, and smote them to Azeka and Makeda. 11 And as they fled from before Israel, and were in the goyng downe to Bethoron, the Lorde caste downe greate stones from heauen vpon them vntill Azeka, and they dyed: there were moe dead with hayle stones, than they were whom the children of Israel slue with the sword.

12 Then spake Iosuah to the Lorde in the daye when the Lorde deliuered the Amorites before the Children of Israel, and he saide in the sighte of Israel,* 1.2 Sunne stande thou styll vpon Gibeon, and thou Moone in the valley of Aialon.

13 And the Sunne abode, and the Moone stoode styll, vn∣tyll the people auenged themselues vpon their enemyes. Is not this written in the booke of the righteous? So the Sunne abode in the middest of heauen, and hasted not to goe downe by the space of a whole daye.

14 And there was no daye like that before it or after it, that the Lorde heard the voyce of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel. 15 And Iosuah returned and all Israel wyth him vnto the campe to Gilgal.

16 But the fiue kings fled, and were hyd in a caue at Ma∣keda. 17 And it was tolde Iosuah, saying, The fiue kings are founde hyd in a caue which is at Makeda.

18 And Iosuah saide, Roule great stones vpon the mouthe [ D] of the caue, and set men by it, for to kepe it.

19 And stande ye not styll, but folow after your enimies, and smite all the hindmoste, and suffer them not to enter into their Cities: for the Lorde your God hath deliuered

them into your hand. 20 And when Iosuah and the Chil∣dren of Israel had made an ende of slaying them with an excéeding greate slaughter, tyll they were wasted: the reste that remayned of them, entred into walled Cities.

21 And all the people returned to the hoast to Iosuah at Makeda in peace, neither dyd anye man moue his tongue a∣gainste the Children of Israell.

22 Then sayde Iosuah, Open the mouth of the caue, and bring out those fiue kings vnto me out of the caue.

23 And they dyd so, and broughte those fiue kinges vnto him out of the caue, (euen) the king of Hierusalem, the King of Hebron, the king of Iarmuth, the king of Lachis, and the king of Eglon. 24 And when they broughte oute those fiue Kings vnto Iosuah, Iosuah called for all the men of Israel, & saide vnto the chéefe of the men of warre which went with [ E] him, Come néere, and put your féete vpon the neckes of these Kings. And they came néere, and put their féete vpon the neckes of them. 25 And Iosuah sayde vnto them: Ye shall not feare, nor be faint hearted, but be strong, & plucke vp your heartes: for thus shall the Lorde doe to all your ene∣myes against whom ye fighte.

26 And then Iosuah smote them, and slue them, and han∣ged them on fiue trées: and they hanged styll vpon the trées vntyll the euenyng. 27 And at the goyng downe of the Sunne,* 1.3 Iosuah gaue commaundement, and they toke them downe of the trées, and caste them into the caue wherin they had béen hyd: and layde great stones in the caues mouthe, (vvhich remaine) vntyll this day.

28 And that same daye Iosuah tooke Makeda, and smote it with the edge of the swoorde, and the kyng thereof also destroyed he vtterlye: wyth all the soules that were therein, and let none remaine: and he did to the king of Makeda, as he did vnto the king of Iericho.

29 Then Iosuah went from Makeda,* 1.4 and all Israel wyth him vnto Libna, and fought against Libna.

30 And the Lorde delyuered it and the King thereof in∣to [ F] the hande of Israel: and he smote it with the edge of the sworde, and all the soules that were therein, He let non•• remaine in it: but did vnto the King thereof as he did vnto the King of Iericho.

31 And Iosuah departed from Libna, and all Israel with him vnto Lachis, and besieged it, and assaulted it.

32 And the Lord deliuered Lachis into the hand of Israel,* 1.5 which toke it the seconde daye, and smote it with the edge of the sworde, and all the soules that were therin, doyng accor∣ding to all, as he had done to the citie of Libna.

33 Then Horam king of Geser came vp to helpe Lachis: and Iosuah smote him and his people, vntill none remayned of him. 34 And from Lachis Iosuah departed vnto Eglon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged it, and assaulted it. 35 And toke it the same daye, and smote it with the edge of the sworde, and all the soules that were therin he vtterly destroyed the same daye according to all that he had done to Lachis. 36 And Iosuah departed vp from Eglon, and all Israel with him, vnto Hebron, and they fought against it.

37 And when they had taken it, they smote it with the edge of the swoorde, and the King thereof, and all the townes that perteyned to it, and all the soules that were therein, and he lefte none remainyng: but dyd accordyng to all, as he had done to Eglon, and destroyed it vtterly, and all the soules that were therin.

38 And Iosuah returned, and all Israell wyth him to [ G] Dabir, and foughte against it.

39 And when he had taken it, and the king therof, and all the townes that parteyned therto, they smote them with the edge of the sworde, and vtterly destroyed all the soules that were therin, neither let he anye remaine: euen as he dyd to Hebron, so he did to Dabir and the King thereof, as he had done also to Libna and her king.

40 Iosuah therefore smote all the hyll contreys, and the South countreys, and the valleys, and the downes, and all their kings,* 1.6 & let none remaine of them, but vtterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lorde God of Israel commanded.

41 And Iosuah smote them frō Cades Barnea vnto Asah▪ and all the countrey of Gosen (euen) vnto Gibeon

42 And all these kinges and their lande dyd Iosuah take at one time: because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.

43 And Iosuah and all Israel returned vnto the hoast that was in Gilgal.

The Exposition vpon the .x. Chapter of Iosuah.

Nowe when Adonizedec king of Hie∣rusalem had heard how Iosuah.* 1.7 &c.

IN Adonizedec and the other fiue kings of the Amorites, that are spokē of in this chapiter, is expressed to vs the nature and propertie of wicked and obstinate enemies of God and his people. If maruellous things be wrought against them, they be stric∣ken with * feare,* 1.8 & yet will they not submit them∣selues to the mightie hand of God, and acknow∣ledge his power: but still encrease in wickednes and become more obstinate, heaping to themsel∣ues greater confusion.* 1.9 These kings had* hearde and vnderstoode, as well as the Gibeonites, how maruellously God had dealte for his people a∣gainst* Seon King of the Amorites,* 1.10 and* Og king

Basan, and also againste the Cities of Iericho, and of* Aye,* 1.11 whereby they mighte haue beene taughte, how vaine their cruell and wicked en∣deuour of resistaunce woulde be vnto them. But they were so farre from that cogitation, That, because the Gibeonites had* submitted themsel∣ues to the Children of Israel,* 1.12 they here Ioyu•• in Conspiracie to destroye them and their citie. In which pointe the Gibeonites set forth vnto vs the Image of all them, that, forsaking the Errour, Blindnesse, and wicked obstinacie of the world, doe ioyne themselues to God and his people.

For by and by their verie Neighbours, Yea the nighest of their Kin, seeke to Vexe and Perse∣cute them with all extremitie: and that not be∣cause they be Sinfull or euil, or because they are Idolatours, Couetous persons, Adulterers and suche like, (for at those thinges they can winke well inough) But because They make peace vvirh Iosuah, and the Children of Israel,* 1.13 that is, * because they Allie themselues to GOD and his people. But in suche cases wee muste learne by earnest Prayer and intercession to flee for succour to our Iosuah, Christ Iesu, who vndoubtedly wil spede∣lie helpe and assiste vs against suche enemies, as Iosuah doth here the Gibeonites.

And so Josuah ascended from Gilgal,* 1.14 he and all the people of warre.

Forsomuch as the Gibeonites were the con∣federates of Israel, Iosuah doth here the part of a wise,* 1.15 good, and faithfull* Prince, that he is so ready to rescue and helpe them in their daunger. For if he shoulde haue done otherwyse, beyng nowe become his Subiectes, he shoulde bothe haue omitted his duetie towarde them, and al∣so haue procured to him and his people, a note of Vnfaithfulnesse toward such as had submitted themselues vnto him, and whom he had recei∣ued to his defence & protection. In that he doth it with Spede, and commeth Sodainly on his enemies in the night ere they were ware of him, he played the parte of a Wise and Skilfull Cap∣taine, vnderstanding that in warfare, after men be once in good readinesse, nothing more preuai∣leth than spedie dealing with good watching of oportunitie of place and time.

This is not to be omitted,* 1.16 that God is* ready to comforte his good Princes and Gouernours in their enterprises for the defence of his people. Feare not them, saith God, I haue deliuered them into thy handes:* 1.17 and therefore dyd he easilie ob∣tayne Victorie of them, yea God will* fight for them miraculouslie, altering the course of all na∣turall effectes, rather than they shoulde misca∣rie, or want strength and oportunitie to be re∣uenged on his enemies. As we see in this place by two Notable and straunge Miracles, killing moe of the enemies with Hailestones from hea∣uen than the Israelites did with the sworde.

Then said Josuah vnto the Lorde.* 1.18 &c. and he said in the sight of Israel. &c.

A question maye in this place be moued, whether Iosuah did wel in asking such a strange Miracle of God, or whether he mighte seeme rather to tempte God in so doyng. To whiche it maye be answered, that vndoubtedly he dyd it by Instinction of the Spirite of GOD in a strong faythe, beyng perswaded, that it would be to the glorie of God. For Gods purpose was by thys Miracle to confirme the Faith of his People, and to abashe the Chanaanites his ene∣mies, to declare his power to those Heathenishe and Godlesse People, and by this Miracle to declare vnto them that he was the onelye Au∣thoure and worker of all those Miracles, that they before had heard of in Egipte, and in the wil∣dernesse.

And yet the praying for suche Miracles is not now to be followed of vs. For God, hauing nowe abundantlie declared his wyll and plea∣sure in his holie Worde lefte vnto vs by our Sa∣uioure Christ, and his Apostles, will haue his People to cleaue stedfastlie to that,* 1.19 and* not to looke for Signes and Miracles from Heauen. But thys is notable, and to oure great comfort to be obserued, that Iosuah by his Prayer might seeme to haue the Sunne and Moone and all the Creatures of God at his commaundement.

By like force of Prayer Moyses opened awaye throughe the redde Sea Exodus. 14.* 1.20 and ouer∣came in Battayle the Amalachites, Exodus. 17. Iosaphat subdued his enemies and caused them to kill one the other 2. Croni. 20.* 1.21 Ezechias deliue∣red his Citie Hierusalē▪ & caused also the Sunne to goe backe certayne degrees.* 1.22 2. Croni. 32. By which Examples we also ought to con••••iue an assured hope in the trueth of Gods promises, when in ou•• great perils and daungers we call vpon God, and praye to him for his helpe and deliuerance.

The fiue Kings fledde and were hidde in a Caue at Makeda.* 1.23 &c.

These fiue Kinges fledde, and thought they had escaped the Plague of God, bycause they were not killed eyther with the sworde of the Israelites, or with the Hayle from Heauen. But God of his Iustice reserued them to a greater, and a more notable Punishmente, bycause the were the Ringleaders and chiefe stirrers of o∣thers to withstande the People of God.

In like maner Sennacherib.* 1.24 2. Croni. 32. escaping the Daunger of Battaile, was murdered in the Temple of his Gods that he serued.

Iosuah, when he vnderstode the Kings were hidde in the Caue he prouided them to be kepte in Sa••••etie, but he dothe not omitte the opor∣tunitie

wyth speede to followe his enemies, and so to subdue them, that they might not be hable afterward to recouer their power & worke him newe trouble. In this that Iosuah causeth his Captaines to set their feete vpon the Neckes of y^e Kings, it may seme a barbarous Crueltie, but he knew they were the enemies of God, and vn∣derstode also, that his people did often Mistrust the promises, that God had made vnto them, & therefore his meaning was by this signe to as∣sure them that as God had don••e by these ene∣myes, that might seeme the most mightie: so he woulde doe also by the residue, and therefore wil∣led them not to doubte or to be * fainte hearted,* 1.25 but to be well assured of the assistaunce of their Lorde and God, so long as they faithfullye ser∣ued him, thoughe their enemies did seeme ne∣uer so mightie. And the same, in effect, God did Iustifie immediatlie. For they did not only with good successe conquere these fiue kinges, that were conspired, but also a number of other cities and Principalities, that are here reckened vp euen to the ende of this Chapiter, as Makeda, Libna, Lachis, Gazer, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir. If Iosuah killed in these victories Man, Woman, and Child, we may not thinke it crueltie in him, For he had the speciall commaundement of God so to doe: Suche were their Sinnes and offen∣ces in the sighte of God.* 1.26 And Saul, and Achab maye be an example to all Princes what daun∣ger it is to shewe Mercy to them, whom God,

for Iust causes to his secrete wisedome knowen woulde haue to be punished.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Josua. 8. a. 3. Josua. 6.
• * 1.2

  Esa. 28. f. 21. Eccl. 46. a. 4
• * 1.3

  Deu. 21. d. 22. Josua. 8. f. 29
• * 1.4

  Josu. 6. b. 26.
• * 1.5

  Josua. 6. c. 21
• * 1.6

  Deu. 20. d. 16
• * 1.7

  Verse. 1. 2. 3. 4 5. 6.
• * 1.8

  Exo. 15. b. 16 2. pa. 20. e. 29.
• * 1.9

  Josu. 6. c. 20.
• * 1.10

  Nu. 21. d. 24 Nu. 21. e. 34.
• * 1.11

  Josua. 8. a. 1.
• * 1.12

  Josua. 9 b. 8.
• * 1.13

  Josua. 9. c. 35
• * 1.14

  Verse. 7. 8. 9. 10.
• * 1.15

  1. par. 19. b. 13
• * 1.16

  Exo. 4. c. 15. Esa. 41. b. 10
• * 1.17

  Exo. 14. d. 25 2. par. 32. b. 8. Judit. 5. c. 16.
• * 1.18

  Verse. 12. 13. 14. 15.
• * 1.19

  Mat. 12. d. 39
• * 1.20

  Exo. 14. a. 15 Exo. 17. b. 11.
• * 1.21

  2. pa. 20. d. 23
• * 1.22

  2. pa. 32. c. 21. d. 24.
• * 1.23

  Verse. 16. 17. 18.
• * 1.24

  2▪ pa. 32. c. 21.
• * 1.25

  Deu. 7. c. 18. 1. par. 22. c. 13.
• * 1.26

  1. reg. 15. b. 9. 3. re. 20. g. 42