A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 174. Of the meaning of Hebr. 11. 30.

Hebr. 11. 30.

By faith the Walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

THE twelfth instance for proof of the vigor of Faith, is of the Israelites, un∣der the government and conduct of Ioshua.

This is the ninth instance from the Flood, and the first after the Law.

By faith is here meant the same kind of faith that was before mentioned in the other instances.

Iericho here mentioned, was a strong and well fenced City: a frontier Town;* 1.1 the first that kept them from entring far into Canaan. It was one of those Cities which affrighted the spyes that were first sent to search the Land: because, as they said, They were walled and exceeding great, (Numb. 13. 28.) great and walled up to Heaven, Deut. 1. 28. So as to mans eyes it was impregnable. Had* 1.2 this Citie stood in the strength thereof, it might have been a refuge for others, that had been overcome: yea it might have been such a block in the passage of the Israelites, as might have kept them from entring further. Therefore the Lord, by destroying this Citie in the first place, would make a ready way, and open passage for his people: and withall give them hope of prevailing over others, by laying this flat to the ground.

That this great work might appear to be of the Lord, it is said, that by faith* 1.3 the walls fell down; that is, Ioshua and the Israelites that followed him, believing that the Lord was their God, and that he would accomplish all his promises, made to his Church in Christ; and particularly this of Iericho, answerably it fell out. That they had a particular charge and promise to march about Iericho, and that the walls of it should fall down, is evident in the five first verses of the •…•…ixt of Ioshua.

Their faith is manifested by their obedience, in the verses following: and the fruit and effect thereof is thus plainly expressed, the walls fell down flat, Josh. 2. •…•…0. so as by inserting the persons that are here intended, the full sense of the A∣postle will cleerly appear thus;

By the faith of Ioshua; and the rest of the host of Israel, the walls of Iericho •…•…ell down.

The Iewish Rabbins and Chaldee Interpreters are of opinion, that those high* 1.4 and thick walls sunk down right into the ground, and were swallowed up of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that the stones and rubbish of the walls might be no hinderance to the Is∣raelites entring into the City. But for this we have no sure ground out of the re∣cord of sacred Scripture.

These particulars are expresly set down.

• 1. The walls fell down flat.* 1.5
• 2. All living Creatures in the City, man and beast, male and female, young and old, were slain with the sword, except Rahab, and those who were in her house.
• 3. Whatsoever was combustible was burnt, as Linen, Woollen, Wooden, and other like things.
• 4. Metalls that could endure the fire, as Silver, Gold, Brass, and Iron, were consecrated to the Lord. For God would have the first fruits. None of the people might take any part thereof, to try whether they would rest on God for sufficient provision, or no.
• 5. The City it self was burnt with fire.
• 6. A curse was layd on him that should build it up again. Thus was this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 block clean removed out of their way, and that with no violence used by 〈◊〉〈◊〉: for it is said of those walls, a 1.6 they fell down. The verb is of the active •…•…oyce; and for ought that any man could see, they tumbled down of themselves: but this was not done till the Army had used such means as God had prescribed un∣•…•… them; which were these.
  • 1. The men of Armes march along in order. They make no trenches to keep* 1.7 themselves safe. They stand not in battle aray, to repel the excursions of their enemies; they set no engins against the walls, nor assault the Citie: But march on one after another, whereby they lye the more open to their enemies.
  • 2. Seven Priests go before with seven trumpets of Rams hornes, sounding with them. Had they sounded with the Silver Trumpets (which were consecra∣ted, and to the alarum whereof in war a blessing was promised. Numb. 10. 9. An evident performance whereof is recorded, 2 Chro. 13. 14, 15.) some spirit might have been put into the Israelites, and a more seeming ground of faith: but God would thus try them, by so mean a meanes, as sounding of Rams hornes; which we read not before or after, to be used for triumph.
  • 3. The Ark followeth the Priests. The Ark was but a little Chest, Exod.* 1.8 25. 10. It could not hold any store of ammunition: neither was there a sword or any warlike instrument therein. So as to the eye of flesh and blood this Ark could stand them in little stead. Yet to such as believed, it was a great prop for their faith. For the Ark was an especial evidence of Gods presence among them. It had in it the book of Gods Covenant be∣twixt him and his people, and thereupon it is called the Ark of the Cove∣nant, Hebr. 9. 4. Yea, it was Called by the name of the Lord of H•…•…sts, 2 Sam. 6. 2. When it was lift up, the Priest said, Let God arise, Numb. 10. 35. The Lord is said to dwell betwixt the Cherubims over it, 2 King. 19. 50. From it the Lord used to deliver his Oracles, Exod. 25. 22. And be∣fore it they used to fall and pray, Iosh. 7. 6. Gods blessing accompanied it, 2 Sam. 6. 12. On those and other like grounds the Lord caused the Ark to be carried in their march, to establish their faith. Of this Ark, See Chap. 11. v. 30. §. 20.
  • 4. In their march the foresaid Trumpets only sounded: The people were

• ...
  • commanded to be silent, to shew that they needed not consult one with an∣other what to do, but attend the pleasure of God.
  • 5. The reere, or gathering Host, went last; with it all their provision was carried: whereby it is evident that they did not fear any attempt of the enemy.
  • 6. In this order they went round about the Citie once a day for six days toge∣ther: and on the seventh day they went round about it seven times; In which respect the walls are here said, to be compassed about seven dayes: not by a seven dayes siege against it: for every day after they had gone about it, they returned to the Camp, and there lodged. But on the seventh day, after they had marched about it seven times, they gave a great a shout, whereupon the walls fell flat to the ground, and the Army entred into the City and destroyed it.

This seventh dayes circuit, and seven times on the seventh day, was to prove their faith the more, and to try their obedience and patience.

Flesh and blood might thus have objected; while we compass the City, they may sally out against part of our Army: yea six dayes compassing the Citie may make us weary, in that we are so long without success; so as herein their faith is proved.

God in this course doth also tender their weakness, in giving the Citie within the space of seven dayes, without any great pains of their own, into their hands. For they were now come into Cannan: they had no store of provision before hand: a long siege might have brought them to great want; God doth therefore here∣in keep them from fainting before the work was done.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What Iericho was.
• * 1.2

  Why Iericho destroyed.
• * 1.3

  How Iericho fell by faith.
• * 1.4

  How the walls fell.
• * 1.5

  The degrees of Iericho's destruction.
• a 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.7

  The means of destroying Ie∣richo.
• * 1.8

  Why the Ark was carried in the Army.