Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. III.

Vers. 1. ANd Joshua rose early in the morning, and they removed from Shittim, &c.] By the inference of this upon that which went before in the lat∣ter end of the foregoing chapter, concerning the return of the spies which he had sent from Jericho, it may seem that having heard from them the report which they made of the fear of the inhabitants, he rose early the very next morning and went away with all the Israelites from Shittim to Jordan; but if we thus understand this place, then it must necessarily be yielded, that before the spies returned to him, he had given that charge to the Israelites by the Officers, whereof mention was made before, chap. 1.11. to wit, that they should prepare themselves victualls, and that because within three daies they should passe over Jordan. For that charge was certainly given them at Shittim, (it could not be given them when they came to Jordan, where they lodged onely one night, as it is said here, and then passed over the next day) and must needs therefore be given them before the spies came back, if Joshua went away from Shittim the very next morning after their return. But now, because it is very improbable that Joshua would appoint the people to prepare to passe over Jordan within three dayes, when as yet he could not tell whether the spies would return within that time or no, neither was it to any purpose to send them if he had not re∣solved to wait for their return, that according to the information they should give him they might order their journey, therefore I conceive rather, that the drift of these words is onely to shew, that when they removed from Shittim to Jordan, Jo∣shua rose early in the morning that day, to dispose of all things for their intended journey, and not that it was early the next morning after the spies returned. And so in this order I conceive those things were done which are here related: First, after the return of the spies, the people being much encouraged by the tidings they brought, Joshua commanded the Officers of the people (as is noted before, chap. 1.10, 11.) saying, Passe through the host and command the people, saying, Prepare you victu∣als, for within three dayes ye shall passe over this Jordan: Secondly, when the peo∣ple had according to this direction made provision for their journey, Joshua rose ear∣ly in the morning, and they removed from Shittim and came to Jordan. And then thirdly, the three dayes being expired after which they had been told they should passe over Jordan (and that was the very day it seems when they were come to

Jordan) Joshua again sent the officers through the host to give direction to the peo∣ple, how they should follow the ark the next day in passing over the river Jordan; and this is that which follows in the next verse, And it came to passe after three dayes that the officers went through the host, &c.

Vers. 3. When ye see the Ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Priests the Levites bearing it, &c.] See the note upon Numb. 4.15.

Vers. 4. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure, &c. As near as they could guesse by their eye: and two thousand cubits was a thousand yards of our measure. But why were the people enjoyned, in fol∣lowing the ark as it was carried by the Priests before them to lead them over Jordan, to keep so farre behind it? I answer, first, That all Expositours do joyntly agree, that this was partly to teach them to fear the Lord their God, of whose presence amongst them the ark was a signe. But secondly, another reason is here rendred in the fol∣lowing words, Come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. The meaning whereof is somewhat questionable: for there are some that conceive of these words thus; to wit, That they were enjoyned to keep thus farre behind the ark, to the end they might all the more commodiously see the ark when the Priests went with it into the river Jordan, and how the waters of the river were divided before them, and so might know the way by which they were to go. But I see not how their being two thousand cubits behind the ark, could be an advantage for the seeing of this, and not rather a hinde∣rance; unlesse we suppose that being so farre behind the ark, they were upon the as∣scent of a hill, which led down to the river Jordan, from whence they might behold how the Priests went on with the ark, and entred the river. Better therefore, I con∣ceive, these words may be understood thus, Come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: That is, that the Priests bearing the ark may discover a sure and safe passage for you through the river, before you come near to enter into it. Indeed when the river was divided before them, there could be no question of seeing the way they were to go. But as yet God did not make known to them the miracle he meant to work, but held them as it were in suspence, onely intimating the danger of this passage, by commanding this distance betwixt the ark and them, to the end the Lord by the ark which went before them, might find out a safe way for them, before they might offer to set a foot in the channel. And thus this forego∣ing apprehension of the danger of the passage, might make them with the more ad∣miration and thankfulnesse acknowledge the mercie of the following miracle.

Vers. 5. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctifie your selves, &c.] To wit, by endeavouring to bring your hearts to a holy temper, vvith all faith and reve∣rence and admiration to observe the great works which God will do for you: and happely also by those Legal rites of washing their clothes, and keeping themselves apart from their wives, formerly likewise enjoyned at the giving the Law. See Exod. 19. ver. 10. and 15.

Vers. 7. This day will I begin to magnifie thee in the sight of all Israel.] Here∣in was Joshua a type of Christ whom God magnified at his first entrance upon the publick discharge of his Office, to wit, at his baptisme, Mat. 3.16, 17. And Jesus

when he was baptised, went straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved sonne, in whom I am well pleased; as he did also afterwards by his many miracles, for he was a man approved of God amongst them, by miracles, and signes, and wonders, which God did by him in the midst of them, Acts 2.22.

Vers. 8. When you are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.] This is meant onely of a little stop the priests were to make upon their first setting their feet into the waters of Jordan (which had at that time over∣flowed the banks, vers. 15.) namely till thereupon the Lord had miraculously divided the waters, and opened a fair passage for them and the people to go through. For that being done, the priests went immediately forward with the ark upon their shoulders into the midst of Jordan. And then indeed they stood still there till all the people were gone over, as it is afterwards expressed, vers. 17. And the priests that bare the ark of the Covenant of the Lord, stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan; and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, untill the people were pas∣sed clean over Jordan.

Vers. 10. He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and Hittites, &c.] See the note upon Deut. 7.1.

Vers. 12. Now therefore take ye twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.] Here it is not expressed for what imployment these twelve men were to be chosen; but Chap. 4.2. we are told for what service it was, namely, to take twelve stones out of the midst of the river, and to set them up in Gilgal as a memoriall of this miraculous passage. For that they are the same here spoken of seems implyed, chap. 4.4. where it is said, at the second repeating this charge, that Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared, to wit, before they passed over Jordan. Yet the giving the charge here may also happely implie, that the same twelve men were also to go along with the Priests that they might be the more pre∣sent eye-witnesses of this miraculous work of Jordans dividing.

Vers. 13. Assoon as the soles of the feet of the Priests that bare the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, &c.] Here Joshua makes known to the people the miracle that God intended to work to give them entrance into the land of Canaan, namely, that the Lord would divide the waters of Jordan before them, that so they might passe over on drie land. And observable it is, that in relating this to them, first, he particularly informs them that this should be done at the very first setting of the Priests feet that bare the ark in the waters of Jordan, thereby to assure them both that it was the Lord their God, of whose presence the ark was a signe, by whose al∣mighty power the waters should be divided; and likewise that the Lord did this for them because of the Covenant which he had made with them, whence that is so often repeated, vers. 11. and again, vers. 14. that it was the ark of the Covenant that pas∣sed over before them. And secondly, that they might not question the Lords doing of this he puts them in mind of the Lords sovereigne power in ruling and govern∣ing the whole world under this Title, the Lord of all the earth: Assoon (saith he) as the soles of the feet of the Priests that bare the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the

earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, the waters of Jordan shall be cut off, &c.

Vers. 15. For Jordan overfloweth all his banks at the time of harvest.] To wit, of barly-harvest, which was in that hot countrey in their first moneth, called Abib or Nisan, the moneth wherein the Passeover was kept (as is evident Levit. 23.10. where it is said, that at the feast they were to bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of their harvest unto the Priest) and therefore we find it elsewhere so expressed, 1. Chron. 12.15. These are they that went over Jordan in the first moneth when it had over∣flown all his banks. And indeed observable it is, that the Lord brought his people into the land of Canaan in harvest time, just when it was ready furnished with the fruits of the earth that were to be for their provision and store the following yeare. As for Jordans overflowing his banks at this time, either it was the nature of this river so to do: or else it was, as some conceive, because the sunne growing hot at this time of the yeare great streams of water came running down from the mountains about Jordan, by reason of the melting of the snow that lay there, and so caused the river to overflow his banks. But however, the reasons why this clause is here inser∣ted we may conceive to be these: First, to shew how God did herein trie the faith of the Israelites, seeming herein as it were to oppose their entrance into the land. Se∣condly, to shew the necessitie of the miraculous dividing of the waters of Jordan, be∣cause by reason of this inundation of the waters they could not passe over the foords as at other times. Thirdly, to shew how the feet of the Priests could touch the brim of the waters as is said in the foregoing words before they came at the chanell, in a place convenient for them to stand on awhile; it was because Jordan at that time overflowed his banks.

Vers. 16. The waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap, &c.] The meaning of the first clause of this verse concerning the waters above the place where Jordan was divided is not much questioned by expositours, all in a manner making this to be the meaning of them, that those upper waters stood firm as a wall, swelling continually and rising up higher and higher even as farre back∣ward as from the citie Adam that is besides Zaretan, unto the place where the Isra∣elites passed over: and that by reason of the successive coming down of the waters from above, and their stay in that place, where they were bounded and barred up by the Almighty power of God. But now the second clause, which speaks of waters be∣neath the place where the river was divided, and those that came down towards the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed and were cut off, is somewhat more questi∣onable; and that because some by the failing and cutting off those lower waters un∣derstand onely this, that they rolled a little way toward the salt sea, till there was a space broad enough for the people to go over, and then not being supplied still as before by the waters from above, failed and were cut off from the upper waters, and there stood on a heap, vers. 13. and so the ground lay bare for the Israelites to passe over. But then others again, by the failing and cutting off those waters understand that those lower waters, after they were divided from those that were above, passing away by degrees toward the dead sea, they failed and were cut off for want of a sup∣plie from above, and so the whole channell down toward the sea was left quite with∣out water. And this I conceive is most agreeable to the words of the Text.

Vers. 17. And all the Israelites passed over on drie ground, untill all the people were passed clean over Jordan.] That is, the waters of Jordan being thus divided, the whole people of Israel went quietly over, there being no body on the other side to withstand them; which is indeed very observable. It hath alwayes been the con∣stant policie of all nations to guard the rivers through which the enemie must passe into their countreys, because there they have a great advantage over them to hinder their entrance into their land: and how was it then that the Canaanites had not then set a guard upon these foords of Jordan? I answer, Sure, because they were con∣fidently perswaded that the Israelites could not have passed over by reason of the overflowing of Jordan at that time; or else, because God had stricken them with such a fear and trembling of heart that they durst not stirre out of their walled ci∣ties; or else, because he had infatuated them and deprived them of that wisdome which is ordinarily found in other men for the defence of their countrey against an enemie.