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. VI.

Vers. 2. ANd the Lord said unto Joshua, &c.] Who now appeared to Joshua in the shape of an armed man, as was said before, chap. 5.13.

Vers. 3. And ye shall compasse the citie all the men of warre and go round about the citie once, &c.] This no doubt they were enjoyned to do at such a distance from the walls, that they might not be in danger of any arrows or other things which the inhabitants might shoot at them. That which is most worthy our enquiring in this course which the Lord here prescribes for the taking of Jericho, is, why the Lord would have such means used for the effecting of this, as were not onely so unlikely to effect it, but also so absurd and ridiculous in the eye of reason; what likelihood was there in humane judgement, that their tracing about the city once every day for six dayes together, and seven times the seventh day, or that the Priests blowing with trumpets of rams-horns, and the shouting of the people, should batter down the walls of so strong a city? yea, the appointing of trumpets of rams-horns for the Priests, had above all the rest a shew of ridiculousnesse. Had they made use of the silver trumpets of the Sanctuary, there had been both more state, and a better ground of hope in the sounding of those sacred signes of Gods presence amongst them; but these trumpets of rams-horns might seem onely fit to move laughter for a work of such importance as they had now in hand. But to all this now it may be answered; First, that hereby the Lord made it manifest beyond all exception, that it was he one∣ly that delivered the city into their hands: The lesse they did herein, the lesse cause had they to ascribe any thing to their own wisdome or valour; and the more ridicu∣lous the means were that were used, the more evident it was that the work was not done by any power of the means, but by the sole power of God. Secondly, that hereby the almighty power of God was the more magnified, who could effect such great works by such unlikely and simple means; for this did discover plainly, how farre the power of God did surpasse the reach of mans wisdome, even that (as the Apostle speaks, 1. Cor. 5.25) The foolishnesse of God is wiser then men, and the

weaknesse of God is stronger then men. And thirdly, that the more absurd and sim∣ple the means appointed were in reason, the better was the faith of Gods people try∣ed, whether they would in confidence of Gods promise do what he enjoyned them, however strange it might seem to them, and would become fools, that they might be wise, as the same Apostle speaks, 1. Cor. 3.18. So that we see the Lord did in great wis∣dome prescribe this course for the taking of Jericho, which reason was like to scorn and deride: yea, and herein we have besides an observable figure of Gods subdu∣ing the world to Christ our Joshua, or Jesus, in these dayes of the Gospel. For as by trumpets of rams-horns, that is, by the foolishnesse of preaching (for so carnall men judge of it, 1. Cor. 1.21.) doth the Lord beat down all the strong holds, and forti∣fications of Satan raised in mens hearts, even every high thing that exalts it self a∣gainst the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, 2. Cor. 10.4, 5. That which the world counts foolishnesse, 1. Cor. 1.23. We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks fool∣ishnesse, it proves the mighty power of God unto salvation to those that believe: and thus hath God provided, that all the glory should redound to him, and not unto his instruments the preachers of the Gospel: We have this treasure in earthen ves∣sels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us, 2. Cor. 4.7.

Thus shalt thou do six dayes, &c.] Six dayes together, once a day, are the Israe∣lites here appointed to march about Jericho in a solemn manner, as is afterwards ex∣pressed, and on the seventh day, vers. 4. they were to do it seven severall times; this doubtlesse was to exercise the faith and patience of the people. It had been as easie for God to have caused the walls of Jericho to fall at the first dayes compas∣sing the citie, as after seven dayes toyl; but thus God loves to try the faith and pati∣ence of his people, to see whether they will wait for the accomplishment of his pro∣mises, when they are not presently fulfilled. As for their marching about the citie on the sabbath day (which must needs be granted, because they did it seven dayes toge∣ther) we need not stumble at it: for Gods precept is the rule of righteousnesse, nor can men sinne in doing what God hath commanded.

Vers. 5. And it shall come to passe that when they make a long blast, &c.] See the note upon Exod. 19.19.

And the wall of the citie shall fall down flat, &c.] But how was it then that Rahabs house did not fall together with the wall? for it is expressely said before, Chap. 2.15. that her house was upon the wall, and she dwelt upon the wall, and yet after the wall was fallen it is said, vers. 22. of this chapter, that Joshua command∣ed the two men that he had formerly sent to spie out the countrey, to go into the har∣lots house, and to bring her out, and all that she had. Now to this I answer, that doubtlesse therefore all the wall about the city did not fall, but onely that part of the wall over against which the Israelites were in a long train, when they had com∣passed the city the last time, that so they might go up, every man right from the place where they were, and enter at this breach into the citie. And indeed, this makes the fall of the citie wall the more strange and miraculous.

Vers. 9. And the armed men went before the priests that blew the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark.] I doubt not but this order prescribed here by Jo∣shua,

for the peoples marching about the citie, was formerly given him in charge by the Lord, though it be not there expressed. However, very observable is the peoples readinesse in obeying his command, which makes it to me most probable, that Jo∣shua had told them what the Lord had imparted to him, concerning the falling of the citie wall, which they believing the rather, because of the miracle they had so lately seen of the dividing of Jordan, were the readier to do what Joshua enjoyned them, and thence is that which the Apostle saith, Heb. 11.30. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven dayes. It is questioned by some, why those Israelites were armed that went before the ark, seeing the wall was to fall of it self? But this scruple is altogether causelesse, for it was fit they should be armed for their own defence, and the defence of the ark, in case the inhabitants should sally out upon them: and besides, they were to go up, upon the citie to de∣stroy the inhabitants, so soon as ever the wall was fallen, and their going armed beforehand, did testifie that they believed what God had said herein, and were rea∣dy to execute the Lords command. The greatest difficulty in these words is, who are here meant by the rereward that came after the ark? Some hold that this is meant of the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali, and that because, Numb. 10.25. their camp is called the rereward, and used alwayes as the Israelites travelled through the wildernesse to march in the rere, which order they conceive was here observed for the greater pomp and state. But yet because the words seem so plainly to imply, that all the people that were armed went before the ark; Let him that is armed passe on before the ark of the Lord, vers. 7. and here again, the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, therefore it may seem more probable which others say, that by rereward, here is meant the remainder of the people that were not armed.

Vers. 16. Joshua said unto the people, Shout, &c.] The following reason, for the Lord hath given you the citie, shows the ground why this shouting was enjoyned them, to wit, first, to strike the hearts of the men of Jericho with fear: secondly, to testifie their faith in Gods promise, and their joyfull assurance that now the citie should be delivered up unto them: and thirdly, to encourage one another in the fol∣lowing assault.

Vers. 17. And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord.] This Joshua received in charge from the Lord, though it were not formerly expressed, as is evident, 1. Kings 16.34. In his dayes did Hiel, the Bethelite, build Jericho: he laid the foundation in Abiram his first-born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest sonne Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Joshua the sonne of Nun. And by Joshua no doubt this charge was given to the people, before the time when they were to shout: but here it is inserted, vvhen it vvas to be put in execution, to make vvay to the follovving story of Achans trans∣gression, chap. 7. Why this citie vvas thus destroyed rather then the other cities vve need not enquire, since it is enough that it pleased God so to appoint. But probably, tvvo reasons may be given: first, that hereby the other inhabitants might be vvarned not to stand out against God, or if they did, to render them the more inexcusable: and secondly, that it might be offered to the divine justice as a kind of first-fruits, as

the words implie, the citie shall be accursed to the Lord; thereby acknowledging that the whole land was his, but that he was pleased to give it them. As concerning things accursed or devoted, see the notes upon Levit. 27.28.

Vers. 19. But all the silver and gold, and vessels of brasse and iron, are conse∣crated unto the Lord.] Under these we may probably conceive that all other me∣talls are comprehended, and happely they were made to passe through the fire ere they were brought into the Lords treasurie, as those were, Num. 31.22, 23. Onely the gold, the silver, the brasse, the iron, the tinne, and the lead, Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire and it shall be clean: con∣cerning their images of gold and silver, there is no question to be made but that ei∣ther they were melted and so brought into the treasurie, or else utterly wafted with the things in the citie, according to that law, Deut. 7.25. The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire; thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

Vers. 20. The wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the citie, &c.] Thus God without the help of the Israelites beat down the walls of Jericho, where∣in the Israelites were to have no part of the spoil. See the former note upon vers. 5.

Vers. 23. And they brought out all her kindred and left them without the camp of Israel.] That is, having fetched Rahab, her kindred, and all she had out of her house, they carried them to some place without their camp, and there they left them. And thus both the Israelites testified what an esteem they had of the holinesse of their camp where God was pleased to dwell amongst them; and withall, Rahab and her kindred were hereby taught to acknowledge bewail and forsake the impu∣ritie of their gentile condition; and were kept as aliens from the common-wealth of Israel, till they had made profession of their desire to imbrace the religion and faith of Israel, and were cleansed from their former pollutions according to the Law, Numb. 31.19. And do ye abide without the camp seven dayes: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purifie both your selves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day.

Vers. 24. And they burnt the citie with fire and all that was therein.] It might well in reason have been very grievous to the people to destroy such goodly houses wherein they might so conveniently have seated themselves, and the whole prey and spoil of so fair a citie, which might so greatly have enriched them. But herein is noted their observable obedience at present to the Lords command, not a man of them offering to meddle with one jot of the spoil, save onely Achan, of whose sacriledge we have the relation in the following chapter.

Vers. 26. Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this citie Jericho.] God would have the ruines of this town remain as a perpetuall mo∣nument of the power of God shewed both in his severitie against this idolatrous ci∣tie, and his mercie to his people; and therefore Joshua is by the Lord appointed to curse him that should by building this citie again as it were blot out the memoriall of this miraculous work. For that Joshua pronounced this curse by Gods command is evident 1. Kings 16.34. In his dayes did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid

the foundation thereof in Abiram his first-born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest sonne Segub, according to the word of the Lord which he spake by Joshua the sonne of Nun.

He shall lay the foundation thereof in his first-born, and in his youngest sonne shall he set up the gates of it.] That is, let it cost him the losse of all his children: the first when he begins it, the other as he goeth forward with the work, and the last when he finisheth it. For the hanging up the gates is counted as it were the finish∣ing of a citie. How this curse fell upon Hiel the Bethelite who in Ahabs reigne built this citie again, is noted in the place before cited, 1. Kings 16.34.