CHAP. X.

JOshua the Tenth, gives a Narrative of Joshua's Victory over the five Canaanite-Kings, which consists of three General parts.

The First is, The Occasion, or procuring cause of the War. This is twofold. (1.) Jo∣shua's utter Demolishing of Ai and Jericho. The (2d.) is the gibeonites falling off from the Canaanites to Israel in making a League with them, ver. 1.2.

The Second Part is, The preparation for War both in the Five Kings Confederating, and Besieging Gibeon, and in Joshua, who was solicited to assist Gibeon against the Be∣siegers. ver. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

The Third Part is, How the Victory was won and improved, ver. 9. to 42.

The Remarks upon the First Part are,

First, The strange Lethargy God had cast those Kings into, that the Report of all the wonderful Works God had wrought for Israel, in drying up the Red Sea, and in the Wilderness, and lately in dividing of Jordan to give them an Inlet into their Land, and likewise in the Miraculous Overthrow of their strong Frontier City Jericho, neither the Rumour of the former Wonders, nor the rushing noise of the hideous fall of Je∣richo's Walls could possibly awake them out of their dead Sleep, into which Satan (as God's Jailer) had lull'd them by their long living Intoxicated with plenty of Carnal De∣lights and sinful Pleasures. Outward Words and Works will do nothing, till God bring them to the Heart: That which had awakened the Gibeonites, did not so to those Kings of Canaan, till Ai was destroyed; this put them into fear, ver. 1.2. that their turn might be next.

Their next Neighbours House being on fire, this hardly rouzed them out of that Dead Lethargy; and now they enter into a Confederacy.

The Second Remark is, The chief of those five Confederate Kings, was Adonizedek King of Jerusalem, ver. 3. therefore is he first named, and was most Active in the Confederacy, &c. This King Arrogated to himself a most Glorious Name Adonizedeck, (which signifies the Lord of Righteousness) that he might have a greater Veneration from his Subjects. This Name signifieth the same in effect with Melchizedeck, which is by Interpretation, King of Righteousness, who was likewise called King of Salem (as this Man is call'd, King of Jeru-Salem) which is King of Peace, Hebrews Chap. 7. Verse 2. This High and Glorious Name was a fitter Name for Messiah the Prince (who is both the Maker and the Matter of our Peace with God, Eph. 2.13, 14.) than for him who was no better than a Cruel Tyrant, as appeareth from Judg. 1.5.7. supposed to be the same Man, or if he were his Successor, it shews that all those Kings Page  37under this specious Name, were no better than a Race of Unrighteous Wretches and of Rebels against God.

The Third Remark is, That which Alarm'd Adonizedeck, &c. was not only the ru∣ine of Ai, but also the Revolt of Gibeon, which was [Achath Gnarai Hommamlakah, Hebr.] one of the Cities of the Kingdom, a Royal City, a chief Mother City, that had now made a League with Israel, embrac'd their Religion, and would be glad to do them service, this caused those Instruments of Sa•an to set up their Bristles, and to seek the Destruction of that City, fearing, that Israel would have both Shelter in it, and Supplys from it, and fearing also that other Cities might learn to Revolt by its Ex∣ample, which the Five Kings would have prevented by inflicting on it exemplary Pu∣nishment.

N. B. Another Reason (for those Kings Warring against Gibeon) may be gathered from the Particle Caph, quasi, or as 'tis said [it was (not one, but) as one of the Royal Cities] ver. 2. Intimating, it was not the Seat of any King (for we no where do read of any King of Gibeon, as we do of other Cities here and elsewhere) but it was equal for Grandeur to any of the Royal Cities, though it had no King, but seems to be governed after an Aristocratical manner, by a Senate of Elders, by whose Authority (and not in the Name of a King) their Embassadors treated with Joshua, Josh. 9.11. as Grotius noteth: If so, no wonder such a proud Prince, and troublesome Tyrant, as Adonizedek, should look with an evil Eye upon that State where Democracy was mixt with Ari∣stocracy.

The Fourth Remark is, No sooner is Gibeon besieg'd by all those Five Kings of the Mountains (call'd after the Hilly Country of Judea, Luke 1.39.65.) or making their Ap∣proaches only with a great Host in order thereunto, but presently Gibeon dispatches a∣way a Messenger, crying to Joshua [Come up to us quickly, to Rescue us, ver. 5, 6. for they make War against us, because we have made Peace with thee, ver. 4.

The Argument used is, [Slack not thy hand to save thy Servants.] Under the Relation of Servants, they challenge the due Right of Protection from a Master. Hereupon Joshua having first consulted with God, and received encouragement from God, ha∣stens then (with his Kol gnam Hamilcamah, His Mighty Men of War) to help them in their Distress, ver. 7.8. In this History may be learned many Mysteries. As,

1. No sooner is the Soul brought into the Bonds of the Covenant with our Joshua or Jesus, but presently the Spiritual Enemies of the Soul muster up all their Forces against it, as the Five Cursed Kings did against Gibeon assoon as she had enter'd into a League with Joshua here. All that will live Godly, must suffer Persecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. and through many Tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God, Acts 14.22. 'Tis not may, but must in both places.

2. The Soul when thus Assaulted, must immediately send the Messenger of Prayer to its Joshua, or Jesus, crying [Slack not thy hands, but come to us quickly.] As those Gibeonites do here, then Christ will come as the Roe, leaping over Mountains, &c. Cant. 2.8.9.17. to Rescue it, crying, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Revel. 22.20.

3. As those New Converts the Gibeonites shewed their Confidence in that God, whose Religion they had newly embraced, therefore sent they for Joshua, not at all doubting of Salvation by him: So the like confidence should be found in all New-Converted Souls, that their Joshua will relieve them, and turn their Spirit of Bondage into the Spi∣rit of Adoption.

Remarks upon the Second part, to wit, Preparations on both sides.

The First Remark is, On the Enemies side a formidable Army is raised to destroy Gi∣beon, which, though it had obliged Israel, had greatly disobliged the Canaanites by its de∣fection: Hereupon Adonizedek (being possibly superior in Authority, and having a power over the other four Kings) musters up all his own and their Forces to devour poor Gibeon: He was most forward in the Work, because he was nearest the danger; now the Question was, [Can the Prey, Gibeon, be taken from those Mighty Kings?] God Answers it, [The Prey of the Terrible shall be delivered, Isa. 49.24, 25.] as was done here.

The Second Remark is, Joshua was as ready to defend Gibeon as the Five Kings were to devour it, and he made as much haste to deliver the Gibeonites, as they had done to de∣ceive him. He kept his Covenant sincerely with them, without any Equivocation, or Mental Reservation; that Iesuitical Doctrine was not put into practice in that Day: Jo∣shua might have pretended, though we have sworn not to slay you our selves, yet are we not bound to keep others from slaying you: To this I add the words of Sir Walter Page  38Rawleigh, upon this very point and passage: His Discourse on it deserves to be Writ in Letters of Gold, saying,

N. B. This may make a (11th) Evidence of the lawulness of Joshua's League for sa∣ving the Gibeonites Lives, for then God would not have encourag'd Joshua in so doing, ver. 8. And here we have a (12th) Evidence, that Joshua so carefully and conscienci∣ously keeps this Covenant, &c.

Remarks upon the Third Part, Joshua's Victory, be many.

The First Remark is, The time when, ver. 9. where we have the manner how he obtain'd it. He marcheth all Night, and fighteth for the Gibeonites all the Day, scorning (as once a brave General said) to steal a Victory in the Dark, he will have Day-light to be a Witness of the Glory of it, and those Cursed Canaanites shall behold it in their own Slaughter; though it be said, Joshua marched all the Night, yet it is not said that in one Nights space he came from Gilgal to Gibeon, for that seems impracticable, seeing the distance between those two places is supposed to be 26 Miles, too far for an Army to march in one Night, therefore part of the foregoing, or of the following Day may be added to it: However he so marched as to surprize the Enemy, and to set upon them suddenly before they were aware of him: The Politicks of War say, That a secure, sur∣prized and unprepared Adversary is soonest overcome: [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] (no lingring, loitering delays must be used in War) was Caesar's Motto. He used not that trifling trick of [Shall I, shall I,] but falls on with expedition: Themistocles being asked, how he won so many Victories? Did excellently answer, I overcome my Friends with patience and my Foes with speed: This latter did Joshua here.

Objection. But what needed Joshua put himself and his Army to all this toilsom travel by Night (bereaving themselves of their Natural Rest, which should have fitted them, for the better fighting the next Day) when he was Assured of Victory by the Lord (whom probably he had consulted with by the Urim and Thummim,) ver. 8. Policy seems superfluous.

Answer. The Divine Benignity and Bounty of God in giving out any promise for Man's Encouragement, must never be Interpreted for fostering Humane Negligence, or for forestalling Man's Indeavours, for all prudent means must be used by Man in a way of Subordination, and subserviency to the Promise and Providence of God: Thus did Joshua here, &c.

The Second Remark is, The means whereby this Victory was obtained: The principal Agent was the Lord of Hosts; therefore 'tis said, [The Lord discomfited them before Israel] ver. 10. The Glory of this Victory is Attributed to God: His right Hand, and his holy Arm got himself the Victory, Psal. 98.1. the Instruments the Lord used herein, are two.

1. Hurling great Hail-stones out of Heaven to brain those that Joshua could not over∣take in Flight. And

2. Israel's Sword cutting down all they overtook on Earth, ver. 11.19, 20, 21. The Lords Hail-stones (mixed with Thunderbolts, as Josephus saith, and Habb. 3.11. makes it probable) did hit and kill more than Israel's Sword, and this Miracle was attended with another Miracle, that these huge Hail-stones should only hit the flying Canaanites, yet altogether miss the pursuing Israelites, who were all along at the very Heels of them, and must needs be intermingled with them, seeing they slew them in their Flight: Therefore 'tis said [The Lord fought for Israel, ver. 14.42. melting the hearts of their Enemies, and making them run away in a Fright: God Affrighted them, Josh. 2.11. and 5.1.

Page  39 The Third Remark is, The Unparallell'd Trophies of this Glorious Victory, even hung up in Heaven it self (far more famous than those hung up in Westminster-Hall) even in the very Coelestial Orbs: Namely, the standing still of the Sun over Gibeon, and the Moon in the Valley of Aialon, ver. 12. while the full Conquest was accomplished: This was ef∣fected by the power of Joshua's Prayer, and by the force of Joshua's Faith: For he was stir'd up by an extraordinary instinct of God's Spirit to pray for this Miracle unto the Lord (this is call'd, His speaking to God, ver. 12.) and he had confidence of success. There∣fore did he venture to utter his Command upon those two great Luminaries to obey him even in the presence and Audience of the People, while they were pursuing their Ene∣mies: Joshua feared that the length of an ordinary Day would not last him long enough to compleat his Conquest; therefore did he beg of God to lengthen out that Day by the Sun and Moons standing still, that he might have time long enough for his great Work in cutting off those Cursed Canaanites, before they could reach their fenced Ci∣ties: Let us (as Moses did Exod. 3.3.) turn aside to behold this Bundle of Wonders, ta∣king a prospect of the particulars both in the History and in the Mystery: First in the History.

First, Behold and Wonder that the Glorious Sun of the Firmament (which runs its race with a Gyant-like strength, Psal. 19.5.) should yet be stop'd in its Race-running by the Command of a meer Mortal Man, saying only [Shemesh Dum] Sun be silent, Hebr. yet these words spoke to it, puts a spoke into its Chariot-wheel, and hinders this Champion in his full Career, and stops this Bridegroom from going down to his Bride, unto whom he is said to hasten, Ecclesiast. 1.5. Running Six Thousand Miles in one Hour, according to the Computation of Learned Artists.

Secondly, Behold and wonder that the Primum Mobile, the whole frame of the movea∣ble Heavens should obey the voice of this Man, and stand still with the Sun: So that the Supreme Sphere (wherein are the fixed Stars) stood still also; so that the whole Course of the Heavenly Bodies was altered. It was no Poetical Phrase (as some inter∣pret, ver. 13.) but it was really done, though no Heathen Writers mention any such halt made in the Heavens, for we have no Authentick Author among them till the Trojan War, which was a Thousand Years after Joshua.

N. B. Note well, here was a Sabbath of Heaven for such as had not kept a Sabbath on Earth, which might be just so many Sabbaths of Years from the Creation, as there were Days in their Solar (or Lunar) Year, or just so many Jubilees from the Creation, as be Weeks in the Year. This may help to fix Chronology right, as Sadler in his Ol∣bion observeth.

Thirdly, Behold and wonder, that not only the Sun and the Heavens, but also the Ma∣ker himself of the Sun and the Heavens, even the great God of both Heaven and Earth did obey the Voice of a Man, ver. 14. This was what God promised, that Man should Command God, concerning the Work of his hands, Isa. 45.11. Oh Glorious Condescension, that a Mortal Man should Command the Immortal God, &c.

Fourthly, Behold and wonder, that one Day should become two Days, without any Night intervening: There was no Day like this, ver. 14. not only because God obeyed Man as a∣bove, but also because of the length of this Day, being as long as two Days, for the Sun is said to make an Halt, and hasted not to go down about a whole Day, ver. 13. That is, for the space of a whole Artificial Day between Sun-Rising and Sun-Setting, for that was the Day which Joshua both needed and desired, a Day to give him Light for his Work, that the Night might not come too soon to hinder his pursuit and Slaughter of the Enemy: No Day was like this in length about that Climate (the Comparison being so limited, and not of Universal extenty for the Hyperboreans, as Greenland, &c. have a longer Day of half a Year long) no not Hezekiah's Day wherein the Sun run back ten degrees, which (as some compute) consisted of 32 Hours, but this Day consisted of 36 Hours, if not of 48 according to the Opinion of others.

Secondly, As to the Mystery.

First, Behold and wonder, How the Sun's standing still so long over Gibeon without Va∣riation, could not but greatly confirm the Faith of those New-Converts the Gibeonites, when they saw God's Glorious Candle shine upon their Heads so long together without any declining, as that was the expression of Job's comfortable time; Job 29.3. so this was a Confirmation of their Embracing Israel's God.

Secondly, Behold and wonder how Joseph's Prophetick Dream was here fulfilled. There it was foretold that the Sun and Moon should do obeisance to Joseph himself: But here it is performed that the Sun and Moon do Obeisance to a Son of Joseph, even to this Page  40Joshua, as Gen. 37.9. Hereupon this Miracle was sealed with a Miraculous Day of three Days long, as Dr. Lightfoot saith.

Thirdly, Behold and wonder, how great is the power of Prayer, even a kind of Om∣nipotency is ascribed to it, as Luther said, It hath a Command over all the Elements. As, (1.) Over the Air, Jam. 5.17. (2.) Over Fire, 2. Kings 1.16. and 1 Kings 18.37, 38. (3.) Over Water, Exod. 14.15, 16. And (4.) Over the Earth, Numb. 16.29, &c. Psal. 106.17. Yea, (5.) Over the Sun and Moon here. (6.) Over the Angels, 2 Kings 6.17. (7.) Over God-Man, Christ the Lord of Angels, Gen. 32.26. Hos. 12.4. and Matth. 15.26.28. (8.) And Lastly, Over the Great God, Exod. 32.10. where God bespeaks his own freedom, as if Moses's Devotion had been stronger than God's Iudig∣nation, saying, Let me alone: So here and Isa. 45.11.

Fourthly, Behold and wonder, How in the Gospel a more Glorious Sun, than this Sun of the Firmament, stood still, even the Sun of Righteousness, Mal. 4.2. when blind Bar∣timeus cryed to him: 'tis said expresly [Jesus stood still] Mark 10.49. because he had power with Christ by his strong Faith breaking through all Obstructions (as the clouded Sun doth, &c.) casting away his Coat, though a Beggar, he stands not upon the loss of it, and above all in stopping this Sun of Righteousness in his Journey. Therefore his Name is celebrated in the Gospel, when many Mighty Monarchs are either passed over in silence, or else lie shrouded up in the Sheet of Shame: Oh that we with our cries could constrain Christ to stop his departure from us, as they did, Luke 24.29. cry∣ing:

'Tis towards Evening: Oh that at Evening time it may be light, as is promised, Zech. 14.7.

The Fourth Remark is, Joshua's prudent improvement of this Glorious Victory: He, like a Politick (as well as Pious) General, pursueth his present Conquest, which, if Hannibal had done after he won the Field at Cannae, he might have taken Rome it self, but omitting that opportunity, when afterwards he would have won it, he could not: Hence had he this Character. Vincere scis Hannibal, uti Victoria nescis. Hanni∣bal knew how to get a Victory, but he knew not how to improve it: Joshua is wiser here, as it appeareth in many Particulars.

First, In not suffering his Soldiers to have any Avocation from the pursuit of their Enemies, they must not loiter in taking the Plunder and Spoils of the Field they had won, nor linger in ferreting out the Five Kings that were hid in a Cave; &c. but they must pursue, and slay all they could overtake, ver. 19.20. until a small Remnant only remained that reached their fenced Cities.

Secondly, While one part of Israel's Army were employed in a close and continued pursuit, Joshua wisely with the other part thereof laid Siege before Makkedah, and se∣cured the Five Kings, that had hid themselves in an Adjacent Cave, confining them there as Mice in a Trap, until the Conquest was compleated, ver. 21.

Thirdly, After a full Victory, he hales out the Five Kings out of their Hole where∣in they hid themselves (not once thinking, that their own Sins and God's Vengeance would find them out, Numb. 32.23. Amos 9.2. Psal. 139.8, 9, 10.) and draws those five Mice out of the Trap, whereinto themselves had voluntarily run, and where they might gnaw long enough, but get out they could not, till fetched forth, &c. ver. 22, 23.

Fourthly, He caused his Captains to put their Feet upon the Necks of those Kings, be∣fore their Execution, ver. 24. This was done, not from any insolent Contempt of their Dignity, now in Misery, (which is no better than Barbarous Inhumanity to insult over the prostrate, praying for mercy. Satis est prostrâsse Leoni, A Lyon will not tear the Beast that falls down before him) but Joshua did it from a Special Instinct of God's Spirit, if not by a direct Divine Command, upon weighty Grounds. As,

1. That the Promises of God might be accomplish'd, as, [Thou shalt tread upon their high places] Deut. 33.29. which is interpreted, the Necks of Israel's Enemies. So Psal. 91.13. and 110.1. and 149.8.

2. That the Captains might be confirmed in their Confidence of a compleat Con∣quest over Canaan, whereof this Act was the hansel and first fruits in the beginning of the War.

Page  41 3. That Joshua's Detestation of their Tyranny and Outragious Impieties might the better appear by those bitter Punishments, which they suffered and which their Sins de∣served.

4. That Israel might be made hereby to abhor the Idolatries and wicked Practices of Canaan, for which God inflicted such severe Punishments upon Princes and Peo∣ple.

5. That no foolish pitty should be shewn to wicked Kings, who sin both by Imita∣tion, (Magnates Magnetes, Lords are Load-stones,) and by Imputation also; Delirant Reges plectuntur Achivi: People smart for their Sins, and therefore had Joshua spared them he had certainly sinned as Saul did in sparing Agag, 1 Sam. 15.33. and as Ahab did in sparing Benhadad 1 Kings 20.42.

6. And Lastly, That Joshua herein might be a Type of our Blessed Jesus, who ina∣bleth his chosen not only to Conquer all their Spiritual Enemies, even Principalities and Powers, Rom. 8.37, 38. but also to triumph over them, 2 Cor. 2.14. and who promi∣seth to tread Satan himself under their feet shortly, Rom. 16.20. This is done perfectly for them at their Deaths, but more especially at that Day of the General Judgment, then shall all their Foes, not only all Temporal, but even all Spiritual Foes (Satan, Sin, and Death) shall be made their Foot-stool, Psal. 110.2. Hebr. 1.13. and 10.13. 1 Cor. 15.24, 25, 26, 27, 28. Yea even in this Life of Christ's Chosen, they do find in their Spi∣ritual Warfare that the force of those their Foes is much abated in the Battle, Christ confines the Dragon in a Chain, Revel. 20.1, 2. and hath so broke that Old Serpent's Head, that he can trouble us only with Tail-tentations; 'twas bravely spoke by an Holy Martyr, though that Cursed Serpent shoot his Sting into our Heels (for that is all he can reach) and so make us to halt, yet let us go on, though halting, even to Heaven, out of which happy place that unholy Spirit is cast.

The Fifth Remark is, Joshua's Politick Conduct, who, like a Prudent General, impro∣ved this Prodigious Victory to the utmost, he makes no lasie Halts, under pretence of Refreshing his Army, &c. But pursueth his Conquest while all the Country was struck with Terrour: No sooner had he slain those Five Kings, and then Hang'd them up for a Dread to others, after that, Burying them in the same Hole where they had hid them∣selves, ver. 26, 27. But immediately he Assaults the Cities of those Five Kings succes∣fully, as well as successively one after another, beginning with Makkedah, he takes it upon that Day whereon the Five Kings were Hang'd, ver. 28. and so he goes on, with that admirable speed and swiftness, more like a Thunderbolt than a Warriour, Conquer∣ing all before him: Caesar's Character was, [Veni, Vidi, Vici.] I came saw and overcame, but more truly Joshua, subduing Cities and Countries, as it were only with a Look; He marches from Makkedah and takes Libna, ver. 29.30. then Lachish. ver. 31, 32. then Gazer, ver. 33. then Eglon, ver. 34.35. then Hebron, ver. 36, 37. and lastly, Deber, ver. 38, 30. Killing Men, Women and Children in all those seven Cities: Nor may this be call'd an Act of Cruelty in Joshua' slaying so many Thousands of all Sorts, Sexes and Ages. Seeing he had an express Command for so doing from the Lord, who is Ju∣stice it self, and cannot command any thing that is unjust, ver. 40. So it was Obedience not Cruelty, &c.