A compleat history and mystery of the Old and New Testament logically discust and theologically improved : in four volumes ... the like undertaking (in such a manner and method) being never by any author attempted before : yet this is now approved and commended by grave divines, &c. / by Christopher Ness ...

CHAP. XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX.

THE following Chapters to the 20th Chapter, are one entire Narrative how both God's Promise of giving Canaan, and his Precept for dividing the whole Land among the 12 Tribes were performed, therefore many Remarks may not be made upon them (as upon the foregoing Chapters) save only upon those particular Historical passages concerning Caleb and Joshua, contained in them. Before which, take these few Remarks upon the General History.

The First is, The high Encomium and commendation of the Country of Canaan is plainly demonstrated here, for tho' its Circuit was so small, as to be but an hundred and sixty miles in length from Dan to Beersheba, and only sixty in breadth from Joppa to Jordan (not near the half of England, as good Authors compute it) yet was it so rich and fruitful, as plentifully to nourish one and thirty Kings, and such a vast multi∣tude of Inhabitants in these times, insomuch that they came forth against Israel as the Sand on the Sea-shore, Josh 11.4. and in the days of David there were above Thir∣teen Hundred Thousand Fighting Men, besides those that were aged and unfit for War, and also Women, Young Youths, and Little Children, 2 Sam. 24.9. No wonder then if this Land be called the glory of all Lands, Ezek. 20.6. and this Cha∣racter is given, that had God fashioned the World like a Ring, as he did like a Globe▪ this Land had been the Gemm of it; yet was this best of Lands given to the worst of mankind, the cursed Canaanites, who fill'd it with their Abominations from one end to the other, Ezr. 9.11. until their Land spewed them out, Levit. 18.25.28. and made room enough in this narrow neck of Earth to nourish all the Tribes of Israel, because it was (as 'tis oft called) a Land that flowed with Milk and Honey; now hath it spewed out the Jews for the like Sins, and this fruitful Land is made Barren as if sowed with Salt, &c. N. B Yet what was this Earthly Canaan in its greatest Splendor and Glory comparable to the Heavenly Canaan, where that City of Pearl the New Jerusalem is, and into which our Redeemer blessed Jesus (the Anti type of this Joshua) will assuredly bring all his Redeemed, Maugre the malice of all their Enemies, they shall surely and safely Sail through Christs blood into the Father's bosom; 'tis the Prayer of our Dear▪ Jesus for us, [Father, I will, that where I am, there may they be also,] John 17.24. Where he speaks with Authority, [Not Father I wish, but Father I will,] as one coe∣qual and in joint Commission with God, and this ought to be our Prayer with the Spouse [Make hast, Oh my Beloved, and bring me into those Mountains of Spices, Cant. 8.14.

The Second General Remark is, Whereas, not only the Land that was already sub∣dued was distributed among the Tribes of Israel, but also that part thereof which was not yet Conquered but Ʋnsubdued, for that was theirs likewise, but so, as they must win it, before they wear it: So must we win Heaven also, &c. The Kingdom of Hea∣ven must be won by force and violence, Mat. 12.12.

N. B. No doubt but this distribution of the unsubdued Land to Israel did fortifie their Faith, and corroborate the considence of those Tribes to whom by lot they belonged. They being thus assured of their Title to them, and of their interest in them, could not chuse but encounter those Countries with a most raised courage, seeing nothing could prevent their possession of them, but only their being wanting to themselves by their own disobedience; accordingly, we having any Evidences for Heaven should quit our selves like Men, be strong and couragious, 1 Cor. 16.13. and the rather, be∣cause we are already more than conquerors, Rom. 8.37. yea Triumphers in Christ. 2 Cor. 2.14. who, as our Head, hath already taken possession of Heaven for all his Members, and is gone before to prepare Mansions for us, John 14.1, 2, 3.

The Third General Remark is, Every Tribe of Israel had their Inheritance assigned them by lot, save only the Tribe of Levi; the Tribe of Reuben, Gad, and the half Tribe of Manassah had their Inheritance assigned them beyond Jordan, Josh. 14.4. according to the Divine direction, Josh. 13.9. to 29. of all the other Nine Tribes and an half, the tribe of Judah hath the first portion on this side Jordan, Josh. 15. through∣out.

His lot (ordered by the Lord, Prov. 16.33.) came forth first and fell out in the best of the Land, to shew God had a purpose to exalt that Tribe (out of which Shilo was to come, Gen. 49.16.) above the rest: Next to Judah fell the Province of the of the Tribe of Ephraim, Josh. 16. throughout, as Judah's portion fell on the South of Canaan, so this of Joseph on the North by a special Providence, that these two, the Strongest and most Valiant Tribes might be as Bulwarks on both sides to defend the whole Kingdom from the invasion and incursion of those Foreign Enemies, a puissant and potent People who surrounded Canaan on every side. The next portion was that of Manasseh, Josh. 17. ver. 1. to 14. for Joseph being the Eldest Son of Rachel (Jacob's first intended Wife) was to have a double portion, Deut. 21.17. one for his Son Ephraim, and another for his Son Manasseh; and tho' Manasseh was indeed Joseph's First-Born, Gen. 41.52. and 46.20. yet the second Son Ephraim had his Portion before him, be∣cause by God's Decree, and Jacob's Blessing, Ephraim was preferred before him, Gen. 48.14.19. likewise because this was but one half of the Tribe of Manasseh for the other half thereof had their portion assigned them by Moses long before this on the other side of Jordan, Josh. 13.29, 30. &c. Then follows the Inheritance of Benjamin, Josh. 18. ver. 11. to the end: His Portion fell betwixt Judah and Joseph, ver. 11. which Divine Providence ordered, being the only place in which that Prophecy Deut. 33.12. could have been accomplished: What could God do more for Jacob's Darling, than have his Temple built upon Mount Moriah, which belonged unto this Tribe, placed so near the place where God's honour dwelleth, &c.

In the last place, The possession of the Six lesser Tribes do follow, Josh. 19. (1.) That of Simeon, ver. 1. to 10. (2.) That of Zabulon, ver. 10. to 17. (3.) That of Issa∣char, ver. 17. to 24. (4.) That of Asher, ver. 24. to 32. (5.) That of Napthali, ver. 32. to 40. (6.) That of Dan, ver. 40. to 49.

The Fourth General Remark is, Still Levi is left out, and yet there be Twelve Tribes without him, because Joseph's double Portion maketh two Tribes of Ephraim and Ma∣nasseh, yet this is not the Reason why the Tribe of Levi had no Inheritance, that is, no Regions or Parts of the Country distinct from other portions of the Land, by which they might live by Tillage and Husbandry as the other. Tribes were to do, neither Moses nor Joshua gave Levi any such Inheritance, but only some Cities to dwell in, and the Suburbs belonging to them, with some Circuit of ground for the feeding of their Cattel, Josh. 21. throughout, and the Reason is rendred, because the Lord himself was their Inheritance, Josh. 13.14.33. therefore God gave unto the Tribe of Levi all that Remained of the Sacrifices of the Lord, to live upon, Numb. 18.8.10.23. Deut. 10.9. and 18.2. and this passage [The Lord is their Inheritance, his Sacrifice, &c.] is so oft urged, to prevent those Calumnies which God foresaw the Levites were likely to meet with from the Malice, Envy, or Covetousness of their Brethren: And 'tis oft repeated to oblige all the other Tribes, that they might both conscientiously and cheerfully give to the Levites their Dues, seeing they had as good a right and title to them, as their Brethren had to their several possessions.

Besides, this was done for the accomplishment of Jacob's Prophecy concerning Simeon and Levi [they shall be scattered among the other Tribes] Gen. 49.7. for the providence of God ordered so concerning Simeon, that he had no distinct part of his own, but be∣came an Inmate to Judah, Josh. 19.1. As this was in part a fulfilling of Jacob's Threat∣ning, so there was this mercy in it to Simeon, that his weak Tribe should be strength∣ned by the stronger Tribe of Judah; and as to Levi, tho' he had his habitation scat∣tered among all the other Tribes, yet this Curse was afterwards turn'd into a blessing, when they were consecrated as Priests to preserve and present knowledge to their Bre∣thren, to teach Jacob God's Judgments, and Israel his Law, Deut. 33.9, 10. Candles bound up in a pound give no light, but when each of them is lighted and set up in distinct Rooms, they give light unto all the Rooms of the House: Thus did the scat∣tered Levites give light unto all the Tribes of Israel on both sides of Jordan, which they could not have done, had they been bound up in one pound or portion as all the other Tribes were, &c.

After the General Remarks upon the Division of Canaan among the Twelve Tribes in general: Now the particular parts and portions of Caleb and Joshua do fol∣low to make particular Remarks upon: First upon Caleb.

The First Remark is, His Petition to Joshua the General, the subject matter of his Pe∣tition was extraordinary, to wit, the Mountainous Territories not to be given him by the common lot (as the Land was dealt out to others) but a special deed of gift to him

and his, and for promoting it the more, the chief of his Tribe came along with him as his Advocates to Joshua, Josh. 14.6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. wherein he urgeth his own faithfulness in the matter of the Twelve Spies, Numb. 13.31, 32. and 14.24. He appeals to Joshua himself (who then was his Copartner) concerning the truth here∣of, and he alledgeth how he was still compleatly qualified for so great an undertaking, so that this special gift was not like to be cast away upon a supernatural and unservice∣able Person; but above all, he reminds Joshua of God's particular promise to him, Numb. 14.24. Deut. 1.36. By vertuē of which promise he was kept allve to that day, as thou thy self art also, to whom (together with me) God promis'd this Prero∣gative for a reward of our uprightness, and sure I am God is no Austeer Lord, but a liberal Pay-Master, who never sends any of his Servants away, having any just cause to complain of an Hard bargain in his service: No, he is an honourable Master, who imploys his Servants in honourable work, and will pay them most honourable wages. As it is no Ambition in me to require, so it can be no injustice in thee to bestow on me this Mountainous Country, for as my feet have trodden upon, so my Faith hath Triumph'd over it, and over Hebron, and all the frightful Giants about it.

The Second Remark is, Joshua's Answer to Caleb's Petition, Josh. 14.13.14.15. wherein is related how Joshua granted his request, and prayed God to bless him with good success, acknowledging withal his praise-worthy carriage in the business of the Spies, together with himself, and therefore his Request was but reasonable, and so might not be denied. Joshua doth not here, as some Generals in the like case would have done, he doth not blame Caleb here for beeing too hasty, saying [let thy Betters be served before thee,] He bids him not stay until himself were first served, but grants him Hebron, helps him to gain it, Josh. 10.37. and when gained, he wish'd him much joy, and a comfortable fruition of it: Caleb accordingly succeeded against the Anakims under Joshua his General, Josh. 11.21. and 15.13. and after Joshua's death also, Judg. 1.9, 10. to be spoke unto after.

Secondly, The Grand Remark upon Joshua here is his Marvelous Modesty and Holy Humility in this that he who had deserved best, and therefore should have been served first, can be content to have his part and Portion last after all the Twelve Tribes had theirs assigned before him, Josh. 19.49, 50, 51. nor is this all held forth here, that he was willing to be served last, who had deserved most, but that he could be content to chuse for his portion (that he petition'd for) among the Barren Mountains, whereas he might have challeng'd the chiefest Lands in that Champian Country of those Con∣quered Kingdoms wherein he had been the chief Actor, nor did he desire this small portion of barren Land that lay in his own Tribe because of any stately Palace that stood there, or any Royal City adorned with Sumptuous Buildings contained therein, for the City Timnath-Serah (which he chose, call'd Timnath heres, which signifies the Picture of the Sun, which was there worship'd, Judg. 2.9. in detestation whereof, the Name was altered by tranposition of Letters, Heres for Serah) was on old ruinous City, which he was forced to repair, before he could inhabit it, and Masius tells a Story of Paula (whom Jerom writes to) how she went to visit Joshua's Sepulchre in this City, Josh. 24.30. and there wondered, that he who was the principal Divider of that fruitful Land to others, should set out for himself no richer Revenues, but the meanest and barrenest part thereof, as the Hebrew word Bethubem here signifieth yet lower, nor still was this the whole of Joshua's Condescension, for he receiv'd this poor pittance, not by Lot, as the Tribes did their Lands, but by Gift, [The Children of Israel gave an Inheritance to Joshua] ver. 49. and 50. He acknowledged it a Gift to him from the People, over whom God had placed him their Governour and General, though it was only the People's free Assent unto the Lord's Promise or Precept, for undoubtedly the Lord said the same to Moses concerning Joshua, as well as Caleb, Josh. 14.6. seeing Joshua had shewed the same Courage and Faithfulness in espying out the Land of Ca∣naan, which Caleb did, Numb. 14.6.30. therefore must receive the same equal encou∣ragement and comfort from God at that time; namely, to have such parts of the Land (when it was Conquered) as they desired: Oh sweet Spirited, Modest, Humble, Low-condescending Joshua, in all these aforementioned Particulars: But all this was done, that there might be the greater Congruity betwixt Joshua the Type, and our bles∣sed Jesus, the Antitype, who did Exouthenize or empty'd himself, condescending to come in the form of a Servant to his Redeemed People, to whom he saith [concerning the work of my hands command ye me] Isa. 45.11. Christ indeed became poor to make us rich, 2 Cor. 8.9. was born, lived and died poor, &c.