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. VIII.

JOshua the 8th contains the taking of that strong Town of Ai by Israel (now recon∣ciled to God by their removing of Achan, &c.) before which they had fled while the Accursed Persons and things remained amongst them unremoved.

This Chapter consists of two parts, the first is Polemical or Military Matter, the second is Sacred and Sacerdotal: The first comprehends the means, manner, and other Circum∣stances of Israel's Victory over Ai, from ver. 1. to 29. the second is Israel's Thank-Offering upon the Altar, &c. for the Victory obtained, from ver. 30. to 35.

The Remarks-upon the first part are, (1st) As Gods People have their times of discou∣ragements in their way into Canaan, so 'tis the Divine condescension of the most gracious God to grant them praeponderating times of encouragement therein: Here the Lord comes again (after his withdrawment for Israel's sin) and saith to Joshua [fear not, neither be dismayed] ver. 1. good cause Joshua had to fear, because of their late defeat, and be∣cause of the vicious inclinations of the People who would not be restrained from ta∣king Spoils, and because he was upon his Enemies ground, &c. therefore God comes to comfort him against all those fears saying (1.) I have found a Ransom to expiate Israel's sin, Job 33.24. they shall flee no more before their Enemies. (2.) They shall not be tempted to take forbidden stuff any more, for the Spoil of Aii I freely give them, tho' not of Jericho. and (3.) tho' Ai have the Men of Bethel with them as their Auxiliaries, so make up about Twelve Thousand, ver. 17.25. yet fear them not, &c. All shall be delivered into thy hand, thus God's Plaister was broad enough for Joshua's Sore, and the falling out of Lovers was the renewing of Love.

The (2d) Remark is, Policy as well as Prowess, and Valour is not only lawful and laudable, but also at some time necessary in the General of an Army that is engaged in a Just and Righteous War. Dolus an Virtus quis in Hoste requirit; 'tis as lawful to gain a Victory by Secret Stratagems and Ambushments, as by open Fight and Force: God himself, the Author of Justice, hath warranted it, as by many Examples in Scripture, so here by his express command [lay thee an Ambush, &c. ver. 2. God saith, Wisdom is better than Weapons of War, Eccles. 9.18. Prov. 20.8.

The Examples or Instances who found this to be a great truth, were (1.) Abraham, in the first War that we read of in Scripture, came upon the four Kings by Night with his handful of Servants only, while they were Secure, Sleepy, and Drunken, (as Josephus saith,) and overcame them, Gen. 14.14, 15. (2.) Ehud by a Stratagem slew Eglon, and saved Israel, Judg. 3. from 16. to 30. (3. Gideon by a Stratagem of Trumpets and Pitchers was Israel's Saviour, Judg. 7.20. (4) David found policy above prowess against Goliah, 1 Sam. 17.40. &c. With many more that might be named, beside this here of Joshua, whose Policy was double, (1.) in not only laying an Am∣bush of 5000 Men on the West-side of the City, but also (2.) in his counterfeiting a Flight with his other 25 thousand Men, whereby all the Citizens were decoyed out of the City, which made way for the Ambush to take it, &c. ver. 12. & 17. &c.

The (3d) Remark is, Joshua's Constancy in his Obedience to God's Command [Stretch out thy Spear that is in thy hand] ver. 18. and [be drew not his hand back, &c. until Ai was destroyed,] ver. 26. This was the Signal, a Banner being fixed to the end of his Spear, the lifting up or tossing of the Colours was a Sign for the Ambush to arise and enter, and for the main Army to turn head upon the Enemy, and destroy them. Nor was this all, but it was a mysterious means to discomfit Ai, as Moses Rod held by steady hands was to discomfit Amaleck, Exod. 17, 11, 12. that Joshua should do, as Moses had done before him, to stand fixed in one place with the Staff or Spear whereon hung the Colours, held up in his hand all the time of the Battel, with∣out striking one stroak himself (which was work or rather Idleness below any Brave General.) All this seems absurd and ridiculous to Carnal Reason, but the Mystery hereof was to signifie, that the Victory was not got by any Prowess in Joshua, (who only stood still in his place pointing his Spear towards the City) but by the assisting

and effective power of God, who only was to have the glory of it, as in the Case of the Amalekites, who were discomfited more by Moses's Praying, than by Joshua's Fighting: Nor could Joshua's hands have kept so steady for so long a time, had not the Arms of his Hands been made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob, Gen. 49.24. 'tis said of God only, that his hand is not weary, but is stretched out still, Isa. 9.12. and 59.1.

The Remarks upon the Sec••••d Part, after the Victory was obtained. The

First is, Joshua built an Altar unto the Lord in Mount Ebal according to Moses Law (Exod. 20.25. Deut. 11.29. & 27.5, 6.) to Offer up a Burnt-Offering, and a Peace-Offering upon it, &c. ver. 30, 31. where,

Note (1.) This must be immediately after the Sacking of this City Ai, while the Glorious Victory (which had so enriched them with all Spoils) lay with most weight and warmth upon their Hearts, it is best striking while the Iron is hot, then was the Altar built.

Note (2.) This Altar must be of Rough Unpolish'd Stones, to polish it with an Iron Tool, is to pollute it, God loves not outward Pomp, whereof Popery is made up, and which scoffs at our simplicity, &c.

Note (3.) It must stand in Mount Ebal, this was farther up in the Countrey, near Shechem in the Tribe of Ephraim, Judg. 9.6, 7. & 20.7. Thus far Israel durst now march to fulfill God and Mose's Commands, for the Canaanites were smitten with dread at the loss of these two strong Frontier Cities, and the Altar must be in Ebal (where the Curses were read) to shew, that Christ is the Altar, Hebr. 13.10. that takes off the Curse, and sent to bless, Act. 3.26.

The Second Remark is, the Decalogue was writ upon a Monument of Stones which were polish'd and plaistred, ver. 32. as is manifest from Deut. 27.2. and now God renewed his Covenant with Israel (as before at Sinai, many of them being dead) Deut. 26.17. Reading the Curses on Ebal (that they which would not obey God for love, should do it for fear, as well as the blessings upon Gerizzim, ver. 33, 34. and these Curses we may read particularly what they are, Deut. 27.15, 16, 17, &c. the Bles∣sings are not so particularly and distinctly mention'd by Moses, that we may learn to look for them by the Messiah only, for he was sent upon that special Errand to bless both Jew and Gentile, Acts 3.26.