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copper in the lot of Asher, which extended northward to Lebanon, so that under the shoes, as the foot note reads, there would be iron and brass. But the original word, translated shoe by, minal) may be equally rendered by bolt or bar. So the Arabic version understood it, and is followed by the more modern translators. It would then seem to mean, as most of the Jewish writers themselves understand it, that the land of Asher would be remarkable for the strength of its fortifications. Thy bolts shall be iron and brass" does certainly seem the more probable meaning.

66

CHAPTER XXXIV.

1 Moses from mount Nebo vieweth the land. 5 He dieth there. 6 His burial. 7 His age. 8 Thirty days' mourning for him. 9 Joshua succeedeth

him. 10 The praise of Moses. AND Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of 'Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,

2 And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,

3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.

4 And the LORD said unto him, "This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over

thither.

5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

1 Or, the hill. 2 Chap. 3. 27. 2 Mac. 2. 4.

6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

7 ¶ And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force 'abated.

8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

10 ¶ And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

11 In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,

12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.

Gen. 12. 7, and 13. 15. 4 Heb. moisture. 5 Heb. Aled.

Chap. xxxiv. The witings of Moses close with the preceding chapter. That now before us must have been added by Joshua, Samuel, or some later prophet. The three last verses have the appearance of having been added considerably later than the death of Moses, and were possibly written by Ezra, after the captivity. It is possible that this chapter once formed the commencement of the book of Joshua, and was subsequently removed to its present place as forming a suitable conclusion to the books of Moses.

Verse 1. "Unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah."-Compare this with xxxii. 49: “Into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo." From this it seems that Abarim is the general name of a range of mountains; and as Moses is said in one text to die in mount Nebo, and in the present, on the top of Pisgah, we must infer that Nebo was a mountain in the range of Abarim, and that Pisgah was the most elevated and commanding peak of that mountain. As to the mountain of Abarim, it is impossible to determine the precise limits to which the denomination extended: but it seems to have a more extensive application than any other name given to mountains extending southward from those of Gilead, perhaps to the Arnon, and possibly southward still to the mountains of Seir, it is probably a general name for the whole. Still more plainly-we have names in Scripture for all the mountains east of the Jordan, from Lebanon to the Red Sea, with the single exception that we want a denomination for those between the mountains of Gilead and those of Seir; and as we find the name "Abarim" given in some large sense to these very mountains, we may suppose it was a name for the whole; and if so, we obtain the unbroken series of names which we require. But still, as we do not precisely know how far northward the denomination of "Seir" extended, we are unable to say how far the denomination "Abarim" should, under this view, be prolonged southward till it met that of Seir. Mount Nebo itself is usually identified with Mount Attarous, about ten miles north of the Arnon, and nearly the same distance east from the north-eastern extremity of the Dead Sea. It is a barren mountain which offers nothing remarkable. It is however the most elevated mountain in the neighbourhood, and its summit is distinguished by a large, wild pistachio tree, overshadowing a heap of stones.

6. "No man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day."-The reason of this concealment most probably was, lest in future times the Israelites should hold it sacred, as they afterwards did the brazen serpent. Judging from the number of deified mortals which the systems of ancient paganism contained, there was certainly the greatest danger that the Hebrews would in time have come to pay divine honours to him. This, however, has led to the opinion entertained by some of the Jewish writers that Moses did not die, but was snatched away in a cloud, while conversing with Eleazar and Joshua. Josephus is one of those who gives this statement; but it is directly contradictory to the sacred text, which says that he died, and was buried in the valley. Some Jewish and Christian commentators understand that Moses was buried by angels, at the Lord's command; while others think that he was directed to enter a cave, where

he died, and which served him for a grave. But the text says, that although he died in the mountain, he was buried in the valley. In 1655, some Maronite shepherds found, near Mount Nebo, a tomb bearing the inscription, in Hebrew, of," Moses, the servant of the Lord," and this was forthwith determined to be the long lost sepulchre of the Hebrew legislator. But a learned Jew, Rabbi Jakum, proved so convincingly that this must be the tomb of some other and much later Moses, that the report speedily died away. Some think that the whole story about the discovery of the tomb, and the refutation of Jakum, is a fabrication. But as we find that a supposed tomb of Moses is still shown in the neighbourhood, we suspect that the only fabricated part of the story is that which assigns so convincing a character to Rabbi Jakum's reply. It might have convinced the Jews themselves; and all instructed minds will of course concur in his conclusion. But the natives are not an instructed people; and the Rabbi's best arguments were likely to avail little, when they had once got into their heads the conceit that they had found the tomb of Moses.

9. "Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom."—It will be well to understand the precise office which Joshua was appointed to fill. He was not the successor of Moses; for Moses had no successor: but he was commissioned as a military leader, divinely appointed to be the conqueror of the land of Canaan, and to portion it out among the victors. The position of Joshua was very different, not only from that of Moses, but from that of every ruler, general, or prophet who ever after appeared in Israel. His office, like that of Moses, was isolated, and suited to peculiar circumstances which could not again occur.

CHAPTER I.

THE BOOK

OF

JOSHU A.

1 The Lord appointeth Joshua to succeed Moses. 3 The borders of the promised land. 5, 9 God promiseth to assist Joshua. 8 He giveth him instructions. 10 He prepareth the people to pass over Jordan. 12 Joshua putteth the two tribes and half in mind of their promise to Moses. 16 They promise him fealty.

OW after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister', saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead;

now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6 'Be strong and of a good courage: for Sunto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant

1 Deut. 1. 38.

Deut. 11. 24. Chap. 14. 9.

3 Heb. 13. 5. 6 Deut. 5. 32, and 28. 14. 7 Or, do wisely.

commanded thee: 'turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest 'prosper whithersoever thou goest.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt "have good success.

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess

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it.

12 ¶ And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,

13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.

14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;

15 Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD's servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.

16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. 17 According as we hearkened unto Moses

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in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.

18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against

| thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.

JOSHUA. This is the first book called after the name of an individual. Of the books thus distinguished, some bear the names of their authors-as all the books of Prophecy; and others, those of persons who act a conspicuous part in the transactions which the books record-as Ruth, Job, and others. The present book might well be called "The Book of Joshua," on the latter ground, as it exclusively relates to the proceedings of that great leader, in fulfilment of the high commission which was entrusted to him; and it terminates with his death. But Joshua is also very generally thought to have been the author of the book; and that it had thus a two-fold claim to his name. But the date and authorship of the book of Joshua have been by no means satisfactorily ascertained; and it would be to little profit to investigate the different opinions which have been entertained. The sum of the matter seems to be, that the book was either written by Joshua, towards the close of his life-the last five verses being, after his death, added by a properly authorised person-or else, that it was wholly written, after his demise, from documents written by him or under his direction. These are the substantial alternatives; and the only further question is, at what period, and by what priest or prophet the book was, under the latter hypothesis, compiled from such ancient and contemporary documents. Different authorities assign this service to Eleazer, Phineas, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, or Ezra. But if it was not written by Joshua himself, a comparison of ch. xv. 63 (see the note) with 2 Sam. v. 6-8 will make it quite evident that it must have been written before the seventh year of David's reign. Besides the five last verses, there are some others interspersed in the book, which Joshua could not have written; and which, so far, favour the conclusion that it was compiled by a later hand. But these passages are few and brief, and are regarded as subsequent additions and interpolations, by those who consider that the balance of evidence assigns its authorship to the hero whose name it bears.

The book relates the history of Israel while under the command and government of Joshua; the entrance of the Hebrews into Canaan; their conquest of the greater part of the country; the division of the territory by lot among the several tribes; and the provision made for the settlement and establishment of the Jewish church in that country. The period it embraces is variously stated by different chronologists as seventeen, twenty-seven, or thirty years. Between twenty-six and twenty-seven years is the usually received period.

Professor Heeren designates the period of Jewish history, through which we have now passed, as the "Period of the Nomade State," extending from Abraham to the conquest of Palestine; and that period on which we now enter, from the occupation of Palestine to the establishment of monarchy, he denominates the "Period of the Federative Republic.” This period he characterises as the heroic age of the nation, during which, after the gradual adoption of fixed dwellings and agriculture, it was engaged in constant feuds with its neighbours, the vagrant Arabs, the Philistines, and the Edomites. In consequence of the division of the land, according to the tribes, and their separation from one another, the government long remained patriarchal; each tribe preserving its patriarch or elder, as in the nomade state. But at the same time, all the tribes had, in the worship of the true God, one common bond, uniting them in one federa

tive state.

CHAPTER II.

1 Rahab receiveth and concealeth the two spies sent from Shittim. 8 The covenant between her and them. 23 Their return and relation.

AND Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and 'came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel, to search out the country.

3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I

1 Heb. 11. 31. James 2. 25.

1 Heb. lay.

3 Heb. melt.

wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

8 ¶ And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of

you.

10 For we have heard how the LORD 'dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, 'Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither 'did there

4 Exod. 14. 21. Chap. 4. 23.

5 Num. 21. 24.

6 Heb. rose up.

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remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is

God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

14 And the men answered her, Our life 'for your's, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given

us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.

18 Behold, when we come into the land, 7 Heb. mstrad of you to die.

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