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For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your GOD for ever.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

The Jordan was the most considerable river in the land of Judea; its course was very rapid, though it was not broad; it usually overflowed its banks about the time of the early harvest. The plain of Jordan, (through which the river ran,) so famed for its palm-trees, is said to have been overspread with rose-trees of such an incorruptible nature, that being kept in water, they would appear in full bloom at any season of the year.

On this occasion the LORD honoured Joshua, for it is supposed that he spake unto him from the mercy-seat, and by this means gave a convincing proof to the people, that he was with him as He was with Moses, and that he should even command the priests.

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The cloudy pillar no longer appeared, for Moses, the mediator was dead, and the LORD never honoured any other person by speaking to him in so familiar a manbesides the Israelites were now going among heathens, and the LORD, who had declared Himself to be a jealous GoD, would not display His glory among idolators, but only in the palace of His holiness. For the future, their marches were to be regulated by the ARK and as the DIVINE PRESENCE was still manifested from the mercy-seat, the LORD might truly be said to be among them, and to lead them.

The

The Israelites passed over Jordan just forty years wanting five days after their departure out of Egypt, four days before the annual solemnity of the passover, on the very day on which the preparation for it began, that their entrance into Canaan might be sanctified by that religious feast.

The miracle of dividing Jordan was excellently 'calculated to confirm to this new generation the belief of those which had been wrought for their forefathers: there could now remain no doubt in their minds that the LORD had conducted his people through the Redsea, as they had beheld with their own eyes the water's of a river, which used to flow with an impetuous stream, standing in heaps, arrested in their course by an ALMIGHTY power!

The LORD is in this section called the LORD of the whole earth, and this title is frequently given to flim by the prophets; from whence we may infer, that, although God of His infinite goodness was pleased to form a plan for promoting virtue and preserving true religion, in one nation of the world, upon which He conferred particular blessings and privileges, He did not withdraw His regard from other nations; but was still the GoD and FATHER of all mankind, however various His dispensations towards them. We find that the miracle of dividing Jordan was designed to shew forth the Almighty power of the LORD to all the people of the earth. It was the depravity of the heathens, and their attachment to idols, that prevented their improving from it.

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The reflections made on the passage through the Red-sea, are likewise applicable to this wonderful

⚫vent.

*Micah iv. 18. Zech, iv. 14, and vi. 5.

SECTION

SECTION XXXVI.

CIRCUMCISION RENEWED-MANNA CEASETH.

From Joshua, Chap. v.

AND it came to pass when all the kings of the Anorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the Sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.

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For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war which came out of Egypt were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware, that he would not shew them the land which the LORD sware unto their fathers, that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

And their children whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised.

And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.

And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even, in the plains of Jericho.

And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the self-same day.

And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the chil

dren

dren of Israel manna any more, but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

We have in the beginning of this section à farther account of the effects of the terror or fear of the LORD.

The rite of circumcision had been discontinued for a number of years, perhaps from the time that the Is. raelites provoked GoD to sentence them to die in the wilderness. It was a sign of faith and trust in God, the seal of his covenant, which those rebellious persons, who despised the promises of the LORD, had broken, therefore they were not allowed the privilege of transferring the covenant to their children; but when the LORD renewed the covenant with their posterity, he restored the rite of circumcision, and thereby qualified them to partake of that holy ordinance, which was instituted in commemoration of GOD's delivering the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from Egyptian bondage. This was the third passover, and every one had been distinguished by some remarkable event. The first was at the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt; the second at the dedication of the tabernacle, soon after which the Israelites committed the sin that excluded them from Canaan; and then it was suspended till the present joyful occasion.

After the celebration of the passover, Manna ceased, for they had no longer need of miraculous food, as the land would supply them plentifully, for it was harvest time, and the country people had deserted their corn, because their fears impelled them to take shelter in Jericho.

The ceasing of Manna was a very remarkable cir

cumstance

cumstance; it served to shew the Israelites, that the failing of it was an act of God's providence, and not the effect of natural causes. It also proves, that God does not work miracles unnecessarily.

SECTION XXXVII,

JOSHUA'S REMARKABLE VISION-JERICHO TAKEN

RAHAB SAVED.

From Joshua, Chap.avi.

AND it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lift up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man over against him, with his sword drawn in his hand; and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us or for our adversaries? and he said, Nay; but as PRINCE* of the host of the LORD am I

now come.

And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my LORD unto his servant? and the PRINCE of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did

So.

Now Jericho was straitly shut up, because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

And the LORD said unto Joshua, See I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do go six days.

And seven priests shall bear trumpets of rams horns: and the

before the ark seven seventh day ye shall

Marginal translation.

compass

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