Joshua 24

Joshua 24:1

TO Shechem] That is to Shilo, which was in the territories of Shechem, where the tabernacle now was: nor is it unusuall to put the name of the countrey, for some chief city therein scituated. So vers. 32. compared with Genesis 33:18. So Hebron is said to be given to Caleb, Chap. 14. 14. That is not the city it self, but the territory adjoyning to it, Chap. 21. 13.

before God] 1: e. The tabernacle, the place of Gods presence.

Joshua 24:2

all the people] To wit, those specified, 5: 1.

of the flood] To wit, Euphrates, 1: e. In Mesopotamia. So 5: 3. 14, 15.

Joshua 24:3

multiplyed] To wit, by Hagar and Keturah.

gave him Isaac] To wit, as heir by speciall covenant, grace and power.

Joshua 24:7

darknesse] That is, by a dark cloud he separated the Egyptians from the Israelites.

and your eyes have seen] 1: e. So many of you as were under twenty yeers when you came out of Egypt, for all the rest died in the wildernesse, saving Caleb and Joshua.

Joshua 24:9

arose, or to war, and warred] 1: e. Purposed to make war, though he did not do it in act, Judg. 11. 25. So the intention 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉is sometime taken for the very act, as John 10. 32, 33.

Joshua 24:11

fought against you] 1: e. Prepared to fight, and fortified themselves and cities, in a hostile manner, and the rest of the nations here mentioned, by force of arms fought against you.

Joshua 24:12

the hornet] Either literally very hornets, as it is understood, Wisd. 12. 8. or metaphorically taken for the terrour of their approach, which like hornets, stung, and deaded their hearts.

I sent the hornet before you] Exodus 23:28. Deuteronomy 7:20.

even the two kings] To wit, Sehon and Og.

not with thy sword] 1: e. Not by any policy or power of thine onely, or chiefly, which would have been vain in themselves, had not God, as principall cause, given victory. Psalms 44:3.

Joshua 24:13

and cities] For they destroyed onely Hazor, and left the rest for themselves to dwell in. Joshua 11:13.

of the vineyards] 1: e. Of the fruit of the vineyard. So Genesis 3:1. 12. Revelation 2:7.

Joshua 24:14

your fathers] 1: e. Terah and Nachor, 5: 2. yea, Abraham himself before he was called by God, as is thought.

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evill] He doth not in thus speaking, leave them to their choice, to serve God or no; but comparing that which is best, with that which is worst, the service of God with the service of devils, as it were life and death, hell and heaven; he then leaveth them to choose, that they might choose more freely, and delight in their choice, and be more firm. and constant in their covenant: For it is the strongest bond when a man binds himself freely and willingly. So Ruth 1. 8, 15. 1 Kings 18:21.

Joshua 24:19

Ye cannot serve the Lord] To wit, if ye retain your idols among you, or mingle false worship with the true, as vers. 23. And this he speaketh not to deterre them, but to make them suspect themselves as being very prone to idolatry, and to draw them up to make a more firm covenant of serving God with so much the stronger resolution.

an holy God] And therefore abhorres impiety and idolatry.

a jealous God] And therefore cannot endure any corrivals in his worship.

Joshua 24:20

then he will turn and do you hurt] Chap. 23. 15.

he will not forgive] To wit, if you adde to your idolatry breach of covenant.

Joshua 24:21

Nay] 1: e. All this shall not hinder us from entring into covenant with God; for we are fully resolved to serve the LORD onely.

Joshua 24:22

And Joshua said] That is, concluded and ratified the covenant between God and the people.

Joshua 24:23

put away the strange gods] 1: e. The idols which some of you still do (though secretly) retain and worship, and that they so did, appeareth, Amos 5. 25, 26. and Acts 7:43.

God of Israel] To wit, to serve him alone, and no other.

Joshua 24:25

So Joshua made] That is, as Gods servant and substitute, renewed and ratified a covenant between God and his people.

Joshua 24:26

in the book of the law] That is, he wrote or caused the priests to write the words of this covenant in some copy of the law, written by Moses, Deuteronomy 31:26.

and set it up] To wit, as a sign or monument of this covenant thus ratified, as it was the custome of those dayes. Genesis 28:18. and 35. 14. Joshua 4:3.

an oak] Of which, see Judges 9:6. and Genesis 35:4.

by the sanctuary] 1: e. In Shechem neer the tabernacle, or in the outward court as it was now pitched.

Joshua 24:27

it hath heard] By a figurative speech, sence is emphatically ascribed to a senselesse stone. So Deuteronomy 32:11. Psalms 19:1. and Isaiah 1:2. Jerem. 22. 29. As though he should say, this stone, when you see it, shall represent to your mindes and consciences, this covenant which you have made, as if it could both hear and speak.

the words of the Lord] That is, the words of the covenant, which we have contracted with the land.

Joshua 24:30

Timnath-serah] Chap. 19. 50. Judg. 2. 9.

Joshua 24:31

had known] See 5: 7.

Joshua 24:32

And the bones] To wit, as he had bound them by oath, Genesis 50:25. Exodus 13:19. So they now performed it.

in Shehem] See 5: 1.

pieces] Or, lambs.

the inheritance] 1: e. That parcell of ground, and the buriall place in it.