PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua
Alfred Plummer [1841-1926] · 388,731 words · 426 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 301
la.tter of these words, derived from l'Q! able in consequence, Knobel supposes it to "1ight hand," being the position of the south be the pass es-Bufah on the road between when regarded from the point of view of Petra and Hebron. But the border of Judah n mnn looking eastward, denotes the south- seems to have gone in a…
1,020 wordsSECTION 302The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 302
Ver. 4.~-The river of Egypt (see above, eh, This is now the Wady Kelt. Gllgal Keil xiii. 3). "Westward, as for ae Egypt, there says that this is not the Gilgal where the is a sandy, salt, barren, unfruitful, and un- Israelites first encamped. It is called inhabitable waste" (Knobel). The land. he Geliloth, or" circles,…
1,002 wordsSECTION 303The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 303
able. The ve.lley of the son of lliJlnom. The a Semitic origin, and in spite of the faot word here for valley ("rl) signifies properly that the LXX. suspects no such allusion e deep cleft in the rock, through which no there. St. Ja.mes alone, beside the writers water flows. The valley of Hinnom bas of the Gospels,'men…
995 wordsSECTION 304The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 304
Knobel, Ritter, and Tristrnm, in his last Timnah. Sometimes called Timnath in book, 'Bible Landa.' The view taken above Scripture (see Jndg. xiv. 1-6), and Tim; corresponds to the minuteness of detail with natba in eh. xix. 43. which the boundary is given. To place Ver. 11.-Ekron. This important Philis- Nephtoah south …
930 wordsSECTION 305The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 305
No oue doubts thr.t-Jeremiah in eh. x.h-ili. Othniel, who no doubt had co'lle to meet is quoting Ian.. XY., although the passages her; or possibly, according to the Inter nrc not Yerbally coinci,lent. We may safely Oriental custom, had escorted her the whole regard this quotation of the Book of Joshua way. A blessing (…
948 wordsSECTION 306The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 306
Ziklo.g ie fa.moue ne the reeidence of David lived the prophet who foretold the destruc- (1 Sam. xxvii. 6). It ie noteworthy that tion of ,Jehoehaphat's navy (2 Chron. xx. 37. it wne given to him by Achieh, king of Gath, See e.lso Micah i. 15). Now Marash, close in whoee poeeeeeion it therefore was at that to Beit-J…
958 wordsSECTION 307The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 307
'Egypt anil l\tlestine,' eh. xix., and note early times, a town of sufficient importance on eh. x. 40). The time lrns not yet come to be noticed in a list like this, and that its for the Jews, now asserting their ancient omission in the Hebrew text is due to the greatness in statesmanship, literature, and mistake of so…
1,168 wordsSECTION 308The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 308
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 16-19.-Fulness of blessing. Achsah had something of her father's spirit in her-ambitious, vigorous, resolute, quick to seize the present opportunity. Having so lately won his own suit Caleb could scarcely deny her her's. Through the simple, Oriental form of this narrative we see the …
549 wordsSECTION 309The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 309
prepare men to seek after the joys of faith. God said to His sense-bound people in the prophetic age, " Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy"'Way, yet saidat thou not, There is no hope" (Isa. lvii. 10). Theil' vain camal life disappointed them, but they did not repent of it. They were wearied in it, disgusted with …
1,034 wordsSECTION 310The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 310
Ver. 68.-l11vincible Jebcsites. The failure of the men of Judah to conquer the J ebusites is illustrative of the failures men too co=only encounter in the attempt to accomplish the aims of life. I. No MAN PERFECTLY SUCCEEDS IN THE TASK OF HIS LIFE. If a man is satisfied that he bas accomplished all his aims, this is a…
1,233 wordsSECTION 311The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 311
Shiver and shrink at sight of toil and de.ng~r, And make the impossibilities they fear." 4. Defective witness for God. Every such case of spiritual failure is a hindrance to the· progress of the kingdom of heaven among men, thwarts so far the Divine purpose in the triumph of truth and righteousness. The hostile force…
837 wordsSECTION 312The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 312
expression il:-('l,r, of e,U mee,uing, even if Joseph led to the cession of Romo of the ;'1))' hscl not the article. Thus De,n ce,n towns northward of the Wady Ifonrih only barn nppronrhcd towards Joppe,, but by Manasseh to Ephraim, M1tnasseh re. r.n.nnot lrnve rNtchcd it. Aud it will be ob- ceiviug compensation by re…
1,235 wordsSECTION 313The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 313
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 10.-0anaanites still in the land. I. CAN.UNITES STILL IN THE L.l.ND WERE A WITNESS TO THE FAILURE OF THE JEWS TO ACCOllPLISH Gon's WILL. They may have failed (1) from weakness and indolence, (2) from mercenary motives, thinking to make profit out of the Canaanites with their tribute. …
452 wordsSECTION 314The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 314
EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XVII. 1-18. Moses just referred to, to whioh they appeal Ver. 1.-There was also a lot. The prefer. in support of their claim (see also Num, .ible translation is, " amd the lot fo,· tM xxvii. 1-7) . ,1'ibe of Manasseh-for lie was the firstborn Ver. 6.-And there fell ten portions. o_( ,Joseph-10a…
955 wordsSECTION 315The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 315
have v.dmired tho picturesque situation of methe.h be e.t once the northern border of Bhechcm. It hv.e even extorted a tribute Ephraim and Me.nasseh, the territory of from Dr. Peterman, in hie • Reisen im Mane.sash ie cut e.lmost in half. And, in Orient,' v. work which, however fall of fact, such a supposition makes…
974 wordsSECTION 316The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 316
tbc Canaanites. '.I'he eastern face rises like hills, or elevated spots (Naphetb, see note, a steep cone, most inco1Tectly stated by eh. xi. 2). Gesenius compares the name R-0binson to be ' black, and apparently Tremont. 'fhe reference is to Endor, volcanic ; ' and by Poiter, ' probably a T1tanach, and l\fegiddo. Keil…
955 wordsSECTION 317The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 317
find it impossible to emancipate themselves said of the fact by the historian ; the more from such bondage. Fora.smuch a.s the especially_as David (see 2 Sam. xix. 15-17, Lord ha.th blessed me hitherto. Or, halh 31) remamed on the other side Jordan, blessed me lo this extent (but see Exod. vii. while yet it was possibl…
1,263 wordsSECTION 318The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 318
HOMILETICS. Ver. 18.-The lot of Joseph. I. No COll£PROMISE WITH SIN, The Israelites, as we have seen, were promised the possession of Palestine on condition that they should exterminate its inhabitants. They did not do this, either (1) because they were indisposed to the exertion, as in the case of the J ebusites (eh.…
919 wordsSECTION 319The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 319
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 3, 4.-Woman's ri_qhts. I. WOMEN HAVE RIGHTS WHICH MEN CO:lnIONLY DENY THEM. The justice of the Mosaic law and too just privileges accorded to women in the J ewieh state stand out in -favourable contrast with the almost universal injustice which marks the historic relations of men wit…
1,151 wordsSECTION 320The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 320
work upon it. Thus _woman has Iese protection if unprovided for, less certainty of the resource of marnage; and man less need for special provisions in his favour. In these 11,ltererl circumstances it is probable that what Moses ruled for the daughters of Zelophehad he would have expanded into a larger rule, and would…
771 wordsSECTION 321The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 321
of iinp:o,;ng, 1!1erel:y l~ment _their lot. Many keep troubling friends to do for them :wh•.t 1t. is qmte w1tbm then 1~0:wer_ to do for themselves. Some are merely mdolent-capable of work, but d1smclmed to do it. Some suffer from a feebleness which e,ists only iu their iinagination, but which prevents their working …
838 wordsSECTION 322The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 322
UBe well what powers God has given us, these will grow more effective. The talent that is not neglected produces other talents.· Ill. GREAT 0LAIMB BBOULD BE SUSTAINED BY GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS. The Ephraimites claim to be great, and therefore deserving of a great inheritance. Joshua replies, "If thou be a great people, _t…
822 wordsSECTION 323The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 323
EXPOSITION. CHAI'TER XTIIT. 1-28. ohosen by llimself shall the publio worship of the congregation be p9.id to Him. Thither THE CO~"TINUED DITISION OF THE LAND.- were all the me.Jes to resort three times n. Ver. 1--0ongregatton. The word signifies ye9.r, It is obvious how such n. regulation a body of persons gathered…
933 wordsSECTION 324The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 324
decency find pl'opriety blinds our eyes to the by Joshua, and now it was the intention of impiety iind evil which etill lul'ks amid ue the Israelites to be guided by the ancient unsubtlued. political •ystem of the country, to occupy Vel'. 4.-Giveoutfrom among you. Calvin those cities, and to cultivate the adjacent enl…
920 wordsSECTION 325The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 325
Yer. 17.--0ellloth (see eh. xv. 7). of his aBSl\BSine.tion (2 Kings XXV. 23-25 ; Ver. 23.-Avtm. Moet probably Ai (eee Jer. xl. 10-13; xii.). note on eh. vii. 2). Ver. 28.-Glbeath. Almost certe.inly the Yer. 24.-0phra.h. Not the OphrBh of same as " Gibeab of Saul" (1 Sam. xi. 4). Gideon, who (Judg. vi. 11; viii. 2, 32…
854 wordsSECTION 326The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 326
Lonl's Day, a spectacle which drew from a distinguished French Roman Catholio writer the admission that England was the most religious country in the world. ~ml in times of natil:>nal ~ejoicing, _or national dist~ess, the various religious bodies ID the country do not fail, accordmg to their vanous forms, to unite in c…
767 wordsSECTION 327The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 327
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Yer. 1.-Shiloh, the sa.ncfoary. ~he c~oice of Shiloh as a resting-place fo1· the tabernacle wa~. not left at .Joshua's d1scr~t1on_: it was a matter of Divine appoint- ment (Dent. xn. 10--12). At t.110 same time 1t was not without its natmal reason, The situation was both central and sec…
1,131 wordsSECTION 328The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 328
Ver. 1.-Shiloh. Shiloh was at once the seat of public worship r.nd the centre of tribal union ; the symbol of established peace and the witness to that Divine law on which the maintenance of peace and prosperity depended. Christendom needs its Sbilohs. It is true that our privileges of worship are not con.fined to cons…
469 wordsSECTION 329The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 329
,lepressing influence of worldly occupa.tions a.nd the varia.tions of priva.te experience resulting from our own cha.nging moods. It stimula.tes us (1) by the direct influence of the religious exercises of pra.yer, praise, a.nd tlie rea.ding of Scripture a,nd prea.ching; (2) by mutua.l sympa.thy. V. PUBLIC WORSHIP HEL…
809 wordsSECTION 330The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 330
I. '.fm: POSITION OF THESE ISRAELITES. After years of wandering they were penmtted at 111st to tread the soil of the land of promise. They might well indulge feelings of gratification at the thought of their surroundings, that the wilderness was passed, and their eyes beheld the country which their fathers had in vain …
924 wordsSECTION 331The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 331
EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XIX.-1-51. of the children ol Simeon we find a little recorded in 1 Chron. iv. 39-42, and some Tm,; LOT oF THE REMAINING TRrnEs. Ver. suppose that the event recorded there is 11, 1. -And their I.Dherita.nce was within the fulfilment of the prophecy in ObadiELh 19. Inheritance of the children or…
831 wordsSECTION 332The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 332
pl1tce of the prophet Jonah. Now el-MeBh- "David's wars were fought with the Philis- hed, where the tomb of Jona.his still shown. tines," he continues, ''while the invaei0ns The Rabbinico.l writers o.nd the Onomo.sticon of the Syrians were directed to the neigh- mention this tro.dition. bourhood of Samaria." But her…
962 wordsSECTION 333The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 333
swept nwa:, in one of those sudden 11nd ir- now presented by that fertile region, tho rntional pitnics so often fatal to Eastern result of the insecurity for life and property armies. Here S111tl, hard by Jezreel, dispi- which is so commonly remarked by all who rited b, his ,isit to the witch of Endor, have travelled i…
1,021 wordsSECTION 334The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 334
further south tha,n is usually supposed. (' Phcenicia,' p. 24), thinks that as crocodilu, Sinoe but sma,11 mention of the Jordan is originally meant a lizard, the lacer/u., Nilo- made in the bounda,ry of Joseph, it ma.y ticus is meant, the river being, in his opinion have extended a,s far or farther south than too shal…
1,000 wordsSECTION 335The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 335
which is not mentioned, l,eoanse it would victorious expedition (so Alexnnder tells us) seem to he sufficiently defined by the men- was driven Lack from the island foi-trees o! tion of Rnmah and Tyre. Between Hosah Tyre. Sennacherib, in bis vainglorious and Achzib there wouid seem to ha"<"e been boast of the cities be …
946 wordsSECTION 336The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 336
The nntuml ndvnnt11ges ol the territory border of N aphtali is more lightly traced must h11ve been great. Not only was it than any previous one, and is regarded as described propheUc111ly by Jacob (Gen. being sufficiently defined, save toward the xlix. 20) and h,: Moses (Deut. xxxiii. 24, 25), north, by the boundaries …
928 wordsSECTION 337The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 337
Thi• is neit,her Beth-shemesh of Judah nor cabeee (see 1 Mace, x. 75, 76; and 2 Mace. o{ Issachar (see ver. 22). iv. 21). He meution in tho New Testa- Ver. 39.-The Inherit.a.nee or the tribe of ment as the place where St. Peter'a vision the children or Na.phtali Of Naphtali, occun-ed will be known to nil. The no.ma be…
1,027 wordsSECTION 338The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 338
wo.s o. tepresento.tion of tho sun upon the the Iara.elites may have quarrelled among tomb of him who caused the sun to eland tbemsel ves, there is not a hint of dissatis- still. Timno.th-semh must not be con- faction with the final distribution of terri • founded with Timnah, or Timnathah, in the tory. Three points…
865 wordsSECTION 339The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 339
ili!fcrC'nt forms, waiting for the day when "OUl' unhappy divisions" have ceased. "e wa:,. bowewr, aild one consiileration deriveil from this chapter alone. . SELFISH AIMS OUGHT NOT TO INTRUDE INTO A GREAT 0AUSE, This principle is illust.rateil (1) by the condnct of Judah, (2) by the conduct of Joshua. The rule of the …
784 wordsSECTION 340The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 340
hn,vo more Limn their due sha.re of the 11,dvanta,,es of life. Hellishness ma"niliM ll man's needs n,ncl deserts, and minimises the req~1irementR and merits of oth~rs. To be ,inst we mnst conquer selfishness with brotherliness. III. 'l'HE IDEA OF BilOTIIEilHOOD MUST TAKE POSSESSION OF MEN BEFORE THEY CAN Pil,\C'fIBE T…
798 wordsSECTION 341The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 341
charms them t,o integrity, is a root of brotherliness a,nd peace. Especia,lly should all leaders of their fellows cultiva,te this honour. It is not too common a,mongst either sovereigns or statesmen. ~en are ,a;pt to forget the,~ selfishness is vulgar, ""hether it seeks t-0 get a throne, m a.mb1t1on, or to keep its …
1,066 wordsSECTION 342The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 342
EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XX. 1-9. secrated to God. Hence, since the dnty of such redemption, on the death of the owner, THE CITIES oF REFUGE.-Ver. 1.-Cities devolved upon the nearest relative, it came of refuge.. The origmal is more definite, to mea.a. "blood relation." Thus Boaz the cities of refuge. So LXX. Whereof I (…
591 wordsSECTION 343The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 343
writtrn R..n occurrence pr0ci~ely sin1il&r, gregatlon. Tht1t is, until he ha,l had I\ folr saYe in its termin!ltion, was reported in the trial. It was no object of the Jewish law to rliuly journ!l!s to lut,·c taken place in that make a man a victim to passion. Untll the island. The only way in which the feud death or …
991 wordsSECTION 344The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 344
the instHution of the city of refuge remained Soo is invari&bly the Arabah ; wide plains in full force. But we find three cities shnt in between ranges of hills or situe.ted selected on ea.eh side ol Jordan. Those on on their slopes are distinguished by the title the west were in the tribe of Napbtali on of Emek ; whil…
1,179 wordsSECTION 345The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 345
HOMILETICS. Yers. 1-9.-The citws of 1·efuge. The institution of these cities was intended to put bounds to reYenge, while pro'l'iding for tlie punishment of crime. As Lange remarks, the Mosaic law found the principle of vengeance at the hand of the nearest relatiYe of the deceased already recognised, and desired to…
964 wordsSECTION 346The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 346
HOMILIES BY VARIOUI:: AUTHORS. Ver. 1-Cities of refuge. The institution of cities of refuge interests us as at once an admi.1'11ble instance of the spirit of the Mosaic legislation, and as an a1Tangement of gracious wisdom. In the absence of courts of law and any sufficient arrange- ment for the administration of j…
472 wordsSECTION 347The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 347
forbids /he re/.a-fives to condone a c1·i~ by receivfog any money 1,ayment fo1· it: (see Inst chapter of Nmnbers). Tins 1s a :v~ry striking fact, for nn11y would very much have pr~fe1Ted a law allowmg_ ihe g1vmg and receiving of snch a fine, to the law a.ctnRlly g1Yen. His not _adoptmg such a rule sliows ihat IIIose…
851 wordsSECTION 348The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 348
Vera. 1-6.-The mwnsl{J//Jer wnrl his refuge. The institution of the cities of l"efuge standa ns a, conspicuous memorinl of the beneficent spirit of the Mosaic economy. It bore a, resemblance to that right of asylum, or sanctuary, which in some form or other lms found a, place in the mage of all nations from the earlies…
818 wordsSECTION 349The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 349
Ill. THE mroRTANCE OF THE SPIRIT ABOVE THE FORM OF EVERY DF.ED. The city of n°fugc was a }H'ov:ision for the protection of the nrnnslayer from l1twloss an<l indiscriminate ,;o]encc, Urnt he might be subject to judicial inquiry ns to the real meaning and intent of what he had done. He mnst be brought before a tr:ibunnl …
817 wordsSECTION 350The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 350
brother is o. mnrdoror'' (1 John iii. 15). Guilt attaches to motives not to ontward o.cLs. 'fherof?ro (,i) clo not jnrlge_ othern needlessly (i\fatt. vii. J) '; (b) when it is necessary to JtHlge do not be dec01ved by outward appea,rance but consider differ- ences of rnotivo (John vii. 24). ' II. 'fuE APPOINTMl.:NT OF…
848 wordsSECTION 351The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 351
TJOX OFFERED IN THE GOSPEL. That the ordina1rnes of the Ismelites we;·c i fignre for the time to come, is in many places of the New Testnment expressly affirmed (see 1 Cor. x. 6. 11; Heb. ix. 9; x. 1). And with great likelihood the words of Heh. xi. 1S haYe been supposed to refer to the very institution now nuder discu…
849 wordsSECTION 352The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 352
murder. It mny well be said that in this respect it was the inexorable law or the letter which killetl.1. I. The establishm~nt of cities of refu~e, intended to serve as a sanctuary to the mu.rdcrer who had killed some one by accident, rs LIKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE NEW LEGISLATION WHICH DEALS RATHER WITH THF. I…
792 wordsSECTION 353The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 353
Eleaznr is p!1tccd first here, because, as the "the tree of life," with He" twelve mnnnet acknowledged head of the t1ibc, be was the of fruits," which were "yielded • every proper person to prefer its request to the month" (Rev. xxi. 12, 14, 16, 19, 21; leader. But the whole history show• how xxii. 2). eutireli- Jo…
975 wordsSECTION 354The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 354
being sure to increaHe, it is not surprising to the Levites. Most of the cities in the tho.L in the courHe of time o.dclitional cities following list have been noticed already. ahould be assigned to them. And since Nob Ver. 16.-Aln with her suburbs. We is not mentioned here, we ho.ve good have "Ashan" in l Chron. vi…
983 wordsSECTION 355The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 355
Bible of 1526, hM very improperly omitted tribes addicted themselves to the oommercio.1 thC'se towns on the authority of the Mttsora, and maritime life for which the Phronioians &ml that many editors ha'l"e fooli•hly were so fa.moue. imitnt!'d him. They ha'l"e no doubt bron · Ver. 44.-And the Lord gave them rest, 0…
994 wordsSECTION 356The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 356
HOMILETIC B. Vera. 1-45.-The ecclesiastical settlement of Canaan. Though the ecclesiastical institutions of the Christian Church differ, in some respects materially from those of the Jewish, yet inasmuch 0,s the lnw ancl the gospel came from tb~ same All- wise Hanel, wo may naturnlly expect that the main principles of…
837 wordsSECTION 357The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 357
country shonld correspond, it m11y fairly be urged, with the ecc!eRir1stic11l 1trmnge• ments of the promised lfmd. On the other hand, it must not be forgotten that tho whole history of Isrnel, from. Moses downw11rds, shows tlmt tho civil nmgistrate hr1d R lr1rge influence in ecclesiastical affairs. Not to go beyond the…
809 wordsSECTION 358The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 358
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. ~.-The citieB of the Levites: The Levites were scattered among the oth_er tribes of lame!, 11ml yet not individually but in clusters, in cities of their own. Tlus arrangement must have had some object:- I. THE Ln:VITES WERE BET '."PART FOR THE SERVICE OF Gon. They were freed fr?m the…
1,029 wordsSECTION 359The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 359
,. er. 3.-The JJOrtion of the tribe of Levi. There might seem at first something strange in the withholding from the tribe of Levi its she.re among the cities of Canaan, dinded by lot among the other tribes. There were, however, as we shall see, substantial reasons why tbe tribe of Levi should not be treated like the o…
609 wordsSECTION 360The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 360
Ver: 41.-The eBtablished Church of IBrael. These words project before us essentrnlly the Church establishment of ancient Israel. It is quite true that the Old Testament priesthood in its functions differed in very many most essertial pomts from the clergy of any modern Church. Their function was ritual rather than inst…
731 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.