order to draw the people of Ai from their strong- holds, and to seize upon their city whilst they were pursuing the retreating hosts of Israel. All this was well, according to the arts of war: and all this was to be rendered subservient to the end proposed. But still it was not by this that success was to be obtained. Joshua must stretch forth his spear : and, though that could be no signal to direct the operations of his army, (for he was alone, and at a distance from the army,) it was the signal by which, if I may so speak, God would act : for at the moment that Joshua, according to the divine appointment, stretched forth his spear, God stirred up the hosts that were in ambush to execute the concerted movement ; and thus a speedy and entire victory was gained3. But God would still have it seen that the success was owing to him alone : and, therefore, Joshua must still keep his arm and spear extended, till all the people of Ai were com- pletely destroyed.
Now, in this significant act, Joshua was both a type and an example : and in it we see,
I. How our Great Captain interests himself for us —
Joshua was a very eminent and distinguished type of Christ —
[To him was committed the office of leading God's chosen people into Canaan. Moses might conduct them through the wilderness; but he could not bring them into the promised land. He represented the Lata, which serves as a rule of con- duct, but can give no man a title to heaven. He must give up this honour to Joshua, who was raised up of God for this purpose, to subdue their enemies before them, and to put them into the possession of the promised inheritance. His very name was changed, in reference to his appointment, from Osea to Jehoshua; which is a compound of Jah Osea, and signifies ' divine saviour V His name, thus altered, is the very same with that of Jesus, whose type he was. And no less than
a The second night before the battle, Joshua was with the army, arranging the plans of attack : but the night preceding the battle, and the whole time of the battle, Joshua was alone with God in tho valley. Compare ver. 9, 13. For the order given by God to Joshua, and its instantaneous effects, see ver. 18, 19.
b Numb. xiii. 16.