Jordan, accompanied by Phinehas, as the representative of the priesthood, to remonstrate (vers. 11-20). They reoeive the unoxpocted reply that, so far from the erection of this altar being significative of au intention to break the law of Moses, it had precisely the contrary object, and was intended to show their deep reverence for that law, and an evidence of the right they had to consider themselves subject to it (vers. 21-24). The reply is re- garded as eminently satisfactory (vers. 80-84), and is received with deep thankfulness by Israel at large. Ch. xxiii. relates a charge given by Joshua to the children of Israel when adrnnced in age. He first (vers. 8-5) reminds them of what God has done and promises to do. Then (vers. 6-11) he reminds them of their duty in consequence, and warns them (vers. 12, 18) of the danger of neglecting it, concluding with a final appeal in which he alludes to his long career, in which God has signally fulfilled His promises, and his approaching death. Ch. xxiv. contains the history of another great gathering, following, no doubt, closely on the former, in which Joshua seeks to bind the Israelites once more before his death, by a solemn ceremony, to their duty of obedience to God. He commences with a brief summary of the history of Israel (ver. 2-13), and while bidding them choose their gods for themselves, declares his fixed determination to serve Jehovah only (vers. 14, 15). The people reply by declaring that it is impossible for them to serve another god (vers. 16-18). Joshua reminds them of the difficulty of the task, yet without shaking their purpose (vers. 19-21). He calls them to witness against themselves that they have made the promise, to which they assent, bids them put away all strange gods, and writes the covenant then made in the book of the law, and places a great stone as a memorial of the event, after which the people separate (vers. 22-28). In the remaining verses we read of the death and burial of Joshua (vers. 29, 80), of the faithfulness of the children of Israel after his death (ver. 81), of the interment of the bones of Joseph (ver. 82), and lastly (ver. 88'1, of the death and burial of Eleazar.
§ VL CBmcAL AND EXEGETICAL HELPS. Those who find it easy to consult authors in the learned languages will find much help in OmGEN's 'Homilies on Joshua,' which we have in a Latin dress. These, with the 'Questions' of THEODOBET and AuGUSTINE, may be found in various editions. The commentary of RABBI SoLoMoN JARCHI /RashiJ originally written in Rabbinic, has been translated into Latin, and io very brief, and often much to the point. CALVIN'S Commentary may be found in Latin and French, and an excellent English translation has been iBsued by the Calvin Society. His treatment of Joshua is neither so striking nor so suggei;tive as his works on the New Testament, but his sound mas- culine understanding is often displayed in valuable thoughts. MAsrus, TO THE BOOK OF JOSHUA:, xxxvii
GRoTrus, and others may be consulted in the ' Critici Sacri,' and the learning and industry of RosENMULLER, as well as the brief and pregnant, though often hazardous, suggestions of MAURER, may either be consulted in their own works, or in BARRETT'S ' Synopsis.' CORNELIUS .l LAPI;;>E is a most favour- able specimen of the Jesuit commentator, and is terse, pointed, and acute, M1cHAEL1s' 'Anmerkungen fur Ungelehrte' are in German. There is a learned Commentary by CALMET. PooLE's 'Synopsis' combines many of the older commentators with skill and accuracy. Of later aids to the critical study of the Book of Joshua we may mention KEIL, FAY (in Lange's Commentary), and the abbreviated and often improved edition of Keil in the volume containing Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, by Keil and Delitzsch. All these have beeu translated in Messrs. Clark's Series. KNoBEL's learned and most valuable work can only at present be consulted in the original. BLEEK's 'Introduction to the Old Testament' has been translated by Mr. Venables (Bell and Co.). Dr. DAVIDSON's 'Introduction' contains much valu, able matter, but the student must expect to find the " destructive criticism '' in his pages. In EwALn's ' History of Israel ' the reader will find much light thrown upon the history of the period. The geography of Palestine has been profusely illustrated. The best known works are those of Dr, RoBINSoN, Dean STANLEY, Mr. J. L. PoRTER, and Canon TBISTBAM, while the latest information is to be foUI1d in the publications of the Palestine Exploration Fund. The Book of Joshua, by Dr. EsPIN, in the 'Speaker's Commentary,' contains the latest information to be obtained on the subject, while of smaller works much geographical and general information may be found in Dr. MAoLEAB's 'Joshua,' in the Cambridge Bible for Schools. The Book of Joshua does not seem to have been a favourite one for homiletic treatment, but much may be gathered in this department from the works of ADAM CLARKE and THOMAS ScoTT, and above all, from the pious and thoughtful labours of MATTHEW HENRY. HALL'S 'Contemplations ' are a perfect mine of reflections on the particular points selected, while Dr, VAuoHAN's 'Heroes of Faith,' and the late B1sHOP WILBERFORcE's ' Heroes of Hebrew History,' will also be very useful to the preacher.
Note A., Introduction, p. xi. The number of expressions found in Joshua e.nd not in the Pente.teuch given in Section I. is incomplete. We me.y e.dd the peculie.r form of the infinitive in eh. xxii, 25, where see note. The word rqtf! occurs first in eh. xxii. 24, though many words for anxiety end fee.re.re to be found in the Pente.teuoh. The use of win e.dverbially occurs only in Josh. ii. 1. The word 1'11\n occurs first in eh. vii. 19. If the word signifies praise here, e,s it does elsewhere (e.s in Pea. xxvi. 7, &c.), the use of the word is a very decided indication of difi'ereDt authorship from thq Fenta.teuch. XXXYiii INTRODUCTION-NOTES.