desirPd by these two-and-a-hn,lf tribes on account of its fruitful pasturage. It w&s adapted for flocks and herds, &nd the sight of such fertile territory c&used the owners of much sheep and cattle to be willing to settle down at once, rather than to occupy ~oil in the " land of pr?mise " itself. Their request was not pleasing to l\loses, as it. seemed. to :rmt a slight upon ~11.naan, and to threaten a relapse into Hlolatry, beside the mmnnent danger of discouraging the rest of the Israelites, an,1 so effecting by the wrath of God the utter extinction of the nation. Yet on the condition to which reference has been made the petition was ultimately granted. As they had achieYed their desire it was rightly expected that they would render some proportionate recompense. And in similar method our heavenly Father deals with us to-day. We must be ready to cry with the Psalmist "What bhall I render ,mto the Lord for all his benefits toward me ? '' If m~re than others we have recei,·ed, of 11~ will more be required. Health and strength, wealth and position, lea1nmg and mflnence-not one of these gifts but entails a corre- ~ponding responsibility. If the conditions have not been stated in so many word~, yet they are easily discoverable. 2. The prfority of duty to Jileasure. Before these armed men could lawfully enjoy their inheritance they must fulfil their engagement. We do not oppose duty to pleasure, strictly speaking, for it is obvious that only when mindful of the former ran the latter be truly known. But the two may be distinguished, and it is clear that there are cases in which selfish inclination would lead one way and obligation calls us another. The rule to be adopted is plain. Listen to "I ought," and follow whither it di..rects; there will be a satisfaction gendered which will go far to repay \IS for any sacrifice; and then when the period of relaxation has really iirriv'ed our delight will be embittered by no stings of reproachful conscience, but enl1anced by the remem- brance of duty discharged. Let this be noted and acted upon by the young, and there will be fewer wasted lives. Let Church_ members consult their obligations l,efore their convenience and there will be fewer vacancies crying out for occu- pants. 3. The obligations of fraternal love. The dislike of Moses to the request of these tribes was akin to the grief of a father who witnesses the separation of some mem- bers of the family from the rest. The river Jordan was in itself but a small dividing line, but it might be eignificant of a wide and deep estre.ngement. Evidently per- ceinng the fear of Moses, the Reubenites, &c., offered to prove by their conduct that the:r were still at one with their brethren and intended so to remain. The offer wai approved of and established as a covenant between the whole nation and these special tribes. It affumed a participation in the common hopes and risks. The Kew Testament speaks not less clearly of the relationship between all the -children of God. TI.,e members of the body.of Christ are bound to feel with and for one another (I Cor. xii. 25, 26). "Let brotherly love continue." So forcible was the impulse of the first preaching of the gospel that it led the Christians of J ernsalem to a commonalty of goods. It is required of the rich to he!~ the P??r, the stro_ng must llssist in bearing the burdens of the weak, the settled m pos1t10n and faith must stretch out the hand to those who are still searching for a place of rest, and those who have leisure must cfovote a portion at least to the succour of the busily employed. The Jewish Paul having obtained the privileges of Christianity could wisL himself to be " accursed for his brethren, his kinsmen according to the flesh." \Ye are selfish indeed if we pray not anµ labour not for the salvation of our friends till they l,ecome possessed likewise of an eternal inheritance. Briefly note-. III. TJIE RATIFICATION OF TJIE COVENANT. The covenanters assented imme- diately to the command of Joshua. They were ready to keep their word. No excuses urge<l, no pleas of misunderstanding, no subtle equivocations, no atti:mpts to secure a remission of their engagement, but downright honest confi.rmat10n of their pledged promise. They did not desire their sin to find them out (Num. xxxii. :l3J. The covenant had been really made with the Lord, and He would be ce1-tain to punish its violation. God give us grace to imitate their example I Like Jepbihal,, we liarn "opened our mouth to the Lord and cannct go back," We barn dt:clared ihat our bodies shall be living se.crifices, that our mouths shall CH, I, 16-18.) THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. 23
show forU1 the Redeemer's praise, that as for ue we will serve the Lord. Very aha.me should bind ue to our word; we must not, dare not, " keep back part of the price.'' And love to God and man draws us onward to our "reasonable service."-A, EXPOSITION. pared with the conduct of their fathers CHAPTER I. 16-18. whose bodies lay in the wilderness, the con- THE PEOPLE'S ANBWEB, - Ver. 16. -And duct of this generation was obedience itself. they answered Joshua, saymg. We may It certainly appears as though for the last compare this joyful willingness with the two years of the wandering in the wilder- murmurings of the people in the wilder- ness there was far less rebellion against ness, and their rebellion after the death Moses than before ; and after the solemn of those who led them into the promised repetition of the precepts of the law to the land (cf. Joshua xxiv. 31 with Judges ii. new generation which had a.risen, given in the 10, 11, &c.). Obedience ia easy when all Book of Deuteronomy, there seems to have goes well with us, e.nd when it makes no been no rebellion a.t a.II (see Num. xxvi. 63). demand upon out faith. The Iara.elites Ver. 18.-Whoaoever he be that doth murmured when the promise was as yet un- rebel aga.lnst thy commandment. A strik- fulfilled. They rebelled e.gELinst God when ing fulfilment of this promise appears in the obedience entailed self.sacrifice. But now case of Achan, who was put to death by the a.II was hope and eagerness. ·So it is often· act of the whole congregation (see eh. vii. with the young Christian at the outset of 25 ; ELnd cf. Dent. xvii. 12). Only be life's battle, before he has begun to realise strong a.nd of a good courage. The task of EL the exertio.n a.nd self-denial that can alone leader in Israel is easy when he is sustained ensure him victory: • by the prELyers of bis people, and when Ver. 17.-As we hearkened unto Moses. their exhortELtions a.re an echo of the words Calvin remarks that the Israelites did not of God (see vers. 6, 9). hearken unto Moses, but replies that, com-