HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 16-18.-Loyalty. A demand had been made that the "men of valour" of these tribes should leave their relatives and property in the fenced cities of their inheritance, and head the advance of the Israelites into Canaan. A call to a dangerous position, to bear, as it seemed, the brunt of the enemy's attack; a sum- mons to exercise self-denial in absence from home and possessions ; the precept issuing, too, from unaccll6tomed lips, those of a new general. These verses record a courageous, generoua response, which may well furnish matter for meditation and imitation. l. A DECLARATION OF OBEDIENCE. I. A prompt assent. No time for thought and preparation asked for. No reason,, invented for delay. 2. A hearty assent. It is expressed in three forms : a promise to do what is com- manded, to go where sent, and to hearken when addressed. These phraees cover all possible kinds of precepts. . 8. Promise of unreserved obedience. "All," "whithersoever," and "m all things," thus blocking the smallest loophole of escape in each case. No picking and choosing here of the mandates to which they will conform. Such complete acquiescence as this can be required of us only with respect to Him who is the Captain of our salvation. With regard to other subalterns of His, and to the national sovereign, there are occasions on which refusal and resistance are justifiable. Consider the grounds on which we owe fealty to Jesus Christ. He is our Lord as Creator, '' by him were all things made," and as Redeemer, "that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves," &c. II. A PRAYER OFFERED FOR THE LEADER. "Only the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses." 1. This petition recognised the fount of authority. The warriors reaclily complied with the demand of Joshua because they believed ~hat he was appointed to occupy the place of Moses. Joshua was henceforth to receive and utter the directions of the Almighty, to be His vicegerent to the Israelites. And on this foundation Jesus Christ often based His claims to be heard by the J ewe, viz., tilat He was sent from God and spoke the words of Go~. He pointed to His mighty works in evidence of the truth of His pretensions. N1co~emu~ d~flared, "Ko man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with h=. The Father openly signified His approval of the Son's mission, "This is my beloved Son, hear ye him." The Jewish king was the "anointed o~ t~e L~rd. "~he powers that be are ordained of God.'' Pastors under the Chr1st10,n cl1spensat1on are "over'' men "in the Lord." " Remember them who have the rule over you, on. n. 1-12.] THE BOOK OF .TOSHGA. --------------------------- who have spoken unto you the worclof Goel." "Obey them that have the rule over you, ancl submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls as they that must give account." 2. The prayer invokes the presence of God as the lead,er's source of strength. By prayer we can commencl to Divine grace " all that are in authority." How the Apostle Paul reiteratecl his request that the reaclers of his epistles woulcl earnestly pray on his behalf I When Peter was miraculously released from prison he founcl "many gatherecl together praying.'' Thus may the people aicl their minister, as Aaron and Hur upheld Moses' hancls. There were seasons ~hen the commands of the great legislator were receivecl with murmuring, and when his right to rule was callecl in question. These Reubenites hacl not "in all things" hearkenecl unto Moses. Yet now they spontaneously avow that he hacl been supported by God. The cleath of a celebrated man calms passion, removes prejudice, anft purges the vision. III. A STERN l\ESOLUTION. To inflict the punishment of cleath on any recalcitrant offencler. Presumptuous refusal to hearken to the priest or judge was to be visitecl with this severe penalty (Dent. xvii. 12). This declaration by these tribes evinced their firm cletermination to abide by the decrees of their new ruler. Rebellion is treated as one of the worst crimes, inasmuch as whilst some illegal acts are only indirectly subversive of government, this strikes a blow at the very seat of authority, and endangers all order. Nor is it a matter of small moment whether men bow or not to the' rule of Christ. Peter quoted the prophecy of Moses in reference to Christ and the terrible threat annexed, "Every soul which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people." Our Lord, in the parable of the pounds, represents Himself as saying, "But those mine enemies . . . and slay before me." IV. ADMONITORY ADVICE. In olden days servants were much freer in speaking their mind to their masters, and soldiers to their generals. But Joshua's humility in listening to this exhortation is worthy of being copiecl. The wisest may learn from the ignorant, and the meanest of the flock may sometimes suitably adclress their pastor. Nor need any of us be above accepting goocl counsel, from whatever quarter it proceeds. There is no intimation of weakness, but only that these tribes perceivecl the weighty enterprise in which Joshua was engagecl, and the necessity of his exhibiting a fearless demeanour. They sympathised with him, ancl wished to inspirit him for his arduous, honourable work. They knew how much commonly depends on the leader's courage, and how quickly his fear would affect his subjects. It was advice in full accordqnce with their actions. They had gone the right way to strengthen Joshua by\heir instant submission to His will. They dicl not try to cheer him with words after having previously knocked the breath out of him with their deeds. Speech and conduct were in harmony, and lent each other force. Marvellous is the effect of an encouraging word I Is there not some one whom. we can thus send to his post with augmented zeal and hope? Oonclusion. Whom are we serving? Uncler whose banner enlisted, and what wages, what reward do we anticipate? The tme Joshua., even Christ, demands, invites, yea, entreats our faithful adherence.-A.
EXPOSITION.
CHAPTER II. 1-12. the whole time spent by the spies in their exploring expedition. Out of Sh1ttlm. RAIIAD AND THE SPIES. - Ver. 1.-And Literally, /i·om the valley of acacias. It is Joshua the son of Nun sent, Rather, ns so called m full in Joel iii. 18. This place mnrgin, had sent (see note on eh. i. 2). (called Abel-Shittim in Num. xxxiii. 49), in It might have been at the very time when which the Isrnelites had sojoumed for some the commnnd wo.s given to the Israelites, time (see Num. xxv. 1; cl. ~xii. I), seems to for, according to a common Hebrew man- hnve been" in the plnins (n::i,p I. sec note on ner of speech (see, for instance, 1 So.m. xvi. eh .. iv. ~3) of Monb_,_ by Jonlnn, op~os~t~ 10), the three days (ver. 22) may include Jericho (Nl.llil. xxxw. 48, 49, 50; xxxv1. 13, TBE BOOK OF JOSHUA. (cH, II. 1-12,