The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 250

dai/,'- The campaign in southern Israel forms of their inhabitants, was ent111sted la;ted for weeks, perhaps even months. But the task of o,ercoming these antagonists, the rarupaig-n in northern Palestine must and thus Qf proving the truth of their own ham lasted longer. The vast host which words. Thus it ever is in the counsels of gathered at the waters of Merom was de- God. " To him that bath shall be given, stroyed, hut the tnsk of capturing the in- and from him that bath not, even that numera hie cities which dotted that region which he bath shall be taken away." To must haYe been a protriwted one. We Joshua, who had confidenco in God, the ma~-. "ith Josephus. infer from eh. xiv. 10 whole land of Canaan was given into sub- that it occupied fiw ~-ears, or perhaps, with jection. From the Israelites, who ho.ii not other of the ancient Rabbis, seven years, that confidence, the inheritance of their since the "·anderings in the wilderness after fathers was taken away (cf. also Matt. the rebellion of the Israelites lasted thirty- xxv. 21, 28). Many writers suppose that eight years. these Auakim (like the Rephaim of eh. xii. ,er. 20.-To harden their hearts (cf. 4) were the aboriginal inhabitants, and of Exod. i,. 21 ; 'Iii. 23). Miiller, • Christian Turanian descent (see note on next verse). Doctrine of Sin,' ii. 412, says that " Scrip- Anab. A town about ten miles south-west ture newr speaks of God's hardening men's of Hebron (cf. eh. xv. 50). It was apparently hearts. sa"e in connection with His revela- one of the daughter cities of Debir, and tions ·through Moses or Christ." This there is still a place of that name in the passage e,idently ha,d not occurred to him immediate vicinity of Dhaharijeh. Moun- when writing. His explanation of the diffi- tains of Judah. For this and the •' moun- cult:, is hardly satisfact.ory. We are not to tains of Israel " see note on ver. 16. suppose that the free-will of the Canaanites Ver. 22.-0nly in· Gaza. This statement was in any way interfered with. God no is confirmed hy what we afterwards read. doubt left them to themselves as the due In Gath especially (1 Sam. xvii. 4 ; 2 Sam. punishment of their iniquities. Sin in xxi. 18-22 ; 1 Chron. xx. 4-8, the last general. by God's own appointment, and passage preserving the true text, which baa especially the sensual sins in which the become hopelessly corrupt in the second Canaanites were steeped, has a tendency Book of Samuel) we find the race of giants to produce insensibility to moral or even remaining till David's time. But it had prudential considerations, and to beget a almost died out. Goliath and his brethren recklessness which urges on the sinner to seem to have been regarded by the Philis- his ruin. Some ha"e argued that bad they tines, as much as by the Hebrews, in the all come, like the Gibeonites, as suppliants, light of prodigies. It may be that the race' thev must all have been massacred in cold deteriorated in size and strength, when blood. But this is not likely. Rather we driven from the mountain district. Gaza must imagine that God foresaw that they (Hebrew Azzab, as in Dent. ii. 23; 1 Kings 'l"<"ould not believe the signs He would give in iv. 24; Jer. xxv. 20) was a stronghold of farnur oi the Israelites, and that hy meet- the Philistines. We first find it mentioned ing them in battle they brought a swift and as the border of Canaan in Gen. x. l!t. It s1,ecdy destruction on themselves. was the scene of the exploits of Samson, ,er. 21.-And at that time (see ver. 18). related in Judg. xvi. It, with Gath, Ekron, Wbat js meant is, during the continuance Ashdod, and Aahkelon, formed the five of the 'l"<"ar in which the country above Philistine lordships mentioned in eh. xiii. 5. described 'l"<"as conquered. The destruction Gaza does not appear in the list of cities of the Anakim was the conclusion of the captured by David, although Gath does. work, and was rendered necessary by their Perhaps the strength of its position (Azzah ha,ing re-occupied the places Joshua had signifies strength) may have enabled it to taken (see notes on eh. x. 36-39). The resist David and Solomon, whose dominions Alla.kim.s. Literally, the lon_q-necked men. are said to have extended to, but not to Called the '· children of Anak" (Num. xiii. have included, Azzah. We read little more 28. 33; also Josh. xv. 13, H). Gesenius of it in the Old Testament. Jeremial, aays would deri,e the German nacken and the that Pharaoh smote it (eh. xlvii. 1) ; Amoa English nee/, from this root. The word and Zephaniah threatened it with punish- is used of the chains on the necks of ment. It is mentioned in Acts viii. 26 o.s camels (J udg. ,iii. 26. So also Cant. iv. 9, a place of some importance. And it still of a necklace). They were men of gigantic exists, at about an hour's journey from stat11re (NUII!. xiii. 32), and were no doubt the sea, and is now called Ghazzeh. a hill tribe of the A.morites. It is worthy (see also note on ver. 41). Gath. Also of remark that to the two fearless men one of the five Philistine lordshipa. In whose faith clid not fail them at the David's time it had a king, with whom ~ight of the walled cities, and of the giant David took refuge (1 Sam. xxi. 10; xxvii. 2), OH, XI, 1-28.] THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. 193