The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 340

hn,vo more Limn their due sha.re of the 11,dvanta,,es of life. Hellishness ma"niliM ll man's needs n,ncl deserts, and minimises the req~1irementR and merits of oth~rs. To be ,inst we mnst conquer selfishness with brotherliness. III. 'l'HE IDEA OF BilOTIIEilHOOD MUST TAKE POSSESSION OF MEN BEFORE THEY CAN Pil,\C'fIBE THAT MUTUAL A0COMMODATION WHICH 18 REQUIRED BY JUSTICE. The children of t:limeon had their inherita.nce within the inheritfmce of the chil,lren of J uc1ah. This •could only be enjoyed peaceably so long as. the two tribes Ii ,·ed on terme of brotherly kindness. Justice will not he obtained under a system of jealous competition in a selfish ra.ce for wen,lth. This leads to the weak and unfortunate losing, and the strong uncl fortunate gaining, more than is fair. The idea of brotherhood will prevent men from taking unfair advantage of one another, will establish the principle of co-operation in place of that of competition, a.ncl will sub- stitute the mutua.l benefits of the family for the selfish profits of a. state of inter- necine warfare. IV. THE IDEA OF BROTHERHOOD CAl! ONLY BE FULLY REALISED U:-IDER THE INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIANITY. Revolutions which have dispensed with Christianity have boasted of their power to realise this idea, but the attempt to do so has too often led through bloodshed to despotism. Christianity rea.lises it (1) by pointing to a co=on fatherhood, (2) by joining to one brother, Christ, (3) by exalting brotherly charity to the first rank among the Christian graces (1 Cor. xiii. 13) . - W. F. A. Ver. 49.-,Joshua's portion. "When they had made an end of dividing the land," Joshua .gets his share. Not first, as kings usually do, but last. When all are helped, then comes his tmm. Though he waits longest, yet it does come to him. And when it does come it is_ all the more welcome from being well earned. Observe two or three things that are thus brought before us. I. A TRAIT OF HONOUR. Honour is the bloom of uprightness; the finer instinc- tive working of H in matters too delicate to be touched by law. It is not so common as it ought to be ; for our natures a.re often coarse, and honour is always costly. We prefer going in for cheaper virtues, especially for such of them as are loud and obvious, as well as cheap. E.ven those who attend to the '' honest a.nd just and true'' of Paul's precept, sometimes overlook "the pure and the lovely and that which is of good report." Here Joshua comes out, as we would expect him, as a man of honour. Such faith a.s he had never existed in a selfish heart; such courage as marked him, naturally had emotions of similar nobility to keep it com- pany. Doubtless, some foolish and flattering friends urged him to accept his lot first; and pleaded, perhaps, his first right to it, both as faithful spy and successful leader. Something before Shakespeare had whispered- " Love thyself last: let all the ends thou aim'st at Be thy country's, God's, and Truth's." And the still small voice of sa.cred honour within him did not speak in vain. Like as in a sinking ship, a brave captain is the last to leave her and seek for safety, so Joshua elects to be the last served. All the best bits of the cotmtry others eagerly go in for. Joshua sees it disposed of by lot, but is not moved by the sight of its going to envy others, nor does he catch any greed from the contagion of their example. Quite calm, feeling rich in enriching others, at rest in gi,·ing othe~s rest, he has rewards above any freehold, and joys above any wealtb. There is here an example all ought to follow. 'l'he iusistance on our rights_ is so~etlllle_s a duty. In the in>erest of others we mfLy be obliged to resist and dispute 1DJUst1ce. But such insistance ought always to be practised with regret! and avoided wherever possible. The precept requiring us to give the cloak to him who covets the coP.t certainly inculcates the surrender of rights wherever any moral advantag~ can accme from it. For our own sake, to keep the soul in proper ~ml worthy mootl, ~e ought to cultivate this honourableness that thinks of somethmg sublllller tha.n its private 1·ights. And for the sake of others ~lso, for honour is one of the subtlest, 1-ut the strongest, forces of good a.nywhe1·e eX1Stent. It allui·es men to a better way, 288 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. [en. XIX. 1-lil,