The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 402

served among lhem in such a way e.s to The practice of engraving inscriptions, pro- be likely to leo.d them into temptation. The clo.malions, and the like, on tablets wo.s history of Micah in Judg, xvii. 5 is o. proof extremely common in the East. We he.ve of this, and it musl be remembered that instances of ii in the two tables of the this hislory ie out of its proper place. The law, o.nd in lhe copy of the law engre.ven in zealous Phinehas (Judg. xx. 28) was then stones on Mount Ebo.I. The Moabite stone still o.live, and the worship o.t Mice.h'e house is another instance. And the Egyptian, bad evidently been carried on for some Assyrian, end Babylonian monarchs seem time previous to the disgraceful outrage e.t to have written much of their history in GiLeah, The putting away the strange this way (see note on eh. viii. 32). The gods was to be the outwo.rd 11nd visible sign, word rendered " ordinance " is far more the inclining of the heart the inward and frequently rendered "judgment" in our ver- spiritual grace wrought within them by the sion, ond seems to -have the original sig- mercy of God. For it is not denied the.t nification of a thing set upright, as a pillar God desired their affections, and that those on a secure foundation. In Shechem (see affections could scarcely be given while their note on ver. 1). heart went secretly after idols. It me.y be Ver. 26.-And Joshua. wrote theee words. further remarked in support of this view Or, these things, since the word (see note that the Israelites are not exhorted to turn on eh. xxii. 24; xxiii. 1.5) bas often this their hea;-t from the false gods, but to put signification. Joshua no doubt recorded, them away. It is a plain, positive precept, not the whole histoty of his campaigns not a guide for the inner consciousness. On and the rest of the contents of what is the other band, the command to incline the now called the Book of Joshua, but heart to the Lord rests upon the simple ground the public ratification of the Mosaic cove- of common gratitude, St. Augustine thinks nant which bad now been made. This that if any false gods were secretly in Is- be added to bis copy of the book of the rael at this time, they would have been met law, as a memorial to later times. The by a severer punishment than that accorded covenant bad been ratified with solemn to Achan. Masius-" pace divini viri "- ceremonies at its first promulgation (Exod. proceeds to argue that murders, thefts, and xxiv. 3-8). At the end of Moses' ministry adulteries were worse sins than those of be once more reaffirmed its provisions, re- Acban, tb&t it were not reasonable to sup- minding them of the cnrses pronounced on pose that Israel was free from such sins, and all who should disobey its provisions, and they were not punished like Ache.n's. He adding, as an additional memorial of the forgets to urge (1) that the condition of the occasion, the sublime song conlained in children of Israel was very different in Dent. xxxii. (see Dent. xxi. 19, 22). Joshua. Achan'stime to that of the death of Joshua, was present on this occasion, and the dying and (2) that Acban's was e. special a.et of lawgiver charged him to undertake the con- disobedience to a very special enactment, quest of the promi~ed land, and to main- considerations which would have materi- tain the observance of the law among the ally strengthened hie argumenl. people of God. Hitherto. however, God's Ver. 24. -And the people said Uilto promise had not been fulfilled. It seems Joshua. The triple repetition of the promise only natural that when Israel had obtained e.dde to the solemnity of the occasion and peaceful possession of the land sworn unto the binding force of the engagement. their fathers, and before they were left to Ver. 25.-So Joshua. ma.de a covenant-. His unseen guidance, they should once Literally, cut a covenant, a phrase common more be publicly reminded of the con- to the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin tongues, ditions on which they enjoyed the in- and derived from the custoin of sacrifice, heritance. It may be remarked that, in which the viclims were cut in pieces end although Joshua's addendum to the book offered to the deity invoked in ratification of the law bas not come down to us, yet of the engo.gement. The word used for that it covers the principle of such ad- covenant, berith, is derived' from another ditions, and explains bow, at the death of word having the same meaning. This Moses a brief account of his death and appears more probable tbe.n the suggestion burial' should be appended by authority to of some, that the berith is derived from the the volume containing the law itself. The practice of ratifying an agreement by a lost ch&pler of Deuteronomy is, in_ fact, the social meal. And eet them a statute and official seal set upon the autbent1c1ty of lb« ordinance. Or, appointed them a statute nr.rrative as the words added here were the and a judgment. The word translated official re~ord of the law of Moses, having " statute " is derived from the same root been adopted as the code ·01 jurisprudence in as our word hack, signifying to cut, and the land. And took a great stone (see notes hence to engrave in indelible characters, on eh. iv. 2, 9), An oak. Perhaps the tere- JOSHUA. AA  854 THE DOOR OF JOSHUA. [en. XXIV. 1-28.