Tbe.t influence was therefore also given to discourage the pure worship of the God of Israel. 2. To .Ashere. (1) This word is construed "grove" in the text e.s else- where. But e. little reflection will tee.eh us that groves do not spring up in e. day. Beside, it is not here said that Ahab planted (l,tt:ll), but that he made (i1t'V) the Ash ere. (2) The Ash ere was a Cane.e.nitish idol, probably of the :figure of e. goat, in the worship of which there appear to have been very abominable rites. No wonder, then, the anger of the Lord should be provoked. Ifwe would not provoke it we must avoid the spirit of idolatry. This spirit is shown in the love of illicit things. Also in excessive love oflawful things.-J. A. M. Ver. 34.-The Temerity of Hiel. In discussing this subject we have to consider- !. "THE WORD OF THE LORD WHICH HE SPAKE BY JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN,'' The record of this word is found in Josh. vi. 26. And the questions now arise-1. Why did God thus curse Jericho! (1) That its desolate condition might be a st:mding testimony to His abho1Tence of the wickedness of the place. So abandoned were that people to idolatry that Rahab the hostess alone was accounted worthy of being saved. And "e.11 her kindred "-(i1'nlMElt'tY~::i)-all her families-the word is plural ; families, viz., on her father's and mother's side, both were given to her (J osb. n. 23). Note : The faith of an individual is not only a personal blessing, but also a blessing to his family, to his nation, to the world, in time, in eternity. (2) That it might be a standing sign prophetic ofjudgments to come. (a) Jericho was the first city which offered resistance to the people of God ; and it was proper it should stand forth as a :figure of the last city that shall offer resistance, viz., Great Babylon. (b) As Jericho was compassed about six days before it fell, so is Great Babylon destined to last until the beginning of the seventh age of prophetic chronology. (c) As Jericho fell at the seventh blast of the trumpet, so at the sounding of the seventh Apocalyptic trumpet will Great Babylon come into remembrance before God. (d) As Rahab, through the righteousness of faith, escaped the plagues of war and fire which destroyed the city, so are the people of God urg-ed to come out of Babylon lest they partake her plagues also of war and fire. 2. Why did God thus curse the rebuilder of Jericho .1 (1) Consider the import of the curse. His eldest son was to perish by a judgment of Heaven as soon as the work commenced; and if, notwithstanding the judgment, he persisted in the undertaking, be should see the death of his youngest son. It is thought the intermediate members of his family would also perish as the work advanced. That the curse involved the penalty of death is evident, since the curse upon the city meant the death of its inhabitants (see Josh. vi. 17), The law of God also expresses that devoted things must die (see Levit. xxvii. 29). (2) The curse, then, came to keep up the testimony for God against sin; also to be e. public sign of the judgment upon Babylon to come. Whoever would remove such a testimony must be a man of determined wickedness, and therefore deserving execration. Let us beware how we oppose or discredit any faithful testimony for Christ. II. THE TEMERITY OF RIEL TO ENCOUNTER THIS MALEDICTION. 1. The historicaZ fact is before us. (1) He did build Jericho. Not only did he lay the foundation, but he also set up the gates. Resolution and persistency are :fine qualities when they are concerned with truth and goodness. But it was otherwise here. (2) He paid the penalty accordingly. When be laid the foundation his first-born Abiram perished. This did not deter him. So when he set up the gates "his youngest son Segub" was smitten. 2. But what could have possessed hinn 1 (1) The general answer to this question is, that the spirit of wickedness possessed him. No godly man could be so rashly defiant. Even reputable men of the world would shrink from such an audacious undertaking. The respect for sacred things manifested by such unconve1ied men encourages the hope that they may yet seek His grace nml mercy. Hie] must have been a hardened sinner to have attempted this. (2) A more particular answer is suzgested. (a) He was a "Bethelite.'' This expression may mean that he was born in Bethel, though ibis is not clear. It suggests mther that he wo.s wedded to the sin of J erobonm; for Bethel was the head-qua1-ters oftha, Oil. XV1L 1-24.) THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 879
1Lpostaey. There Jeroboam placed one of his famous calves. There he built an altar. There also he built o. temple. There his priests congregated, and there he, in person, officiated as high priest. The service of the calves would eo harden the heart of Hiel ns to prepare him to disregard the curse of Jehovah. (b) Then, he lived in the days of Ahab. These were days of fearful degeneracy. For Aha.b provoked the Lord by wickedness more than all that had been before him. Riel might e.rgue that if Ahab could thllB outrage the law of the God of Israel and survive, so might his own children survive, though he should transgress the adjuration of Joshua. It is dangerous to do evil because others have done it, apparently, with impunity. (c) The curse was denounced o. long time ago. Since then five centuries and a half ho.d passed away. Time weakens memory with men, and when man has a purpose to serve, he may argue that this also is the case with God. But He that remembers mercy for ever also remembers justice and judgment. Let us not deceive ourselves. Let us pray God to bring our sins to our remem• branoe, that we may repent of them before Him, for with Him they e,re never for- gotten till forgiven.-J. A. M.
EXPOSITION.