Joshua
Miriam, Aaron, and Moses, all died before the passage of the Jordan. Prophet, Priest, and Law bring us to the borders of the promised land. Only Jesus, our Joshua, can lead us into our inheritance.
The rod was Moses’s symbol.
The spear was Joshua’s symbol.
1: 8. God’s instructions for Bible study.
7: 1. Only one Achan in the camp: but Israel was defeated on his account.
10. Prayer before repentance is unavailing. We must put away our sin.
21. Steps in Achan’s sin: —
1. “I saw.”
2. “I coveted.”
3. “I took.”
4. “I hid.”
Compare Eve, Gen 3:6; Ananias, Acts 5: 1-10. “How mean was the sin of Achau! He saw the
Babylonish garment, and all the soldier in him
withered up and he became a sneaking thief.”
9: 14. “And asked not council at the mouth of the Lord.” The cause of most of our wrong-doing. Eph. 6:18.
13: 22. We thought we had douc with Balaam, but who knows where his own name may come up again? The mention of some brings thoughts of pain and woe; of others, joy.
33. Self-denial is best for one’s self, for then we oblige
God to take care of us.
He only is a happy man whose sole dependence is on God.
15: 15. Kirjath-sepher — book-city. Dr. Gregg, of Brooklyn, says it was so called because it was the seat of a public library. Prof. Sayce says knowledge was far advanced in this early period, so that philosophy and science were common.
20: What storms have to beat upon us before we will fall in with God’s appointment and fly to Christ as our refuge.
The cities of refuge are a type of Christ, and their names are significant in that connection. Kadesh means holy, and our refuge is in the holy Jesus; Shechem, a shoulder, “and the. government is upon his shoulder;” Hebron, fellowship, and believers are called into the fellowship of Christ Jesus our Lord; Bezer, a fortification, for He is a stronghold to all them that trust in Him;
Rainoth, high, or exalted, “for him hath God exalted with his own right hand;” Golan, joy, or exultation, for in Him all the saints are justified and shall glory.
As the cities of refuge were so situated as to be accessible from every part of the land, so Christ is ever accessible to needy sinners. 1 John 2:1, 2.
22: 26. An altar of witness, that was not commanded. The motive was good, but it may have led their children astray. Cf. Ornate altars, etc., in churches.
23: 6. Courage in obedience!
14. Joshua had tried God forty years in the brickkilns, forty years in the desert, and thirty years in the promised land, and this was his dying testimony.