Chapter 22:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Deuteronomy Judges
Joshua 22
Joshua's dismission of the two tribes and an half, and their
return to their own country, ver. 1-9. The altar they built on that
side of Jordan, which offended the other tribes, ver. 10-20. Their
apology, with which the rest were satisfied, ver. 21-34.
Verse 4. Your tents - That is, to your settled habitations. Tho' their
affections to their families could not but make them very desirous
to return, yet like good soldiers, they would not move 'till they
had orders from their general. So, tho' we desire to be at home
with Christ ever so much, yet we must stay here till our warfare is
accomplished, wait for a due discharge, and not anticipate the
time of our removal.
Verse 5. Take heed - Watch over yourselves and all your actions.
Commandment and law - Two words expressing the same thing,
the law of commandments delivered by Moses. All your heart and
soul - With the whole strength of your minds, and wills, and
affections.
Verse 8. With your brethren - That is, with them who stayed beyond
Jordan for the defense of their land, and wives, and children, who
therefore were to have a share, though not an equal share with
these. But for them, 1 Sam. xxx, 24, their share was equal,
because their danger was equal.
Verse 10. Built an altar - About that time when they came to them, they
designed it, and as soon as they were got over Jordan, which was
in a very little time, they effected and perfected it. They built it,
no doubt, on their own side of the water: for how could they build
on other men's land, without their consent? And it is said, in the
following verse, to be over against the land of Jordan. Nor would
there have been cause to suspect that it was designed for sacrifice,
if they had not built it among themselves.
Verse 11. At the passage - Where they passed over Jordan, either at their
first entrance into Canaan, or afterwards, and usually.
Verse 12. The children of Israel - Not in their own persons, not by their
elders, who used to transact all affairs of this kind in the name of
all the people. Against them - As apostates from God, according
to God's command in that case, Deut. xiii, 13. &c.
Verse 16. The congregation - Who do and are resolved to cleave unto
that God from whom you have revolted. What trespass - How
heinous a crime is this! This day - That is, so soon after God hath
obliged you by such wonderful favours, and when God is now
conducting you home to reap the fruits of all your pains and
hazards. Rebel - With a design to rebel against God, and against
his express command of worshipping him at one only altar.
Verse 17. Of Peor - That is, of our worshipping of Baal-peor, Num. xxv, 3. Probably this is mentioned the rather, because Phinehas, the
first commissioner in this treaty, had signalized himself in that
matter: and because they were now at or near the very place,
where that iniquity was committed. Are not cleansed - For though
God had pardoned it, as to the national punishment of it, Num.
xxv, 11, yet they were not yet throughly purged from it; partly
because the shame and blot of that odious practice was not yet
wiped off: and partly, because some of that corrupt leaven still
remained among them, and though smothered for a time, yet was
ready to break forth upon all occasions, See chap. xxiv, 33. And
God also took notice of these idolatrous inclinations in particular
persons, and found out ways to punish them.
Verse 18. Tomorrow - That is, suddenly, as that word is often used.
Congregation - With you for doing so, and with us for suffering,
or not punishing it.
Verse 19. Be unclean - If you apprehend it to be so for want of the
tabernacle and altar there; as the following words imply: if you
now repent of your former choice in preferring the worldly
commodities of that country before the advantage of God's
presence, and more frequent opportunities of his service. Among
us - We will readily resign part of our possessions to you for the
prevention of this sin and mischief. Against us - For all the tribes
were united in one body politick, and made one commonwealth,
and one church; and each tribe was subject to the laws and
commands of the whole society, and of the chief ruler or rulers
thereof; so its disobedience to their just commands was properly
rebellion against them.
Verse 20. Of Zerah - That is, one of his posterity. Not alone - But
brought destruction upon his whole family, and part of our forces
sent against Ai.
Verse 22. The Lord - That Jehovah, whom we no less than you
acknowledge and adore as the God of gods, infinitely superior to
all that are called gods. The multiplying of his titles, and the
repetition of these words, shew their zeal and earnestness in this
matter. He knoweth - To him we appeal who knoweth all things,
and the truth of what we are now saying. Not only our present
words, but our future and constant course shall satisfy all Israel of
our perseverance in the true religion. In rebellion - If this have
been done by us with such design, or in such a manner. Save us
not - Thou, O Lord, to whom we have appealed, and without
whom we cannot be saved and preserved, save us not from any of
our enemies, nor from the sword of our brethren. It is a sudden
apostrophe to God, usual in such vehement speeches.
Verse 23. Require it - That is, call us to an account and punish us for it.
Verse 24. With the Lord - You have no relation to him, nor interest in
him, or his worship.
Verse 25. A border - To shut you out of the land of promise, and
consequently from the covenant made between God and our
fathers. No part - Nothing to do with him; no right to serve him or
expect favour from him. Cease from fearing the Lord - For they
that are cut off from public ordinances, usually by degrees lose all
religion. It is true, the form and profession of godliness, may be
kept without the life and power of it. But the life and power will
not long be kept, without the form and profession of it.
Verse 27. Before him - That we and ours may have and hold our
privilege of serving and worshiping God, not upon this altar, but
in the place of God's presence, in your tabernacle, and upon your
altar.
Verse 28. The pattern - An exact representation and resemblance. A
witness - That we both serve one God, and approve and make use
of one and the same altar.
Verse 30. Pleased them - They were fully satisfied with this answer.
Verse 31. Is among us - By his gracious presence, and preventing
goodness, in keeping you from so great an offense, and all of us
from those calamities that would have followed it. Hand of the
Lord - That is, from the wroth and dreadful judgments of God, by
avoiding that sin which would have involved both you and us in a
most bloody war; you have delivered us from the evils we feared.
He that prevents an approaching disease or mischief, doth as truly
deliver a man from it, as he that cures or removes it after it hath
been inflicted.
Verse 33. Destroy the land - As they were by the law of God obliged to
do, if they had been guilty and persisted therein; as afterwards
they did the tribe of Benjamin for the same reason.
Verse 34. The altar Ed - That is, a witness: a witness of the relation they
stood in to God and Israel, and of their concurrence with the other
tribes in the common faith, that Jehovah he is God. It was a
witness to posterity, of their care to transmit their religion pure
and entire; and would be a witness against them, if ever they
should turn from following the Lord their God.
Chapter 22:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Deuteronomy Judges
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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