God, might have been of ill consequence; for quarrels about religion, for want of wisdom and love, often prove the most fierce and most difficult to be taken up. But these contending parties, when the matter was fairly stated and argued, were so happy as to understand one another very well, and so the difference was presently compromised.
1. The ambassadors were exceedingly pleased, when the separate tribes had given in a protestation of the innocency of their intentions in building this altar. (1.) The ambassadors did not call in question their sincerity in that protestation, did not say, "You tell us you design it not for sacrifice and offering, but who can believe you? What security will you give us that it shall never be so used? No, charity believes all things, hopes all things, believes and hopes the best, and is very loath to give the lie to any.
(2.) They did not upbraid them with the rashness and unadvisedness of this action; did not tell them, "If you would do such a thing, and with this good intention, yet you might have had that respect for Joshua and Eleazar, as to have advised with them, or at least have made them acquainted with it, and so have saved the trouble and expense of this embassy." But a little want of consideration and good manners should be excused and overlooked in those who, we have reason to think, mean honestly. (3.) Much less did they go about to fish for evidence to make out their charge, because they had once exhibited it, but were glad to have their mistake rectified, and were not at all ashamed to own it. Proud and peevish spirits, when they have past an unjust censure upon their brethren, though never so much convincing evidence be brought of the injustice of it, will stand to it, and can by no means be persuaded to retract it. These ambassadors were not so prejudiced; their brethren's vindication pleased them, v. 30. They looked upon their innocency as a token of God's presence, v. 31. especially when they found what was done, was so far from being an indication of their growing cool to the altar of God, that, on the contrary, it was a fruit of their zealous affection to it; Ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord, that is, "You have not, as we feared, delivered them into the hand of the Lord, or exposed them to his judgments, by the trespass we were jealous of."
2. The congregation was abundantly satisfied, when their ambassadors reported to them their brethren's apology for what they had done. It should seem, they staid together, at least by their representatives, until they heard the issue, v. 32. And when they understood the truth of the matter, it pleased them, v. 33. and they blessed God. Note, Our brethren's constancy in religion, their zeal for the power of godliness, and their keeping the unity of the Spirit in faith and love, notwithstanding the jealousies conceived of them as breaking the unity of the church, are things which we should be very glad to be satisfied of, and should make the matter both of our rejoicing and of our thanksgiving; let God have the glory of it, and let us take the comfort of it. Being thus satisfied, they laid down their arms immediately, and were so far from any thoughts of prosecuting the war they had been meditating against their brethren, that we may suppose them wishing for the next feast, when they should meet them at Shiloh.
3. The separate tribes were gratified, and since they had a mind to preserve among them this pattern of the altar of God, though there was not likely to be that occasion for it which they fancied, yet Joshua and the princes let them have their humour, and did not give orders for the demolishing of it, though there was as much reason to fear that it might in process of time be an occasion of idolatry, as there was to hope that ever it might be a preservation foom idolatry. Thus did the strong bear the infirmities ofthe weak. Only, care was taken that they having explained the meaning of their altar, that it was intended for no more than a testimony of their communion with the altar at Shiloh, this explanation should be recorded, which was done according to the usage of those times, by giving a name to it, signifying so much, v. 34. they called it Ed, a witness, to that and no more. A witness of the relation they stood in to God and Israel, and of their concurrence with the rest of the tribes in the same common faith, that Jehovah he is God, he and no other. It was a witness to posterity of their care to transmit their religion pure and entire to them, and would be a witness against them if ever they should forsake God, and turn from following after him.
CHAP. XXIII.
In this and the following chapter we have two farewell sermons, which Joshua preached to the people of Israel a little before his death. Had he designed to gratify the curiosity of succeeding ages, he would rather have recorded the method of Israel's settlement in their new conquests, their husbandry, manufactures, trade, customs, courts of justice, and the constitutions of their infant commonwealth, which one would wish to be informed of; but that which he intended in the registers of this book, was, to entail on posterity a sense of religion and their duty to God; and therefore, overlooking these things which are the usual subjects of a common history, he here transmits to his reader the methods he took to persuade Israel to be faithful to their covenant with their God, which might have a good influence on the generations to come who should read those reasonings, as we may hope they had on that generation which then heard them. In this chapter we have, I. A convention of the states called, v. 1, 2. probably to consult about the common concerns of their land, and to set in order that which, after some years' trial, being left to their prudence, was found wanting. II. Joshua's speech to them at the opening, or perhaps, at the concluding, of the sessions, to hear which was the principal design of their coming together. In it, 1. Joshua reminds them of what God had done for them, v. 3, 4, 9, 14. and what he was ready to do yet further, v. 5, 10. 2. He exhorts them carefully and resolutely to persevere in their duty to God, v. 6, 8. 11. III. He cautions them against all familiarity with their idolatrous inmates, v. 7. IV. He gives them fair warning of the fatal consequences of it, if they should revolt from God and turn to idols, v. 12, 13, 15, 16. In all which he showed himself zealous for his God, and jealous over Israel with a godly jealousy.
1.AND it came to pass, a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. 2. And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age: 3. And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you: for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you. 4. Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. 5. And the Lord your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord your God hath promised unto you. 6. Be ye
