The National tribune., 1888-11-08
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

MAEAssEH AT THE CLOSE OF THE SEVEN
YEARS WARS.
1. Time.
The lesson is dated 1850 A. NJ. Caleb was
DO years old at Kadesh-Barnea (14:7) He
was 50 years of age at the close of the wars I'M
der Joshua for subduing Canaan. "a: 10) He
was 70 years old when the exodus ceased east
of Jordan. Two years were taken up by the
Israelites in going from Egypt to Mt Sinai,
stopping there about one year; then passing
on to Kadesh- Barnea, lingering for several
months. We have shown Caleb was 40 years
old at Kadesh-Barnea. Forty-five years after
ward the wars of Joshua against the Canaan
ties were so far successful that the land could
be considered subdued. Then Caleb was IS
years old. IA 10) We know the exodus
lasted 40 years. and two years of the exodus
had passed when Caleb was 40 years old Hence
he was IS years old when he left Egypt, and
76 years old when the exodus ceased. 1t is
plain, therefore, that seven years were required
from the close of the exodus to the practical
end of the wars of Joshua in Canaan. The
lesson is located at the close of the said wars.
The exodus began in the year 2513 A. M. Add
2 and IS and z to 2513 and we have 1850. the
year a. NJ. of the lesson. This was about 1444
b. G. Joshua was no years old IA go
The many days" in verse 3, refer to the
seven years of the wars against Canaan.
2. Place
When the distribution of the lands of Ca
naan west of the Jordan was about to take
place, Caleb reminded Joshua of the promise
made to him that he should have a special al
lotment on account of his fidelity as a spy from
kadesh- Barnea. Caleb thus approached Joshua
at Gilgal. (14:6) 1t is quite evident that
Gilgal, between Jericho and the Jordan, re-
manned for seven years the headquarters of the
Israelites. But in the very midst of the work
of allotting the territory the Israelites moved
the tabernacle from Gilgal to Shiloh. rs: 1,
8, 8, 10) 1t was at Shiloh that Joshua dis
charged the Reubenites, Gadites and half
of Manasseh. ". 81 Shiloh was about %
miles north of Jerusalem and about the same
distance from the Gilgal near Jericho. 1t was
in the territory afterward forming the tribe of
Ephraim. In Christ's time it was in Samaria.
3. Circumstances
The exodus had been completed, covering 40
years. After reaching the east side of the Jor-
dan opposite Jericho the Israelites marched
north and vanquished the Kings Sihon and Og.
(Nu q 21-35) The two and one half tribes
to wit, the Reubenites Gadites and one-half
tribe Of Manasseh, were we'll pleased with the
territory snatched from Sihon and Og They
saw the region was specially good for grazing,
and they had many cattle. Hence they went
to Moses and urged him to grant that section
to them as their part of the Promised Land.
(Nu., 80: 10, 49, But the nine and one-half
tribes had aided the two and one-half to con-
quer SihOn and Og, and it was only fair the
two and One-half should assist the nine and
one-half in vanguishing the territory west of
the Jordan. Hence Moses pledged to the Reu-
| benites, Gadites and one-half Manasseh the
territory east of the Jordan, providing they
would remain with the rest OF the lsraelites till
the land of Canaan west of the Jordan was sub
dued. (Nu., 80 6, Z; 2O-33.) The Reubenites
and their associates agreed to the arrangement
(Nu., 30: 16 10; josh, [: 16, III But it would
not do to leave wives, children, property on the
cast side wholly unprotected. Hence, we notice
that only 600 soldiers from the two and one
half tribes crossed the Jordan. Josh, 10
We find from NJ, 26: Z, Is, a. that there were
110,58 armed men in said two and one-half
tribes, leaving on the east side of the Jordan
| 70,5SO. The arrangement evidently answered
! the conditions of the promise made by the two
and one-half tribes to Moses, and was satisfae-
| tory to Joshua. The 10000 were probably the
! choicest warriors.
The Jordan was crossed Jericho and Al
were captured. The land in general on the
west side was conquered. Seven years were
required We remember the 10000 enlisted
| only during the wars. The time hence arrived
for their honorable discharge. That was a
! joyous day. 4 sort of review was held. Though
not on so large scale as the Grand Review at
Washington when the war of '6lI65 ended,
/ JeG III WAS Win SllNiIaT parade ana emotion.
| What welcomes awaited the warriors on return
| to eastern Canaan! Shiloh was then the CAPT
tai of western Canaan and thither the two and
one-half tribes assembled for discharge.
A. Fare,oeu Speech of Joshua
There is something profoundly interesting
about the final address of a great General when
his forces, having ended the war, gather before
him for the last time. What grand document,
for example, is the farewell address of Wash
ingtOn to his army about to disband and return
to their homes
In the speech of Joshua to the Reubenites,
Gadites and one-half tribe of Manasseh there
are
a. Concentrations.
b. Exhortations.
{. Benedctions.
d. Commands.
a. Commendations-He admits they had
obeyed Moses and Joshua. We do not read of
a single rebellion, or even of any reluctance on
their part, as to the stipulations into which
! they entered with Moses ION their promise,
see Nu 80 1919; JOSH, 1 :16, IT. For process
| of fnlfllment, see JOSH, 4 10, 49, Obedience
is the first duty of soldiers, and we do not learn
of a single diSobedience of orders on the part of
| the two and one-half tribes. Aud this for seven
| years. We see the nature of the commands and
| get an idea of the work and the fidelity of said
soldiers. The success in the battles on the west
was due largely to the bravery of the two aud
one-half tribes. The help of the nine aud one
| half tribes to the two and one-half on the east
| side was brief service. The Israelitsh army
made short work of Sihon and Og. The strug.
| gle on the west side Of the Jordan had, how
ever, been a severe and oug-continued toll,
covering many days" ". 81 yea, seven years.
! Of course there was much to spur on the two
! and one half tribes; for if the west side of the
| Jordan were not conquered the settlement on
the east side could not be maintained. We find
| that the Reubenites Gadites and One-haIf
Manasseh not only paid respect to the orders of
! Moses and Joshua,-not only faithfully helped
! the nine and One-half tribes,-but they also
maintained fidelity to their religious obliga-
tions, obeying the commandments of God aud
| keeping invoate their charge or trust as sub
! jects of Jehovah. (V. 81
| b. ExhoFtations.-Fhes related to their
duties as to their God. Joshua was not content
| that they obey Moses and his successor. lie
babe them; L. To obey Jehovah. 9 To love
| Him. g. To walk in His ways. 4. To serve
Him. g. To cleave unto Him. (V5)
| c. Benedictions. - Joshua gave a parting
| blessing to his old soldiers. He commended
them to Gods care He prayed God to protect
| them in their journey home, and to bless them
in their secular as he had in their military life.
All this is involved in the expression Joshua
blessed them" (Vs 6, ~
d. Commandments. Return. Go home.
Rejoin your families Enter again on the more
peaceful voeations. We notice, however, that
|