The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-18
sUNpAY MEpITATIoN.

beginning on the 14th and continuing seven
days Further delay was caused by the renewal
of the rite of circumcision, which had been
neglected for 60 years. We see from 5 3 that
they abode in their camps. The time is not
given, bat we cannot compute less period than
a month. All this time they were in very sight
of the people of Jericho but tho Canaanites
had been cowed and unnerved by the miracle
witnessed at the Jordan. And they must have
been ignorant of the fact the hosts Of Israel had
been circumcised or they would have availed
themselves of the opportunity of attacking
them as Simeon and Levi did the men of She
chem. (Gen., 81 25.)
1t is noticeable the city was comprised 13
times-once each day for six days and seven
times on the seventh day II is plain that
Sabbath was included in the said seven con-
secudye days and that hence procession by
the command of Jehovah went around the city
of Jericho at least once on a Sabbath day and
possibly compassed it seven times on "a Sabbath.
Many hold the first days march was on Sun
day, and that therefore the day on which the
city walls fell was Saturday, the Jewish Sab
bath. If this were SO, then the procession
marched around the walls seven times on Sab
bath, and on the same day entered the city,
Staying the inhabitants right and left. Adam
Clarke, who does not join those who think the
seventh days marches were on Sunday. claims
there was no harm in q mere walk, sort Of
religious procession, on Sunday once around the
city. LANCE says: 1t was no work but rather
a religious transaction of the nature eff worship,
performed in obedience to q special command
Of God" Even if we grant the said seventh day
was Sabbath, We yet must allow that the Law
giver in the case Of an emergency and for an
important religious purpose, has power to make
q special Sabbath exceptional
1t is said IN verse IL that Joshua rose early
and in verse 10 that the whole company Of
Israelite5 made an early rise. IL is likely all
were generally early risers, but on the seventh
day it would be specially necessary to rise moro
than ordinarily early, from the fact they were
to march seven times around the city and after
ward enter the city, spending considerable
time of said day in subjecting the inhabitants
thereof.
O. Place.
The scene Of the lesson is the plain of Jeri-
cho, including the camping ground of the
Israelites about Gilgal. Jericho was walled
city. We are reminded of the report Of the
spies sent into Canaan TO reconnoiter the ter
ritory (Nu, IL: %; Deu., / 25) The walls
Of Jericho were very thick We see from 2 Is
that at least one house was built on the top of
the wall, so wide and strong was It. Jericho
was about 10 miles from Jerusalem and to
from the Jordan. 1t was in the tribe of
Benjamin. 1t is first mentioned in Nu., %: L
1t is known as the City of Palm Trees. 1t was
the very military key of the southeastern part
Vi 1dBddI Oh ZIG WCSb SII0 OF bIe JOfQdus we
know it could not have been very large, from
the fact the Israelites marched about it seven
times on one day without eXhaustiDg all the
hours OF said day; and indeed with a margin of
time which must have been quite lengthy,
from the fact that after the fall Of the walls the
Israelites entered the city and routed the peo-
pie. Then we may infer that the route of
march about the city was at a distance, outside
the range Of arrows; fact which increases the
circumference of the march Jericho is much
mentioned with the life of Christ; O. g. he
there uttered the parable Of the Good Samari-
tan, gave sight to Bartimeus and stopped with
Zaccheus.
3. The Circumstances.
The children Of Israel were on the west side
of the Jordan. Their work Of subugating
Canaan lay before them Just in the way of
their advance was the strong walled city of
Jericho. Their success depended on victory at
the start. The Canaanites saw that present
safety lay in holding their city. They shut up
the gates and went into siege awaiting results.
The question with joshua was as to what to
do. While he was uleditating, ready for any
thing which promised success, and very likely
praying for light from Heaven, God appeared
as Jehovah's Captain temporarily incarnated
as man. He gave Joshua all of the particu-
lars as to the taking Of the city, and informed
him that at the shout On the seventh circuit of
the city the walls would fall fat (5:13-15;
els There should not have been break
in the account of the visitation to Joshua of
the God Man. Verse is a parenthess thrown
into the accounk1 AS soon as Joshua was in
formed of his duty he proceeded to execute it.
Verses to 16 inclusive give the report.
4. The Procession.
There were four divisions of the procession
l. The armed men. g The priests with trum-
pets 3. The priests with the ark. 4. The
rearward.
l. The armed men. VS. Z, 6, 13.) There
were 6G0,000 armed men of the Israelites. From
the 10th chapter of Numbers re learn the ordi-
nary arrangement of the tribes when marching,
Judah being first in line Some have thought
the troops in advance of the priests in march
ing around Jericho were soldiers selected from
all the tribes. The original tHebrew, "chal-
utz, intimate effectiveness, or special adapted
ness. The thought of some commentators is
that they were the 10000 from the tribes of
Reuben, Cad aud one-half Manasseh. "a: 10
49, 1t is certain said 10000 preceded the
march across the Jordan. 1t would seem
from verse that discretion was left with
Joshua as to the order Of the procession aud
the arrangement Of the armed men i'll the line.
As a skillful leader he put military force in
advance and another in tue rear.
2. The priests with trumpets (Vs. 6, 8, 13,
16) The trumpet was associated with worship.
(Nu 10:1-f0.) It was indicative of the pres
ence OF Deity. Tx, IL: 10, ~ ~. lS.l Ac-
counts of his future coming mention sounds of
the trumpet. q Cor, 1852; l Tn, 4: 16.) In
early times the horns of chamois aud wild goats
were used for giving shrili calls, and, eurously
enough, certain musical instruments are yet
quite similar in shape. The means employed
for capturing Jericho were certainly in them
selves ineffective. So much greater would be
the evidence Of Gods presence and help The
effect on the enemy might be an inclination to
ridicule, and yet the sight of procession of
people just fresh from the miracle of Jordan
marching steadily and voicelessly day after
day around the city, wenid in time produce a
feeling Of awe and of fearful apprehension. The
means God employs are sometimes foolishnass
to the Greeks, but yet powerful TO the down
pulling of Satan's kingdom. For seven days
Jehovah was preaching in still small voice 30
the Canaanites giving them chance to repent
| and yet only Rahab and her family were spared.
There we're seven priests with seven trumpets.
(See verses 8, 13: Gen, 2:3; 7:2, 81 Lev, 1: !;
1915; 25;8; Ma, %: /; XII, 1913, "A; 2
XII, 5: 10; job 429 Zee, 4:2 Rev. l A. 20 I;
5: l, 8; So, 6; 3; 1851, z; 16:t.)
3. The priests with the Ark. (Ys. 6, 8, Is;
3:3 II; NJ, 10: 80 Ex. %: ii Deu., 20 ,
a. Gods presence and help were svmbolized
by the Ark. Probably four or six priests could
carry the Ark. 1t is not unlikely there were
reserves TO aid, as in a march so long in dis
lance and time men would tire. They felt God
with them when they saw his Ark.
4. The rearward. Learned Jews have claim
ed these were the tribe of Dan. tNu 10: 25. J
We find the men of Dams tribe usuall,y brOugh :