The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-08-30

h
seven days Heb ~; 20
THE SECTION includes chapteiss ana
TINE-1he fall Of Jericho was In April. -
e 1851. v.thln three weeks after the last ies-
son. The conquest OF Canaan occupied 'nS
next six years. B z. i&5i 20 lssS
PLAcE-The Israelites were encanped ~
Gilzal about three miles from Jericho.
COMPARE Corinthians !. 23-3i: Hebrews
II; 3o-3t
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
As soon as the Israelites had gained
a foothold in the Promised Land, and
were settled in their first camp at Gil
gal. two institutions of religion were
renewed with great solemnity. First,
the peculiar covenant with God was re-
ncwed by the sign Of circumcision This
covenant seems TO have been suspended
during most OF the forty years of wan
dering. 1t was the visible token that
they were Gods children and inheritors
of the promises.
The second religious institution to be
renewed was the Passover. which had
been omitted since they left Sinai II
recalled to mind the wonders God had
done for them in delivering them from
Egypt. the most powerful nation then
existing. 4, thrilled them with assur-
ancc of faith At the close of the Pass
over the miraculous mamma ceased, ana
henceforth the people lived on the
fruits which the land itself supplied.
Chapter q should begin with verse ID
Of chapter 5. Verse of chapter IS q
parcnthetical clause. Read verse : I'M
mediately after ); TO obtain the con-
nection Joshua was apparently re-
connoitcring the city of Jericho to SEQ
what steps could be taken for its cap
ture. The Notifications were strong;
the Israelites were totally unprepared
with means for breaking down such
walls; the only way open to them
seemed to be the slow one OF siege
till the city was starved into surren-
der; but this would be dangerous
plan. for it would give time
for all the nations of Canaan to COM
bine in one grand attack upon the de-
fenseless Israelites. Doubtless Joshua
was praying to God for light upon this
most difficult of questions, when sud-
denly there appeared to him one with
a drawn sword in his hand. lie de-
clared himself to be the captain Of the
, host of the Lord-not Of the earthly
armies alone or chiefly, but OF all the
hosts of Heaven, the angels; the organ
lied force of nature, all spiritual pow
, ers and influences.
, 8. .When Joshua had spolzen:" Civ
r ing the orders he had received from
: the captain Of the Lords hosts
{ "Trumpets Of rams horns:" The one l
: have is ten or twelve inches long and
Q makes an exceedingly harsh, loud, din-
a cordant noise Passed on before the
' Lord" as represented by the ark.
: 0. The armed men went bcfore:"
' The soldiers took the lead as matter
Q of defense against possible attack.
: 10. "Ye shall not shout, nor make any
) noise until the day l bid you
4 Shout" The orieutals take a peculiar
q delight in noise when our people
!. are In dead earnest, they are generally
L silent; hut the more in earnest an
i oriental is. the louder he shouts. Even
h Arab boatmen, when in great danger
l. and every man is doing his utmost IL
v struggling with the waves, will waste
r. lot OF strength and breath in shout
s ing. Hon. Sclah Merrill. No sign o.
l. triumph was TO be raised, no words q
a rejoicing over the foe, nor of conscious
70 ness of strength. But in solemn, rever
70 ent silence, as il God alone was speak
le ing to them, in meditation and silen
of prayer they were 10 move around IN
T. city. us If engaged in a religious service
n. IA. 80 they did six days" Doubles
j. these inhabitants of Jericho mad
% themselves merry with this sight
y Wicked men think God in jest wheI
y He is preparing for their Judgment
n Bishop Hall.
at On the other hand, Kitto says: wv
10 do not. with some, think the proceed
e ing was likely TO awaken the mirth
the inhabitants of Jericho--more likel
was it to make a solemn impressio
upon their minds.
Is. ION the seventh day." The eli
~ cult was made seven times; an all day
a service.
II. .sThc city shall be accursed:" ths
:. is, under a ban" devoted to cestru
~ ton" Nothing was to be used K
- themselves, or the curse would con
upon them. only Rahab, the harlo
shall livc:r However bad her prcvio'
* conduct, she seems to have repcnte
-. - and trusted in the true God, and live
- a GOOD life hcnceforth, or she won
70 not have been married to leadiI
Israelite, an ancestor Of Jesus; nor
name to be ono of the only three wo
an en- named in his genealogy.
-. 10. THE silver" etc. as being uns
80 filed and not easily destroyed, was
'n;- be turned over to public use. 1t v
forbidden also torebuild the city an
-. curse was laid upon whatsoever sho'
~. do it."
IN 90. $50 the people shouted:" at
S'S close Of the seventh circuit that day,
~, thirteenth in all. The people stood
~ ciroling the city. THE wall fell do
W. fat" OF course the shouting and
=, blare OF the trumpets had no power
the overthrow the broad stone walls OF
nan city; but II connected the people "
Aor the miracle in outward form to ST
20 that only as they were really connec
MS with 1t by faith would the work
no's done for them. The secondary mca
some think to have been an cal
arc quake. but even then 1t must have b
te Is miraculous in its timing. and in its !
in'o itation to the city, while the surrou
iucn ing Israelitcs we're untouched.
hip -------------------
an. Ch~fstinn's Life.
more A Christians light is his life;