The Indianapolis journal., 1895-08-31

Secretary of the American Society CT Re-
ligious Education.
CThese. lessons constitute the Sunday
school extension department. or the above
named society. All who study them are
address and denomination. mentioning
this paper to the author at Washington,
d. C., for enrollment)
CONTEXT.-Having crossed the Jordan,
Israel encamped on the plains of Gilgal,
short distance from the river. There
memorial of the passage was set up. Josh.
iv. 5, g. Learning that victorious people
had entered their country the Canaanites
were alarmed. and preparations were be-
gun for defense. Josh. v. ID Joshua did
not Immediately improve his advantages.
but remained IN camp to perform religious
duties and learn the further will of Je-
hovah. The rite Of circumcision, the seal
of the covenant was renewed Josh. v, D.
that generation having grown up in the
wilderness uncircumcised. The passover
was kept, completing the fortieth year after
the departure from Egypt. On the follow
ing day the mamma ceased, and the people
began to eat "the old corn Of the land"
Josh. V, 10. H. Shortly after a remarka-
BILE supernatural manifestation disclosed the
Divine purpose and plan. While Joshua was
near Jericho. probably accommodating,
angel in the form of a man with drawn
sword appeared to him, announcing himself
as captain of the Lords host This signi-
fed that a war of conquest was to be be-
gun under Gods leadership. Instructions
were given for taking Jericho, which, an
ticipating attack, had closed its gates
josh. vi, - t16
MARCHING.-Israel was directed to COM
pass the city. once each day for six days.
and seven times on the seventh day. BY
some it Is believed, with good reason, that
the mass of the people remained in camp
and that the men of war only marched.
but others think that the entire congrega-
ton entered the procession. Verse 2O.) The
order of the march conformed to earlier
directions. (Numb- Ii, 2-31; and x, 14-2s.)
The camps of Judah and Reuben advanced
first with 100000 men. After them went
the ark, preceded by seven priests bearing
trumpets. The rereward (verse 81 comprised
more than 10000 men in the camps of
Ephraim and Dan. This military display,
with the ark of the Divine presence and
the ministers of religion in the midst, served
two important ends. 1t enabled the people
of Jericho to see the number, character
and disposition of the investing host, a
spectacle which must have awakened min
gled emotions of wonder and fear. 1t also
exhibited to the Israeltes the size and
strength of the city which was destined to
fall before them, causing them to realize,
more fully the Divine interposition.
TRUMPETS.-The steady tramp of six
hundred thousand fighting men around the
walls Of Jericho was relieved somewhat of
its monotony by one peculiar feature. The
seven priests. advancing before the ark,
blew with their trumpets, the sound of
which, heard by the army, reverberated in
the doomed city. Before leaving Sinai God
had appointed the trumpet for giving sig
nails Of different kinds. (Numb. x, f-10) In
this instance 1t made proclamation of war
and summoned Jericho to surrender-a sew
en- days call TO open the gates Moreover,
IT was the designated mode OF making for
edgement edge of distress s and f'p heed u IM GOD had
promised (Numb. x, 80 that on hearing the
trumpets blast He would remember and
by this method they invoked His aid 1t
would be granted. Here. then, was a pro-
longed waiting upon the Almighty. accord
united seven days prayer in the time of
extremity The reflex influence upon Israel
must have been very salutary, testing and
developing their faith. In later time Gid
con employed trumpets and gained a signal
victory. Judges vii. 1S0
DEVOTED.-Before the march began it
was distinctly understood, for God had de-
clared and Joshua had repeated. that on the
last day the walls would be thrown down
(verse 81. allowing free entrance to the city.
1t was also announced that the captured
city would belong to God. The people should
receive nothing. They were steadily charged
not to appropriate anything to themselves.
This direction served an important end. AS
the conquest of tho land was begin
ming, it was necessary to prevent merce-
nary spirit If once the thought of gain
upon the people they would be corrupted
and perverted. Mark. X. 23) Nothing more
surely or more quickly turns away the
wealth. In establishing these people ii
Canaan God proposed to make them mis-
servants, desiring His glory above all else.
Besides. as this was intended to be re-
ligious community. the means OF sustaining
the ordinances of religion must be pro-
vided: The sin OF, Achan and the reverse
purpose of God In claiming Jericho for
himself. Josh. VIII 1)
sAvED.-lHaving reserved the city, what
known in advance. There was one family
in ii which He ordered to be brought out
and Incorporated in Israel, the family of
Rahab, who aided the spies Uosh. ii. u,
and thereby displayed faith in God. CHeb
XII, 3D. The silver. the gold and the ves-
sells of brass and ircl were ordered to be
turned over to the treasury OF the Lord.
increasing by so much the facilities for re-
ligious worship. And so 1t appears that
Jericho. belonging to the Canaanitiscl race
had not lived wholly in vain. 1t had nur-
tured single family which was accounted
worthy TO enter into covenant relations
with God. and share the fortunes of the
ing streams which at different times came
from the outside. world. ruth !, 22) Be-
side this, Jericho had done nothing for God
save TO gather up treasure. 1t is given to
some people to prepare material conditions
which advance the kingdom of heaven
from which they are excluded.
DESTROYED.-Rahab and her family and
doomed in advance to utter destruction.
Every living thing-rnen, women. cattle
must be put to death. Verse 21.l This was
in accordance with instructions delivered TO
Moses. (Deut. vii, 2.) At this distance of
time this wholesale slaughter may appear
TO some as unbec0nling the character of the
Almighty especially as IL constituted the
mination. II must be remembered. however,
that the age In which IL occurred was one
of blood. when great results could not be
achieved by gentle measures. Moreover, the
Canaanites were idolators-they had long
stood in the way of the worlds progress.
Their removal made place for another race.
which. though in low moral condition. in
training for the werld's benefit. Gen. xxi
49, And finally, in working out His vast
designs, the God OF the whole earth sets
up and casts down. turns and overturns,
(czek. xxi, 90, according to HIS pleasure
Who shall question the wisdom of His do
ings? In the end He will be vindicated be-
fore ali intelligence. (Rev- V. l3.)
day., and the six circuits of the seventh
mi