The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-10-01
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 5.

Verses, q. o. Commentary on the
Days Lesson.
]. Now" This indicates a close con-
nection with what precedes. 1t Is quite
probable that the book Of Joshua originally
begun with the last chapter Of Deuteron.
omy After the death" After the thirty
days moruning were over. The servant
OF the Lord" This was the official title
OF Moses, a, invested with special mis-.
sion to make known the will Of God, and
conferred great honor and authority. The
Lord spake." The Lord did not speak
with Joshua face to face as He did with
Moses, but probably through the high
priest. Mum. q: 1922. Joshua His
name was originally Hoshea, Salvation, or
Help. To this was added afterwards the
prefix "Jeh," Jehovah, and his name be.
came Jehoshua, shortened into Joshua
the Greek is Jesus, and in Acts :: IS and
Heb. 4: Joshua is called Jesus. Moses
the 'lawgiver" led Israel to the border,
Joshua the prototype Of Jesus brought
them over. Joshua was born in the land
of Goshen, Egypt. He was descendant
OF Joseph. through Ephriam. At this time
he was about cighty-four years of age. lie
was distinguished for his courage, faith and
piety Son OF Nun" Nothing is known
of Nun only that he was Of the tribe OF
Ephr.am. Moses minister" Ii was
customary for great prophets to be thus
attended by ministers or servants. Thus
had Joshua been trained in the best pos.
sible school, Moses was the servant OF
Jehovah and Joshua the minister OF Moses.
4 servan. il less honorable than a minis
tc-. but it is unspeakabiy greater to be
Jchovah's servant than the prime minister
nj he vrca test earthIy DotentatP
2. This Jordan" Called the "des-
Gender" because of its rapid descent of a
thousand feet between the sea OF Galilee
and the Dead Sea- 1t is one OF the most
peculiar rivers in the world 1t has many
turnings and windings so that although
the distance between the two seas is
only sixty miles, yet the river traverses .
distance OF at least two hundred miles,
and during that distance there are twenty
seven large cataracts, besides a grea. many
smaller ones; thus on it goes a foaming
torrent plunging down into the Sea OF
Salt where its waters arc lost in "briny
and at other times shallow enough to be
forded. "All this people" According to
the second census (Num. 20: 81 the war
riors, men over twenty years Of age, mum.
bercd 6Ol 40, besides 5000 Levites. This
justliics an estimate Of not less than 2,OOO,-
600 people altogether;
3.'"Your foot shall tread" The entire
land was before them, and it depended
upon their courage and faith how much Of
it they possessed.
4. From the wilderness" The bound.
aries OF the land are here defined. This
Lebanon" A double range Of mountains
which formed the northern boundary.
"Euphratcs." The eastern boundary. This
81 tI,a tlo
important of the rivers OF western Asia.
"Hittitcs" A tribe OF Canaanites living in
the southern part Of the promised land.
They were the most powerful tribe in Ca.
naan and the especial terror of the ten
spies. Gen. Is: Is. This was an important
promise, Ye shall possess the land OF even
the dreaded Hittites. Great sea-" The
Mediterranean. Called great" in com
parison with the seas of Canaan. 1t is
25OO miles long and 100 miles in its
greatest width, and has an average depth
of over half mile. Going down."
Meaning that this is the western boundary.
than the Hebrews ever possessed, except
for short time during the reigns Of David
and Solomon.
5. Not any man." etc. What a promise
is this! He was to have victory in every
conflict. But the divine promise implies
a condition. See VS.. 10. Il will be with
thee" Joshua needed no other allies,
but he needed these great promises. A
crisis had arrived in the history Of the
nation, and he knew that Jehovah alone
could bring them into their promised in
heritance. mot fail thee" !. Gods pres
ence gives constant victory. Any man
may conquer who fights with the Lord on
His side. 2. Gods presence is given ir.
respective of ability or social condition.
God walks with all who fear Him-;he
trodden. g. Gods presence once gwen
will remain with us forever, unless we dis.
obey Him.
6. BE strong" etc. Better. "be strong
and firm" II denotes strength OF hand
and arm to lay hold OF and retain anything
within ones grasp; and frmness in the
Rnecs. and ability TO maintain ones posi-.
ton against the attack OF foes. The ex'
preston occurs with increasing emphasis
four times in this chapter, and is rather a
command than an exhortation. SHALT
thou divide" See r. V. The Lord shows
Joshua that "he is the last link in the
chain which unites prophecy and fulfill.
mcnt,' that ''all the glorious possibilities
OF his nation hinge upon his own personal
valoi and fidelity" Joshua was TO use all
his military skill. and avail himself to the
utmost of all the means. natural and provi.
dental. placed within his reach. God will
not help them who refuse to help them
selves.
!. ".All the law" All the moral, cere-
monial and political preccpts given from
Jehovah To the hand of Moses. Joshua
is admonished that the law must be strictly
and carefully observed. if the great work
to which he has been called was 10 bs
successfully accomplished. He was TO carry
out It's provisions to the letter. ITO the
right or. :. left Perfect obedience IS
represented by straight line. and course
OF sin by crooked way. 'Mayest pros
per" There is no real or lasting pros.
perity outside Of perfect obedience 10 all
OF Gods commandments.
s. Book of the law Moses had al!
ready written the law. and they were 10
diligently study it and mediate upon IT,,
and their lives were to be governed accord
ing to It's precepts.
9. Thy God il with thee" As the SOL
dier's va.or is stimulated by the eye o.
his captain. so vivid realization OF ths
presence OF God il 4 safeguard against
fcariulncss and encouragement.
10. Officers OF the people" These wcr,
the leaders Of the army whose offices EN-
braccd various duties. II seems TO have
been part of their work to act as heraids
and to prepare the tribes for action.
IL. 'Prcparc your vIc,ua!s.' The wore
dcuotes food obtained IN hunting. Al
though the mamma did not cease anti
several DAYS after this. vet the supcrHa
tural supply probably hcgan 10 decrease
a. the natural supply increased God ncr@
works miracles as a premium TO indolcno