Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-10-16
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
international Lesson Comments For
October 10.
Subject: The Fall Of Jericho, Josh. W., ;, 70
Golden Text: Heb. xi., 3O-Memory
Verse, 20 Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

s. when Joshua had spoken Whca
he had given them directions as God hac
commanded him, as to how they shoult
proceed to take the city of Jericho. int
escape of the spies, whom Joshua had
sent to learn the condition OF the city, has
aroused the king of Jericho SO that he toot
extra care to have the gates OF the eat,
well secured against any further intrusion
from the Israelites. 1.-The seven trumpets.'
These instruments were probably made o!
horn, and were the same as used on the
jubilee Before the Lord" Before the
ark, called the ark of the covenant, tor it
contained the tables on which the ce>c
nant was inscribed. BLEW" Instead O
the dreadful trumpet of war, they soundec
the trumpet of JOY, as already conqucroi,
acting faith in the promise OF God. -! ne
ark-followed them" This was q tyln
Dol of Gods presence, and showed that al
the victories of Israel were from Him. IJ
.nls token the faith and patience OF tHt
people were increased. The priests Went
their coming and lead the way tor th'
great company which followed
9. "The armed men went before. The
soldiers took the lead to clear the way Of
Instructions "The rearward." Tie who
company of Israel followed in the !Ec "I
march The order OF the procession seems
to have been, |. The soldiers. y, Ihe sever
priests, blowing continually on large horni
3. The ark. 4. The main body of Israel
distance from the walls, SO that 10 weap
ons or missiles could reach them.
10. "Ye shall not shout Ane procession
was made in deep and solemn silence, cA'
actly as Joshua directed, without acclun|v
ton or noise of any kind 1t seems
strange manner for battle. No mount Ms
raised, no sword drawn, no engine plantcht
no pioneers undermining, 1t was by striI.'
ing terror to their feelings that Jericho wa;
to be taken and subdued There were
armed men in this approaching army, but
no stroke given. They must walk and not
fight. Nodoubt the people were astonishcd
at first sight, but when they failed to re-
ceive any hurt at first, they most likely
made fun of the spectacle Until the day
l bid you" Their victory would come by
perfect obedience to every command.
IL. "Rose early" 10 begin the march.
They began early because they were intent
on gaining the victory. Every day was
equally important that the victory might
be obtained
IA. so they did six days Though
lately come into Canaan, and their time
very precious, yet they must hnger so many
days about Jericho, seeming not to make
any progress.
i5 "On the seventh day The repeated
use of the number seven must not pass u'i'
noticed. Seven priests seven trumr
the seventh day." Seven denotes perfe-
ton. Gods ways and works are all per
feet. One of these seven days must have
been a sabbath day. The Jews say 1t was
the last, on which the city was taken and
as they were doing the work of God. Tor
His glory, no objection arises against it
from the fourth commandment, any more
than against the man carrying has bed on
the sabbath day in honor of Christ who
had healed him. If this be an illustration
of the way to spend our sabbaths, then
are we not instructed to do on that day
seven times as much service for the Lord
as on other days? They rose early
Here not only Joshua rises early, as in V.
IL, but also the whole army, because u
great days work was before them. Eal.y
risers gain many victories that otherwise
would have been lost.
l6. ''When the priests blew At the
exact time when God declared victory.
They kept in tune with God, Their cE-
pectations were so great, their faith 80
firm, their ear so well tuned, that their
voices were at once raised to sound the
note of triumph when God said shout.
Shout" They were to shout by faith as
though the victory were already gained.
This they did and the walls fell only after
they had declared it aloud. There is much
in the shouts of Gods saints. |. 1t strikes
terror to the hearts of their enemies. ,. 1t
inspires courage in the weak and faterlng.
Gideon went forth to victory with a shout.
1t is said that the soldiers of Oliver Crom'
we'll came to feel that there was no defeat
for them, and they rushed into battle with
shout that caused the enemy to flee ter
ror stricken NJ Jesus gave His followers a
license to shout His praises. Luke 10; 30.
Shouting saints seldom become discouraged.
But of course there is no virtue in the
noise; God looks at the heart and if that
is pure we are accepted by Him.
II. "The city shall be devoted. to the
Lord (R. w." The word from which the
word "accursed," or devoted" comes de-
notes "to cut off. to devote, to withdraw
from common use and consecrate to God
This was the first victory in Canaan. 1t
was Israel's first fruits, and as such must
be devoted to the Lord. The Canaanitcs
were slain because of their great wicked
ness. They had become. corrupt and their
punishment was just. In the last day all
the anathema of the Judge.
IS. Keep yourselves" etc, See II. y.
at would be sacrilege to dedicate the
whole to Jehovah and then to take posses
sion of part for their own use:
make the camp. .accursed" R. W. If
any one should take for personal use that
which had been dedicated to God, it would
be the means of bringing curse upon
them, and the camp would be troubled
and distressed because of at.
10. "The silver" etc., Everything ol
value was to be set apart for the service
of the tabernacle, and counted among the
sacred things. God would be honored ny
enriching His dwelling place. His cause IS
built up by the destruction of the enemy's
strongholds. This would teach the Israel
ties not to set their hearts on worldly
wealth. and would show the nations around
that they were n6t a set of marauders,
seeking for plundet. There was also spe;;
cial danger at this point lest Israel should
become contaminated by these heathen
nations.
20. 'Fell down Hat" Several commenta.
tors both Jews And Christians, have sup
posed that the ground under the founda.
tion of the walls opened, and that the
walls sunk into the chasm, SO that there
remained nothing bus plain ground for the
Israelites to walk over. Probably the
wall fell down from its foundations in
every part. This miracle put into the
hands of Joshua the strongest city in
Canaan. It also gave both Israel and
Canaan overwhelming proof of the omni'
potence of Jehovah and of His alliance
with Joshua.