The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-10-16
The SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments For
October ~.
Subject: The Fall Of Jericho, Josh. w., 3, 20
-Golden Text: Heb. xl., 30-Memory
Verse, 20 = Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

the Days Lesson.
8. when Joshua had spoken" When
he had given them directions as God had
commanded him, as to how they shoule
proceed to take the city of Jericho. The
escape of the spies, whom Joshua had
sent to learn the condition of the city, had
aroused the king of Jericho so that he tool
extra care to have the gates of the city
well secured against any further intrusion
from the Israelites. "The seven trumpets.H
These instruments were probably made ol
horn, and were the same as used on the
jubilee Before the Lord" Before the
ark, called the ark of the covenant, for il
contained the tables on which the cove
nant was inscribed. BLEW" Instead oI
the dreadful trumpet of war, they sounded
the trumpet Of Joy, as already conquerors
acting faith in the promise of God. "Tht
ark-followed them" This was a sym.
bol OF Gods presence, and showed that all
the victories of Israel were from Him. by
TINS token the faith and patience of the
people were increased. The priests went
ahead that they might give the notice OF
their coming, and lead the way for the
great company which followed.
o. "The armed men went before" The
soldiers took the lead to clear the way OF
distractions. The rearward" The whole
company of Israel followed in the line oil
march. The order OF the procession seems
to have been, /. The soldiers. 2. The sever
priests, blowing continually on large horns
g. The ark. 4. The main body Of Israel.
The procession probably kept at safe
distance from the walls, so that no weap
ons or missiles could reach them.
10. "Ye shall not shout" lne procession
was made in deep and solemn silence, ex.
actly as Joshua directed, without acclama.
tion or noise of any kind. 1t seems
strange manner for battle. No mount was
raised, no sword drawn, no engine planted,
no pioneers undermining. 1t was by strik.
ing terror to their feelings that Jericho was
to be taken and subdued. There were
no stroke given. They must walk and not
fight. No doubt the people were astonished
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
bid YOU" Their victory would come by
perfect obedience to every command.
IL. "Rose early" To begin the march.
on gaining the victory. Every day was
equally important that the victory might
be obtained.
Ia. 80 they did six days" Though
lately come into Canaan, and their time
very precious, yet they must linger so many
days about Jericho, seeming not to make
any progress.
10. "On the seventh day" The repeated
use of the number seven must not pass un
noticed. Seven priests" Seven trum
pets" Seven days" and "seven times on
the seventh day" Seven denotes perfeo
ton. Gods ways and works are all per
feet. One OF these seven days must have
been sabbath day. The Jews say it was
the last on which the city was taken; and
as they were doing the work of God, for
His glory, no objection arises against it
from the fourth commandment, any more
than against the man carrying his 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
great days work was before them. Early
risers gain many victories that otherwise
would have been lost.
10. when the priests blew" At the
exact time when God declared victory.
They kept in tune with God. Their ex-
pectations were so great, their faith so
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 ia much
in the shouts of Gods saints. l. 1t strikes
terror to the hearts of their enemies. 3 1t
inspires courage in the weak and faltering
Gideon went forth to victory with a shout.
1t is said that the soldiers of Oliver Crom.
well came to feel that there was no defeat
for them, and they rushed into battle with
a shout that caused the enemy to flee ter
ror stricken. M Jesus gave His followers
license to shout His praises. Luke 10: 40.
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 Or. W." The word from which the
word 'accursed,o 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 lsrael's first fruits, and as such must
be devoted to the Lord The Canaanites
We're slain because OF their great wicked
ness. They had become corrupt and their
punishment was just. In the last day all
the wicked of the earth will fall beneath
the anathema of the Judge.
Is. keep yourselves" etc. See Il. V.
"1t 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" Or. W. If
any one should take for personal use that
winch mad been dedicated to God, 1t would
be the means of bringing curse upon
them, and the camp would be troubled
and distressed because of it.
10. "The silver" etc. Everything OF
value was to be set apart for the service
Of the tabernacle, and counted among the
sacred things. God would be honored by
enrching 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 not a set of marauders,
seeking for plunder. There was also spe.
cial danger at this point lest Israel should
become contaminated by these heather
nations.
20. Fell down fiat" 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. 1t also gave both Israel and
Canaan overwhelming proof of the omni.
potenee of Jehovah and of His alliance
with Joshua.