The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-18

:. BY Rev. j. E. Gilbert. D. D., Secretary Of
/ CONTENT. Having crossed the Jordan
/ Israel encamped on the plains of Gilga1,
short distance from the river. There
| memorial of the passage was set up
| Josh. iv:5-6) Learning that victorious
| people had entered their country, the
| Canaanites were alarmed, and prepare
/ tons were begun for defense Josh, v:D.
Joshua did not Immediately improve his
/ advantages, but remained in camp to
| perform religious duties and learn the
| further will of Jehovah. The right OF
| circumcision, the seal OF the covenant,
was renewed Josh. Wy, that genera
ton 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 mama ceased. and the peo-
! Pile began to eat .tthe old corn of the
land. Josh. Wholly Shortly after re-
markable supernatural manifestation dis
closed the Divine purpose and plan.
| While Joshua was near Jericho. probably
| reconnoiter ing, an angel in the form OF
| a man with drawn sword appeared to
him, announcing himself as captain of
| the Lords host. This signified that a
| war OF conquest was to be begun under
| Gods leadership. Instructions were
| given for taking Jericho, which. anticl-
! pating attack, had closed its gates
| Josh. vi:D.
! MARCHING. Israel was directed to con-
pass the city. once each day for six days,
! anu seven times on the seventh day.
| By some it is believed with good reason.
| that the mass of the people remained
| II camp. and that the men of war only
| marched, but others think that the en-
| tire congregation entered the procession.
| Verse 2D.) The order of the march con-
| formed to earlier directions. (Numbers,
ii:2-31 and x:14-2S) The camps of judah
and Reuben advanced first with three
hundred thousand men After them went
the ark preceded by seven priests bear
ing trumpets. There reward Cerse %
comprised more than two hundred and
sixty thousand men In the camps OF.
Ephraim and Dan. This military dis
play, with the ark of the Divine pres
ence and the ministers of religion in
the midst, served two important ends.
It enabled the people OF Jericho to see
the number, character and disposition
of the investing host, spectacle which
must have awakened mingled emotions
of wonder and fear. 1t also exhlblted
to the Israelites the size and strength
OIL the CITY WHICH, SdS dcSlAiico ~ Ao1t
before them, causing them to realize
more fully the Divine interposition.
TRUNIPETS. The steady tramp of six
| hundred thousand fighting men around
the walls of Jericho was relieved some
what of its nlouotony 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 Linai God had appointed the
trumpet for giving signals OF dinerent
kinds plumbers. x:1-l0.) In this IN
stance 1T made proclamation of war and
summoned Jericho to surrender seven
DAYS call to open the gates. Moreover.
it was the designated mode OF making.
formal request for Divine help and an
Acknowledge of distress and need.
God had promised plumbers X:9) that on
hearing the trumpets blast He would re-.
meber and save His people-in other
words. that when by this method they
invoked His aid it would be granted
Here. then. was prolonged waiting upon
the Almighty, according to his own
gracious appointment, a united seven
DAYS, prayer in the time OF extremity
The reflex influence upon Israel must
have been very sautary, testing and de-
veloping their faith In later time
Gideon employed trumpets and gained
signal victory. Judges vii:16.)
DEVOTED. Befor the march began u
was distinctly understood. for God had
declared and Joshua had repeated. that
on the last day the walls would be
thrown down (verse s. allowing free en-
trance to the city, It was also annoanc-#
ed that the captured city would belong
to Cod. The people should receive MOTH
ing They were straightly charged not
to appropriate anything to themselves.
The direction served an important emu.
AS the conquest of the land was now
beginning it was necessary to prevent
mercenary spirit II once the thought
of cain-getting or of personal ease should
seze upon the people they "ould De
corrupt and perverted. Ozark N:Sa)
Nothing more surely or quickly turns
The heart away from God than inordi-
nate love of wealth. psalm xi1:lo) In
establishing these people in Canaan GOO
proposed to make them His servants, oe-
string His glory above all else BESIDES
as this was intended to be religious
community the means for sustaining the
ordinances Of religion must be PROVIDED.
The sin OF Achan and the reverse suS-
tanned at Al demonstrates the earnest
purpose of God in claiming jericho LOT
himself. Josh. Wild
SAVED. Il Having reserved the CITY "na .
VIII Goa 90 Win; II MS "o'
known in advance. There was one lam
lily in it which he ordered to be orousht
out and incorporated in Israel. the 1an-
lily Of Rahab, who aided the spies GOSH:
ii:1). and thereby displayed faith IN Goo
(Ieb.. xi:3D. The silver, the goid. anu
the vessels of brass and iron were oroef
ed TO be turned over to the treasury OF
the Lord. increasing by so much the "a
cilities for religious worship. And SO u
appears that Jericho. belonging to the
Cannaanitish race. had not lived wholly
in,vain. It#had nurtured a single family
WHICH was accounted worthy to enter
into covenant relations with God. and
share the fortunes ,ef the chosen ReoQIe.