The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-10-10
Israel Enters the
Land of Promise

Specially Prepared for This Paper

LESSON TExT.-Joshua 9: 5-17 Mem
ory verse, IT.
GOLDEN TExT.-"And he led them
forth by the right way that they might
go to a city Of habitation. Psalm 1o7: Z.
TIME.-on the tenth day OF the first
month, early In April was the crossing
OF the Jordan. 'Tt was the anniversary
OF the day on which, 40 years before, the
Israelites had been directed to take up
the lambs for the first Passover in
Egypt"-Deane. This lesson closely fol-
lows the last
PL.ACB.-At Abel Shittim, THE Mea-
dow OF the Acacias,' near the fords OF
the Jordan on the east bank, opposite
Jericho. At the foot OF the Moabite
mountains.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Two Accounts.-rhe history OF
the conquest Of Palestine in Joshua
and the account in the first chapter OF
Judges are assumed by certain schoI
ars to be parallel accounts covering
the same ground. BY assuming (1) that
Joshua was written at a late date and
therefore unhistorical; (2) that the
first statement in Judges to the ef.
feet that the events described In that
chaptetr took place after the death
Of Joshua is untrue and a late addi-
tion; and t3) that the conquest de-
scribed In Joshua was so complete
that there need be no further conflict
1T 10 taken for granted that the two
accounts describe the same period,
and are. therefore, contradictory and
unhistorical.
Preparation Of the People for cross-
Ing the jordan.-Josh. 1:10-3:b.
1. The announcement that the time
to cross was at hand to q people who
saw an impossible food In front Of
them.
Q. Preparation Of victuals; not
merely the mama, but the fruits Of
the fertile country In which they were
encamped.
3. Spies who could swim the deep
and swift river were sent across TO
investigate the condition Of things on
the other side and to report.
4. The camp was moved to the
lower level nearer the river.
8. Oficers were sent throughout the
camp to instruct the people what
to do.
6. The people were commanded to
". 81 sanctify themselves, make spe-
cial spiritual preparation. by wash
ing their persons and their garments.
and abstaining from everything that
might indispose their minds TO Sc
rious and devout attention to the mir
acle about to be wrought in their be-
half. The object was to turn their
hearts to God in faith, and prepare
them to obey willingly, and to under.
stand the full meaning and power Of
what God was doing for them.
Compare the "sanctifying" before
they received the law at Sinai. See
also Lev. 20:7. 8: Sam. 1855; Joel
2:16.
The Training Of tho People In cour.
age and Faith.-Vs ell. Before the
actual entrance upon the conquest,
which meant life or death. and from
which there was no possible return
over the swollen river-for the cross
ing was like Cortez' burning of his
ships-it was needful once more to
test the people and prove to them
that God could and would make them
successful.
(D 6. They took up the ark OF the
covenant" The symbol Of Gods pres
ence and of his covenant promise and
their covenant Of obedience. Went
before the people," There was to be
a space of 1000 cubits. or nearly three
quarters Of a mile. between the ark
and the people, 30 that all could see
the sacred symbol Of the divine pres
ence Josh. 3:4. which could not be
done II the ark was closely surround
ed by a crowd.
(2) Z. "And the Lord said unto
Joshua, This day will begin to mag.
ninfy thee" Make thee great, put
honor upon thee. as the leader and
commander of the people. Hence
forth he would be accepted as the
true successor OF Moses. Henceforth
no doubling. no questioning who
should be the leader. nor whether
their leader was worthy Of trust.
(S) The assurance Of faith.
The ProvidentiaI Miracie.-V. 16.--
THE waters rose up upon an
heap very far from the city Adam"
The revisions give the correct trans
lauon ''in one heap. great way OF.
at Adam" Adam was probably at
the Damieh ford just above the mouth
Of the Jabbok, II miles above the L.
raelites' encampment. Here are the
remains Of an ancient bridge. Here is
a sudden break In the geological form.
alton, and the river hows between
two ridges of mountains on either
side. or. as Prof. @. F.. Wright sug-
gssts. the elevation OF the bed OF the
rixar In thla xolcanlc reQtan suharx. o.