Evening star., 1907-10-19
for SUNDAY Scboola.
STAR LESSON FOR OCTOBER 90
By Rev. ]. E. Gilbert, DID,,
SECRETARY AMERICAN SOCIETY OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
THE CAPTURE OF JERICHO: Joshua. xi:s.2o

CONTExT.-Having crossed the Jor-
dan, Israel encamped on the plains OF
Gtlgal. a short distance from the river.
There a memorial of the passage was set
up Josh. iv:5-6). Learning that a victo-
rious people had entered their country,
the Canaanites were alarmed. and prepa-
rations were begun for defense Josh.
| v:D. Joshua did not Immediately i'm
| prove 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, va. that
generation having grown up in the wilder
ness uncircumcised. The passover was
| kept. completing the fertieth year after
the departure from Egypt. On the fol-
| lowing day the mamma ceased and the
people began to eat ''the old corn of the
| land Josh, v:1O-1D. Shortly after a
| remarkable supernatural manifestation
disclosed the divine purpose and plan.
While Joshua was near Jericho, proba bly,
| reconnoitering. ain angel in the form of
man with drawn sword appeared to
him. announcing himself as captain of
| the Lords host This signifed that a war
of conquest was to be begun under God s
leadership. Instructions were given for
taking Jericho. which, anticipating attack
| had closed its gates. Josh, vi:D.
MARCHING.-Israel was directed to
compass the city once each day for six
days. and seven times on the seventh day.
By some 1t is believed. with good reason,
| that the mass of the people remained in
camp and that the men Of war only
marched. but others think that the entire
congregation entered the professions
(verse 2Ol. The order of the march con-
formed to earlier directions. Numb,
ii:2-21 and x:14-2s) The camps of Judah
and Reuben advanced first with 300, 600
men. After them went the ark preceded
by seven priests bearing trumpets The
vanguard (verse 81 comprised more than
100000 men in the camps OF Ephraim and
Dan. This military display, with the ark
OF the Divine presence. and the ministers
of religion in the midst served two i'm
portant ends. 1t enabled the people of
Jericho to see the number, character and
disposition Of the investing host. a spec
tacle which must have awakened mingled
emotions of wonder and fear. 1t also ex-
hibited to the Israelites the size and
strength of the city which was destined
to fall before them. causing them to
realize more fully the divine interposition.
TRUMPETS.-The steady tramp of
900 fighting men around the walls of
Jericho was relieved somewhat of It's
monotony by one peculiar feature. The
seven priests advancing before the ark,
blew with their frumpets, the sound of
which. heard by the army, reverberated in
the doomed city. Before leaving Sinai
God had appointed the trumpet for giving
signals of different kinds Numb, x:1-10).
In this instance 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 acknowledgment of distress and need.
God heG promised Numb, x:9 that on
hearing the trumpet's blast He would re-
member and save His people-in other
words. that when by this method they in
voked His aid it would be granted. Here
then, was a prolonged waiting upon the
Almighty, according to His own gracious
appointment, united seven days prayer
In the time of extremity The reflex in
f1uence upon Israel must have been very
salutary. testing and developing their
faith In later time Gideon employed
trumpets and gained a signal victory
(Judg.. vii:16).
DEVOTED.-Before the march be-
gan 1t was distinctly understood. for God
had declared, and Joshua had repeated,
that or the last day the walls would be
thrown down (verse 81, allowing free en-
trance to the city. 1t was also announced
that the captured city would belong to
God. The people should receive nothing
They were straightly charged not to ap-
propriata anything to themselves. The
direction served an important end. AS
the conquest Of the land was now begin
ming 1t was necessary to prevent mer
cenary spirit. If once the thought of
gain-getting or of personal ease should
seize upon the people, they would be cor
rupted and perverted Mark. x:23). Moth
ing more surely or quickly turns the heart
| away from God than inordinate love of
wealth (Pselms, Qxii:10). In establishing
these people in Canaan. God proposed to
make them his servants. desiring 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 sustained at Al
demonstrates the earnest purpose of God
in claiming Jericho for himself GOSH,
vii:D.
SAVED.-Having reserved the city,
what will God do with it? This was made
known in advance. There was one family
in 1t which He ordered to be brought out
and Incorporated in Israel, the family of
Rahab, who aided the spies (Josh, HID,
and thereby displayed faith in God (Heb..
xi:3D. The silver. the gold and the ves-
sells Of brass and Iron were ordered to be
turned over to the treasury OF the Lord,
religious worship. And SO it appears that
Jericho, belonging to the Canaanitish
race. had not lived wholly in vain. It had
nurtured single family which was ac-
COunteu worthy 10 enter into covenant re-
lations with God and share the fortunes
Of the chosen people, forming one Of those
inf1owing streams which, at different
times came from the outside world ruth,
1920. Besides this, Jericho had done moth
ing for God save to gather up treasure. It
Is given to some people to prepare ma
terial conditions which advance the king
dom of heaven, from which they are ex-
cluded.
DEsTROYED.-Rahab and her fam
lily and the treasure being saved, all else
was doomed in advance to utter destruc-
tion. Every living thing-men women
cattle-must be put to death Verse 2D
This was in accordance with instructions
delivered to Moses Deut, vii:2O. At this
distance of time this wholesale slaughter
may appear to some as unbecoming the
character of the Almighty, especially as
1t constituted the beginning of a pre-
determined war of determination. 1t must
be remembered, however, that the age in
which 1t occurred was one of blood, when
great results could not be achieved by
gentle measures. Moreover the Canaan
ties were tdolators they had long stood
in the way of the worlds progress. Their
removal made place for another race
which, though then in a low moral con-
dition, inherited promises, and was to be
put under training for the worlds bene-
fit (Gen.. xxii:1S). And finally. in working
out His vast designs, the God of the
whole earth sets up and casts down, turns
and overturns (Ezek., xxi:2O, according
to His pleasure. Who shall question the
wisdom of His doings? In the end He
will be vindicated before all intelligence