.. bution of what was conquered (v. 7). III. To complete this account, here is a repetition of the distribution Moses had made of the land on the other side Jordan; in general (v.
814), in particular, the lot of Reuben (v. 1523), of Gad (v. 2428), of the half tribe of Manasseh (v. 2933). Chapter 14 Here is, I. The general method that was taken in dividing the land (v.
1-5). II. The demand Caleb made of Hebron, as his by promise, and therefore not to be put into the lot with the rest (v. 612). And Joshuas grant of that demand (v. 1315).
This was done at Gilgal, which was as yet their head-quarters. Chapter 15 Though the land was not completely conquered, yet being (as was said in the close of the foregoing chapter) as rest from war for the present, and their armies all drawn out of the field to a general rendezvous at Gilgal, there they began to divide the land, though the work was afterwards perfected at Shiloh, ch. 18:1, etc. In this chapter we have the lot of the tribe of Judah, which in this, as in other things, had the precedency.
I. The borders or bounds of the inheritance of Judah (v. 112). II.
The particular assignment of Hebron and the country thereabout to Caleb and his family (v. 1319). III. The names of the several cities that fell within Judahs lot (v.
2063). Chapter 16 It is a pity that this and the following chapter should be separated, for both of them give us the lot of the children of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, who, next to Judah, were to have the post of honour, and therefore had the first and best portion in the northern part of Canaan, as Judah now had in the southern part. In this chapter we have, I. A general account of the lot of these two tribes together (v. 1-4). II.
The borders of the lot of Ephraim in particular (v. 510). That of Manasseh following in the next chapter. Chapter 17 The half tribe of Manasseh comes next to be provided for; and here we have, I. The families of that tribe that were to be portioned (v. 1-6).
II. The country that fell to their lot (v. 713). III. The joint request of the two tribes that descended from Joseph, for the enlargement of their lot, and Joshuas answer to that request (v. 1418).
Chapter 18 In this chapter we have, I. The setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh (v. 1). II. The stirring up of the seven tribes that were yet unsettled to look after their lot, and the putting of them in a method for it, by Joshua (v. 2-7).
III. The distributing of the land into seven lots, by certain men employed for that purpose (v. 8, 9). IV.
The determining of these seven portions to the seven tribes yet unprovided for by lot (v. 10). V. The particular lot of the tribe of Benjamin, the borders of it (v. 1120).
And the cities contained in it (v. 2128). The other six tribes we shall find well provided for in the next chapter. Chapter 19 In the description of the lots of Judah and Benjamin we have an account both of the borders that surrounded them and of the cities contained in them. In that of Ephraim and Manasseh we have the borders, but not the cities; in this chapter Simeon and Dan are described by their cities only, and not their borders, because they lay very much within Judah, especially the former; the rest have both their borders described and their cities names, especially frontiers.
Here is, I. The lot of Simeon (v. 1-9). II. Of Zebulun (v. 1016).
III. Of Issachar (v. 1723). IV.
Of Asher (v. 2431). V. Of Naphtali (v. 3239).
VI. Of Dan (v. 4048). Lastly, The inheritance assigned to Joshua himself and his own family (v. 4951).
Chapter 20 This short chapter is concerning the cities of refuge, which we often read of in the writings of Moses, but this is the last time that we find mention of them, for now that matter was thoroughly settled. Here is, I. The law God gave concerning them (v. 1-6). II.
The peoples designation of the particular cities for that use (v. 7-9). And this remedial law was a figure of good things to come. Chapter 21 It had been often said that the tribe of Levi should have no inheritance with their brethren, no particular part of the country assigned them, as the other tribes had, no, not the country about Shiloh, which one might have expected to be appropriated to them as the lands of the church; but, though they were not thus cast into a country by themselves, it appears, by the provision made for them in this chapter, that they were no losers, but the rest of the tribes were very much gainers, by their being dispersed. We have here, I.
The motion they made to have their cities assigned them, according to Gods appointment (v. 1, 2). II. The nomination of the cities accordingly out of the several tribes, and the distribution of them to the respective families of this tribe (v.
3-8). III. A catalogue of the cities, forty-eight in all (v. 942).
IV. A receipt entered in full of all that God had promised to his people Israel (v. 4345). Chapter 22 Many particular things we have read concerning the two tribes and a half, though nothing separated them from the rest of the tribes except the river Jordan, and this chapter is wholly concerning them. I. Joshuas dismission of the militia of those tribes from the camp of Israel, in which the had served as auxiliaries, during all the wars of Canaan, and their return thereupon to their own country (v.
1-9). II. The altar they built on the borders of Jordan, in token of their communion with the land of Israel (v. 10).
III. The offence which the rest of the tribes took at this altar, and the message they sent thereupon (v. 1120). IV. The apology which the two tribes and a half made for what they had done (v.
2129). V. The satisfaction which their apology gave to the rest of the tribes (v. 3034). And (which is strange), whereas in most differences that happen there is a fault on both sides, on this there was fault on no side; none (for aught that appears) were to be blamed, but all to be praised.
Chapter 23 In this and the following chapter we have two farewell sermons, which Joshua preached to the people of Israel a little before his death. Had he designed to gratify the curiosity of succeeding ages, he would rather have recorded the method of Israels settlement in their new conquests, their husbandry, manufacturers, trade, customs, courts of justice, and the constitutions of their infant commonwealth, which one would wish to be informed of; but that which he intended in the registers of this book was to entail on posterity a sense of religion and their duty to God; and therefore, overlooking these things which are the usual subjects of a common history, he here transmits to his reader the methods he took to persuade Israel to be faithful to their covenant with their God, which might have a good influence on the generations to come who should read those reasonings, as we may hope they had on that generation which then heard them. In this chapter we have, I. A convention of the states called (v. 1, 2), probably to consult about the common concerns of their land, and to set in order that which, after some years trial, being left to their prudence, was found wanting.
II. Joshuas speech to them as the opening, or perhaps at the concluding, of the sessions, to hear which was the principal design of their coming together. In it, 1. Joshua reminds them of what God had done for them (v.
3, 4, 9, 14), and what he was ready to do yet further (v. 5, 10). 2. He exhorts them carefully and resolutely to persevere in their duty to God (v. 6, 8, 11).
III. He cautions them against all familiarity with their idolatrous neighbours (v. 7). IV. He gives them fair warning of the fatal consequences of it, if they should revolt from God and turn to idols (v.
12, 13, 15, 16). In all this he showed himself zealous for his God, and jealous over Israel with a godly jealousy. Chapter 24 This chapter concludes the life and reign of Joshua, in which we have, I. The great care and pains he took to confirm the people of Israel in the true faith and worship of God, that they might, after his death, persevere therein. In order to this he called another general assembly of the heads of the congregation of Israel (v. 1) and dealt with them.
1. By way of narrative, recounting the great things God had done for them and their fathers (v. 213). 2.
By way of charge to them, in consideration thereof, to serve God (v. 14). 3. By way of treaty with them, wherein he aims to bring them, (1.) To make religion their deliberate choice; and they did so, with reasons for their choice (v. 1518). (2.) To make it their determinate choice, and to resolve to adhere to it (v.
1924). 4. By way of covenant upon that treaty (v. 2528). II.
The conclusion of this history, with, 1. The death and burial of Joshua (v. 29, 30) and Eleazar (v. 33), and the mention of the burial of Josephs bones upon that occasion (v. 32).
2. A general account of the state of Israel at that time (v. 31). The Book of Ruth Chapter 1 In this chapter we have Naomis afflictions. I. As a distressed housekeeper, forced by famine to remove into the land of Moab (v.
1, 2). II. As a mournful widow and mother, bewailing the death of her husband and her two sons (v. 3-5). III.
As a careful mother-in-law, desirous to be kind to her two daughters, but at a loss how to be so when she returns to her own country (v. 613). Orpah she parts with in sorrow (v. 14). Ruth she takes with her in fear (v. 1518).
IV. As a poor woman sent back to the place of her first settlement, to be supported by the kindness of her friends (v. 1922). All these things were melancholy and seemed against her, and yet all were working for good.
Chapter 2 There is scarcely any chapter in all the sacred history that stoops so low as this to take cognizance of so mean a person as Ruth, a poor Moabitish widow, so mean an action as her gleaning corn in a neighbours field, and the minute circumstances thereof. But all this was in order to her being grafted into the line of Christ and taken in among his ancestors, that she might be a figure of the espousals of the Gentile church to Christ, Isa. 54:1. This makes the story remarkable; and many of the passages of it are instructive and very improvable.
Here we have, I. Ruths humility and industry in gleaming corn, Providence directing her to Boazs field (v. 1-3). II. The great favour which Boaz showed to her in many instances (v.
416). III. The return of Ruth to her mother-in-law (v. 1823).
Chapter 3 We found it very easy, in the former chapter, to applaud the decency of Ruths behaviour, and to show what good use we may make of the account given us of it; but in this chapter we shall have much ado to vindicate it from the imputation of indecency, and to save it from having an ill use made of it; but the goodness of those times was such as saved what is recorded here from being ill done, and yet the badness of these times is such as that it will not justify any now in doing the like. Here is, I. The directions Naomi gave to her daughter-in-law how to claim Boaz for her husband (v. 1-5). II.
Ruths punctual observance of those directions (v. 6, 7). III. The kind and honourable treatment Boaz gave her (v. 815). IV.
Her return to her mother-in-law (v. 1618). Chapter 4 In this chapter we have the wedding between Boaz and Ruth, in the circumstances of which there was something uncommon, which is kept upon record for the illustration, not only of the law concerning the marrying of a brothers widow (Deu. 25:5, etc.), for cases help to expound laws, but of the gospel too, for from this marriage descended David, and the Son of David, whose espousals to the Gentile church were hereby typified. We are here told, I. How Boaz got clear of his rival, and fairly shook him off (v.
1-8). II. How his marriage with Ruth was publicly solemnized, and attended with the good wishes of his neighbours (v. 912). III. The happy issue that descended from this marriage, Obed, the grandfather of David (v.
1317). And so the book concludes with the pedigree of David (v. 1822). Perhaps it was to oblige him that the blessed Spirit directed the inserting of this story in the sacred canon, he being desirous that the virtues of his great-grandmother Ruth, together with her Gentile extraction and the singular providences that attended her, should be transmitted to posterity. Religion Essays.
