64
Hebrews 11:31, marginal rendering.
65
So Josephus and the Rabbis, who represent her as simply an inn-keeper.
66
The learned reader who is curious to know the Rabbinical fables about Rahab, will find them in Lightfoot,
Hor. Heber. et Talmud.; and Wetstein, Nov. Test., in the notes on Matthew 1:5; also in Meuschen, Nov.
Test. ex Talm. illustr., p. 40.
67
As, according to Numbers 26:7, 18, 34, the total number of the men of war in the tribes Reuben and Gad,
and those of half Manasseh amounted to 110,580, it follows that 70,580 must have been left behind for the
protection of the territory east of the Jordan.
68
We mark in this narrative three sections, each commencing with a Divine command (Joshua 3:7, 8; 4:2, 3;
and 4:15, 16), followed by Joshua's communication thereof to the people, and an account of its execution.
This to connect each stage with the Lord Himself.
69
See The Exodus and the Wanderings in the Wilderness.
70
In Joshua 3:11 and 13 it is significantly designated, "the Ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth," as
Calvin remarks, to show the subjection of all to God, and to increase the trust of Israel.
71
This, and not, as in our Authorized Version, "very far from the city of Adam," is the correct rendering. The
sites of these two cities have not been identified. From the nature of the banks, the inundation caused by
this miracle would not lead to serious consequences.
72
The attentive reader will notice that, throughout the Scripture narrative, the main stress is laid on the
presence of the Ark, the priests being only introduced as the bearers of it.
73
The rendering of Joshua 4:1-3 in our Authorized Version does not give that impression, but alike
Rabbinical and the best Christian authorities regard these verses as a parenthesis, and translate, in ver. 1,
"and the Lord had spoken to Joshua."
74
Tristram, Land of Israel, p. 219.
75
Of course, the survivors of those who, having come out from Egypt, were at the time of the sentence in
Kadesh under twenty years old (Numbers 14:29) - in short, all in Gilgal who were thirty-eight years and
upwards - had been circumcised. Reckoning the total of males at Gilgal at about one million, the proportion
of the circumcised to the uncircumcised would have been about 280,000 to 720,000. The former would suffice
to prepare the Paschal lambs, and, if needful, to defend the camp at Gilgal, although the terror consequent
upon t he dividing of Jordan would probably have protected Israel from all hostile attacks. See Keil, Bibl.
Comm., vol. 2 pp. 38, 39.
76
This is the correct rendering of Joshua 5:14; that in our Authorized Version does not fully express the
pictorial import of the original.
77
For an explanation of the meaning of this symbol, see The Exodus, etc.
78
Joshua 6:9 implies that the host of Israel was divided into two parts: "the armed men" preceding, and "the
rereward following the Ark." As the Hebrew "for armed men" is the same term as that in Joshua 4:13
("prepared for war"), it has been suggested by Rabbinical interpreters that "the armed men" consisted of
Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh.