160
Literally "the possession of the sun" - properly Timnath serach, also called Timnath-Cheres (Judges 2:9)
by a transposition of letters, not uncommon in the Hebrew.
161
In the Hebrew with the article "the God," to indicate that it was the only true and living Elohim. Israel in
Canaan.
162
In 24:9: "Then Balak.... arose and warred against Israel;" not with outward weapons, but through Balaam.
163
The expressive figure is here used: "And I sent the hornet before you," to designate that which carries
terror among the inhabitants of a place. Comp. Exodus 23:28; Deuteronomy 7:20.
164
The call to "choose this day" whom they would serve (ver. 15), does not place the duty of their allegiance
to Jehovah in any doubt, but is rather the strongest and most emphatic mode of enforcing the admonition of
ver. 14, especially followed, as it is, by the declaration: "but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah."
165
So in substance J. H. Michaelis in his notes on the passage.
166
Keil argues that the expression (ver. 23), "put away the strange gods which are among you," means "in
your hearts." But this interpretation is critically untenable, while such passages as Amos 5:26 and Acts 7:43
prove the existence of idolatrous rites among the people, even though they may have been discarded in
public.
167
He took, as we would say, "Minutes" of this transaction, which were placed inside the roll of the law of
Moses.
168
The deaths of Joshua and Eleazar were, of course, chronicled at a later period. According to the Talmud
(Baba Bathra, 15 a), the former was written down by Eleazar, and the latter by Phinehas.
169
See some interesting remarks in Herzog's Real Encycl., vol. 7 p. 41. If any reader, able to follow out such
questions, should feel interested in "the higher criticism" of the Book of Joshua, we would direct him to the
masterly essay by L. Konig, in Alttest. Studien, part 1.
170
Jesus is the Greek equivalent for Joshua.
171
This is not in any way inconsistent with Exodus 23:29, etc., Deuteronomy 7:22. For, as Keil rightly
remarks, there is a vast difference between exterminating the whole of the ancient inhabitants of the land,
say, in one year, and suspending even their gradual extermination.
172
Tola (10:1), Jair (10:3), Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (12:8-15).
173
It is difficult to resist the impression that Canaan was not only the focus of ancient heathenism in its
worst abominations, but the center whence it spread. Very much in the mythology, and almost all the
vileness of Greek and Roman heathenism is undoubtedly of Canaanitish origin. Indeed, we may designate
the latter as the only real missionary heathenism at the time in the world. Consider the significance of
planting in its stead the kingdom of God, with its untold missionary influences and its grand purpose to the
world! We must also bear in mind, that the spread of Canaanitish idolatry would be greatly promoted by the
chain of colonies which extended from Asia Minor into Europe.
174
Cassel derives the name from the slimy nature of the soil.
175
According to Cassel: "My god is splendor," perhaps a sun worshipper.
176
Cassel enumerates many such.