These arrangements having been made, it was felt that the time had aived for removing the head-quarters of the people from Gizal to some more permanent position. The place fired upon doubtless under Divine direction) was Shiloh,* in the tribe of Ephraim, situate near the centre of the land of Cansan; to this place accordingly the ark was removed, and here the Tabernacle was set up to remain here during more than three centuries, until the ark was taken by the Philistines (p. 192), and the Tabernacle (apparently soon afterwards) was removed to Nob (ecmp. pp. 105 and 206). Soon after this settlement, Joshua proceeded to distribute by lot the remainder of the country (not yet divided) among the seven tribes which had not been located; a distribution made according to a survey which had been taken expressly for this purpose. The inheritance chosen by Joshua for himself was Timnath-serah, on the mountains of Ephraim, where he built a city, not far from Shiloh. To the Levites were given by lot forty-eight cities (p. 157), with their suburbs (i. e. certain limited districts of pasture ground around each), out of the other tribes; of which thirteen were allotted to the priests. Of these cities, six were set apart as cities of refuge † (p. 87), namely, Kedesh in Galilee, on the mountains of Naphtali, Shechem (Sichem) on the mountains of Ephraim, Hebron § on the mountains of Judah; and on the east of Jordan, Bezer in the wilderness (tribe of Reuben), Ramoth in Gilead (tribe of Gad), Golan in Bashan (tribe of Manasseh).

The relative positions of the tribes according to this division may be thus stated. Of the pastoral district on the east of

bourhood till after the time of Abraham. It retained this name till it came into the possession of Caleb, when the Israelites restored the original name Hebron.'— KEIL on Joshua, xiv. 15.

* See STANLEY, Sinai and Palestine, ch. v. § 1.

This seems to us the most interesting scientific operation recorded in the early Scripture, and, indeed, the only one of the kind of which very ancient history has left any record. It is out of all sight the earliest example of landsurveying of which we have any knowledge;-and that it was undertaken in the circumstances shows that there was more of scientific knowledge among the Israelites at this time than they have usually credit for, and that they were by no means so rude a people as some have conceived.'-KITTO, Daily Bible Illustra tions, vol. ii. p. 306. But Keil considers that the survey did not consist of actual measurement, but was restricted principally to a list of the cities, and information respecting the peculiar characteristics of the different districts.

In entire contrast with the asyla of the Hebrews-which were not established with the design of saving the actual criminal from the punishment he deserved, but for the purpose of affording to those who had accidentally inflicted an injury the opportunity of obtaining a just verdict-those of Greeks, Romans, and Germans, stand prominently forward, since they enabled the criminal, who was amenable to the laws, to escape the sentence he justly merited.'-DAUN, quoted by KEIL on Joshua, xx. 3.

[Caleb had the fields of the city, and the villages thereof.' Josh. xxi. 12.]

Jordan, Reuben occupied the southern portion, to the north of which lay Gad, and, still further to the north, one half of the tribe of Manasseh. On the west of Jordan, Judah occupied, in the centre of the country, a large and valuable portion to the south, with Benjamin adjoining its northern border. Still further to the north lay the tribe of Ephraim, and then, in succession, the other half of Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, the latter reaching to the foot of mount Lebanon. On the coast of the Mediterranean lay Simeon on the south, above which was Dan, and still further to the north Asher.

6

This partition of the whole land is to be regarded, on the one hand, as a pledge that the Lord would certainly perform His promise, and drive out and destroy the Canaanites who yet remained, provided only that Israel did not forget either Him or His commandments. On the other hand, it furnished an occasion for exercising the Israelites in faith and fidelity towards God, the test of which was to be their actual proceeding to take possession of the inheritance assigned them by lot, and to exterminate the remaining inhabitants.' * It appears, however, that, as soon as the Israelites found themselves in possession of a portion of the country sufficient for their present Occupation, they became indifferent and careless as to the conquest of the remainder; being satisfied with the immediate supply of their own exigencies, without due regard to the declared will of God, and the glory of His name. For this remissness, and for their readiness in sparing the wicked inhabitants of the land, they were eventually made to suffer.

About this time a serious quarrel seemed likely to arise between the great body of the Israelites and the Trans-jordanic tribes. The military portion of these tribes, having thus far assisted in the conquest of Canaan for the other tribes, were now suffered to return home; and on their their way, before quitting the banks of the Jordan, they erected an altar in grateful commemoration of the mercies which they had received.† This act, however, was at first grievously misinterpreted by the other tribes, who suspected their brethren of a design to establish a separate place of worship, contrary to the provision of the Mosaic Law, and directly tending to a violation of the national and theocratic unity. A civil war seemed to be imminent; and a large assembly, of a threatening character, was convened at Shiloh. Here, however, it was wisely resolved to

*Keil on Joshua, xiii. 7.

It is usually supposed that this altar was erected after the recrossing of the Jordan, on its eastern bank. But Keil maintains, from a close examination of the sacred text, that it was erected on the western bank, before the passage. See Keil on Joshua, xxii. 10.

send across Jordan a deputation, with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest at its head; in answer to whose remonstrances all intention of national disunion or schismatical worship was utterly disclaimed, and the true design of the memorial altar was explained; and by this means harmony was restored.

Towards the close of his life, the latter years of which he had spent in tranquillity at his residence in Timnath-serah, Joshua convened two assemblies of the heads of the people, one, at some place not named (perhaps at Shiloh), in which he exhorted the Israelites in general terms to be faithful to their Divine King and His institutions, by the remembrance of His promises and threatenings; and the other at Shechem, in which he detailed the great benefits that had been wrought for them by the Almighty, and, receiving from them a solemn assurance that they would be faithful to the Lord, he caused the Divine covenant to be recapitulated and renewed; whereupon he set up a large stone as a standing memorial of this public and solemn transaction. Soon after, this illustrious servant of the Lord died (B. C. 1426) at the age of 110 years.* About the same time took place the death of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, leaving his son Phinehas as his successor in the office of high priest.

ELEMENTARY AND GENERAL QUESTIONS.

461. Who was appointed to succeed Moses, and to lead the Israelites into the promised land?

462. How may we regard Joshua as a type of Christ?

463. Relate the history of the spies whom Joshua sent to Jericho.

464. Describe the miraculous passage of the Jordan by the Israelites.

465. What place was chosen as the first head-quarters of the Israelites in Canaan ?

466. What events occurred soon after they had pitched their tents in this place? 467. Describe the capture of Jericho.

*The character of Joshua is not only one of the finest in Scripture history, but one of the most remarkable that the world ever saw. There is scarcely any other great conqueror, and certainly no other great Asiatic conqueror, like him, without personal ambition, without any desire of aggrandizement. His whole heart was in the highest degree patriotic, under a system which required patriotism to take the form of religious obedience. In the distant view, the personal and even public character of this man is overshadowed by the very greatness of the events and circumstances in which he is placed. The events are greater than the man, and engage the attention more; and hence individually he appears with less éclat, and attracts less attention, than an inferior man among events of less importance. This, when rightly viewed, is not a dishonour to him, but a glory; for it shows how accurately he measured, and how truly he understood, his right position. A lesser man, in all the attributes of true greatness, would have been seen and heard more; but it is the magnanimous character of real greatness to shroud the power it exercises. Littleness is more demonstrative; greatness is quiet in the calm repose of conscious strength and influence.'-KITTO, Daily Bible Illustrations, vol. ii. p. 315.

468. How was Ai situate with reference to Jericho?

469. Relate the circumstances attending the capture of Ai, including the history of Achan.

470. By what artifice did the Gibeonites persuade Joshua to make a league with them, and with what result to themselves?

471. What was the first combination of Canaanitish (Amorite or southern) princes against Joshua? Relate the history of its defeat, especially the miraculous prolongation of the day.

472. What was the second (northern) confederacy against Joshua? Where were the forces of the confederates defeated?

473. What took place in mounts Ebal and Gerizim, according to the injunctions of Moses?

474. Whither were the head-quarters of the Israelites transferred from Gilgal? 475. What place did Caleb choose as his portion?

476. Where did Joshua fix his residence?

477. Describe the relative position of the twelve tribes according to the allotment made by the survey of the country by Joshua.

478. What ground of quarrel arose between the Trans-jordanic tribes, and the other Israelites? how was the dispute terminated?

479. What were the last solemn acts of Joshua, as recorded in Scripture ?

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

480. Describe the situation of Jericho.

481. How do you understand the imprecation against the future builder of Jericho (Josh. vi. 26, with 1 Kings xvi. 34)?

482. Describe, generally, the features of Palestine, and the consequent natural divisions of the country.

483. State the situation of Gibeon. What is its modern name?

484. By what mode of warfare were the forces under Jabin distinguished?

485. Describe the lake of Merom.

485. Describe the situation of Shiloh. How long did the Ark-and the Tabernacle-remain there?

487. Give a sketch of the character of Joshua.

CHAPTER XXVI.

FROM JOSHUA TO GIDEON.

(Judges i. viii.; xvii.-xxi.; Ruth.)

MOSES had been raised up to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness; and Joshua had been appointed his successor to conduct them into Canaan. But the office which they filled was by no means designed to be permanent: in the theocratic constitution delivered at Sinai, none but the Lord is recognised as the head and leader of the people (see chap. xvi.); and we must regard Moses and Joshua as lieutenants or generals holding a temporary commission from the Divine Sovereign for the fulfilment of a special purpose.

*

Joshua died without appointing any successor; he contented himself with exhorting the people to be faithful to God, and true to the principles of the Divine institutions; and it appears that it was the design of their heavenly King, after having vouchsafed to them extraordinary assistance during their period of national infancy, and under circumstances of peculiar danger, now to leave them to the use of those ordinary provisions for counsel and strength which are included in the Mosaic institute, expecting to receive from them that faithful and loyal obedience to which they had been so solemnly and repeatedly pledged. The Lord held in His own hand the right and power to inflict upon His people national punishments for their national transgressions-punishments from the hands of their enemies, of the same kind as those which He had inflicted by their own hands upon the wicked and impenitent Canaanites; while, on the other hand, in order to mark His approbation of their dutiful obedience, He designed to visit them with peace, plenty, and all kinds of temporal prosperity. When chastisement should have effected its purpose, and the people should turn to Him with true repentance, then He would deliver them from their enemies, and remove His judgments whatever they might be; thus manifesting His Divine presence and government, at once to themselves and to the surrounding nations. Such was the state of discipline upon which the Israelites had now been called to enter; a state of discipline distinguished by the distribution of temporal reward and punishment to the Israelites as a nation, which might well have served to conduct the mind to the expectation of individual reward and punishment in the future world.†

The first symptom of national disobedience to the Divine will on the part of God's people after their establishment in Canaan was, as we have already seen (p. 171), their backwardness in prosecuting the prescribed war of extermination against

* Every tribe had its own hereditary chief or head, and subordinate officers; and their common faith formed the bond of union. The Israelites, therefore, formed a number of free states: probably the high priest presided, or ought to have presided, over a general assembly, or national diet. (Compare chap. xvi.) +An extraordinary providence, carrying along with it the most exact distribution of temporal reward and punishment, simply proves the truth and reality of a temporal sanction; but so far from being inconsistent with the belief of a future state of reward and punishment, it should rather have been regarded as the surest foundation and stepping-stone to such a belief. On this point Hengstenberg justly remarks: "Where this foundation (i. e. of a moral government on earth, a temporal recompense) is not laid, there the building of a faith in immortality is raised on sand, and must fall before the first blast. Whoever does not recognise the temporal recompense, must necessarily find in his heart a response to the scoff of Vanini at the revelation which promises, indeed, retributions for good and bad actions, but only in the life to come, lest the fraud should be discovered."-FAIRBAIRN, Typology of Scripture, part i. ch. vi.