Joshua 5:1

EXPOSITION

THE CIRCUMCISION .—

Which were on the side of Jordan westward. A large portion of the territory of the Amorites had, as we have seen ( Joshua 3:10 ), been already conquered. The remaining tribes on the other side Jordan were apprehensive of the same fate. For "on the side," the original has "across." Having hitherto written of Israel as on the eastern side of Jordan, he continues the same expression after he has narrated the crossing. But writing as he did on the west side of Jordan, and for readers the vast majority of whom were on the west side of Jordan, he adds the expression "westward" (literally, seaward ) to prevent any possibility of mistake. Until we were passed over. The Masorites, in the Keri, have corrected the text ( Chethibh ) into "until they were passed over." Kennicott states that this reading is confirmed by twenty-seven Hebrew MSS ; which have probably adopted the reading from the Masoretic correction. The LXX . accepts the Chethibh. The probability, however, is that this is one of the many instances of a conjectural emendation of a difficult passage, it not having been seen that the historian was either quoting a document contemporary with the events described, or more probably using the word to identify himself as an Israelite with the acts of his fathers in past times. This is the opinion of Rabbi David Kimchi. Knobel refers to Psalms 66:6 . See also Psalms 66:6 of this chapter, and Joshua 24:5 , Joshua 24:6 , Joshua 24:7 ; 11:17 ; cf. 19. We must not, then, assume from this passage that the Book of Joshua was written by one who himself had a share in the events recorded, in the face of many indications we have of a later origin (see Joshua 4:9 , etc). A fuller discussion of this subject will be found in the introduction. Their heart melted. Confirming what Rahab had said ( Joshua 2:11 ). Similar terror has often been struck into the hearts of peoples, especially of peoples enervated by habits of licentious indulgence, by the approach of enemies who have successfully and rapidly overcome obstacles deemed insurmountable. Such an effect was produced in Persia by Alexander's victories at the Granicus and Issus. Such an effect, again, was produced in Italy by the tidings of the approach of Alaric and Attila. If we may trust the monk of St. Gall, a similar terror fell on the degenerate Lombards at the approach of Charles the Great, after his daring passage of the Alps. In this case the miraculous element was added, and the inhabitants of Canaan, and of Jericho especially, remained for the time panic stricken, not daring to combine to strike a blow against these daring invaders, who in addition to their bravery seemed under the special protection of Heaven. When they had recovered from the consternation into which the passage of the Jordan had thrown them, the sense of an imminent danger forced them at last to make an effort at resistance (see Joshua 10:1-43 ).