Josué 5

Josué 5

Spurgeon - “They did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.” —Joshua 5:12 Israel’s weary wanderings were all over, and the promised rest was attained. No more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses: they came to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate the old corn of the land. Perhaps this year, beloved Christian reader, this may be thy case or mine. Joyful is the prospect, and if faith be in active exercise, it will yield unalloyed delight. To be with Jesus in the rest which remaineth for the people of God, is a cheering hope indeed, and to expect this glory so soon is a double bliss. Unbelief shudders at the Jordan which still rolls between us and the goodly land, but let us rest assured that we have already experienced more ills than death at its worst can cause us. Let us banish every fearful thought, and rejoice with exceeding great joy, in the prospect that this year we shall begin to be “for ever with the Lord.” A part of the host will this year tarry on earth, to do service for their Lord. If this should fall to our lot, there is no reason why the New Year’s text should not still be true. “We who have believed do enter into rest.” The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance; he gives us “glory begun below.” In heaven they are secure, and so are we preserve in Christ Jesus; there they triumph over their enemies, and we have victories too. Celestial spirits enjoy communion with their Lord, and this is not denied to us; they rest in his love, and we have perfect peace in him: they hymn his praise, and it is our privilege to bless him too. We will this year gather celestial fruits on earthly ground, where faith and hope have made the desert like the garden of the Lord. Man did eat angels’ food of old, and why not now? O for grace to feed on Jesus, and so to eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan this year! George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 5 12. And the manna ceased on the morrow. Because it was now no longer necessary. God would not have us expect extraordinary or miraculous supplies when they may be procured by ordinary means. The sudden cessation of the manna would teach the people also very impressively that it was not an ordinary production of nature, that it had not fallen for so long a time by chance, or, like the dew, in consequence of fixed laws, but that it was a special and preternatural gift of the Divine goodness. We are prone to look upon our common mercies as matters of course, and God sometimes withdraws them to teach us our dependence more effectually.—‘The word and ordinances of God are spiritual manna, with which God nourishes his people in this wilderness, but when we come to the heavenly Canaan, this manna will cease, for we shall then no longer have need of it.’ Henry. Joshua 5:13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" he lifted: Ge 33:1,5 Da 8:3 10:5 a man: Jos 6:2 Ge 18:2 32:24-30 Ex 23:23 Jud 13:8,9,11,22 Da 10:5 Ho 12:3-5 Zec 1:8 Ac 1:10 Rev 1:13 his sword: Nu 22:23 1Ch 21:16,17,27,30 Are you for us: 1Ch 12:17,18 Joshua 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JOSHUA ENCOUNTERS A MAN WITH DRAWN SWORD Irving Jensen sets the stage fro this dramatic supernatural encounter - As Joshua was looking in the direction of the fortress of Jericho, he thought of one thing, his responsibility in the battle. In mind’s eye he envisioned the two foes, Canaanites and Israelites, in mortal combat, and though he had already been given assurances of victory, he could not avoid wondering about the outcome as he compared the military strength of both. The closer the hour of actual combat, the more he felt that this was his war. At such a critical moment he saw ahead of him a man holding a drawn sword. The drawn sword told Joshua that whatever the man was up to, or had to say, concerned battle. Donald Campbell - God had just brought the Israelites through three events: the rite of circumcision, the celebration of the Passover, and eating the produce of Canaan. All of these were for Israel’s edification. Next came an experience for Joshua alone. It too was extremely meaningful and would shortly be shared with the people. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament or Here) Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked - Joshua's eyes seem to have been directed downward, fixed on the ground as is the case with many who are heavy burdened with cares of pending or actual warfare. Campbell comments that "since no divine message of instruction had yet come to Joshua (as before the crossing of the Jordan), he went out to reconnoiter the seemingly impregnable city. Was Joshua perplexed as he viewed the secure walls of Jericho? The spies reported at Kadesh Barnea that the cities of Canaan were “large, with walls up to the sky” (Deut. 1:28). Despite Joshua’s long military experience he had never led an attack on a fortified city that was prepared for a long siege. In fact, of all the walled cities in Palestine, Jericho was probably the most invincible. There was also the question of armaments. Israel’s army had no siege engines, no battering rams, no catapults, and no moving towers. Their only weapons were slings, arrows, and spears—which were like straws against the walls of Jericho. Joshua knew the battle of Jericho must be won because, now that they had crossed the Jordan, Israel’s troops had no place to which they could retreat. Further, they could not bypass the city because that would leave their women, children, goods, and cattle at Gilgal exposed to certain destruction. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament or Here) And behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries? - Joshua was undoubtedly startled by the appearance of this man with drawn sword and asked in essence "Who goes there—friend or foe?” And yet Joshua goes toward him, which is a manifestation of being his "strong and courageous." Campbell comments on the stranger "If He were a friend, an Israelite, He was off limits and had some explaining to do. Especially was this true since Joshua had given no command for anyone to draw a sword! If the Stranger were an enemy, Joshua was ready to fight!" (The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament or Here) NET Note - The verb הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) invites the reader to view the scene through Joshua’s eyes. By calling the stranger “a man,” the author reflects Joshua’s perspective. The text shortly reveals his true identity (vv. 14–15). Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" J Vernon McGee sees that as "the call and commission of Joshua. It is the same as Moses’ call on the plain of Midian at the burning bush.:.Joshua learned that GHQ was not in his tent after all. It was at the throne of God. God was leading them. Actually, he was not captain of the hosts of the Lord; he was under Someone else. And he would be taking orders from Him. We shall be seeing this in the next chapter as he marches the army around the city of Jericho for seven straight days. If you had stopped Joshua on the sixth day and said, “Look, General Joshua, this is a silly thing to be doing,” he probably would have said, “That’s exactly what I think.” “Then why are you doing it? You are in command here.” Joshua would say, “You are wrong. I take my orders from Someone above me. I am only a buck private in the rear ranks. I am doing this because I have been commanded to do it.” (Joshua 5) Mt