Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Joshua
Book: Joshua
Chapter: 11
Overview:
Divers
Kings overcome at the waters of
Merom.
(1-9) Hazor is
taken and burned.
(10-14) All that country subdued, The Anakims
cut off.
(15-23)
1-9 The wonders
God wrought for the Israelites were to
encourage them to act vigorously themselves. Thus the
War
against
Satan's kingdom, carried
On By preaching the
Gospel, was
at first forwarded
By miracles; but being fully proved to be of
God, we are now left to the Divine
Grace in the usual course, in
the use of the
Sword of the
Spirit.
God encouraged
Joshua. Fresh
dangers and difficulties make it necessary to seek fresh
supports from the
Word of God, which we have nigh unto us for
use in every time of need.
God proportions our trials to our
strength, and our strength to our trials.
Joshua's obedience in
destroying the horses and chariots, shows his self-denial in
compliance with
God's command. The possession of things
On which
the
Carnal Heart is prone to depend, is hurtful to the
Life of
Faith, and the walk with
God; therefore it is better to be
without worldly advantages, than to have the soul endangered
By
them.
10-14 The
Canaanites filled up the
Measure of their iniquity,
and were, as a
Judgment, left to the pride, obstinacy, and
Enmity of their hearts, and to the power of
Satan; all
restraints being withdrawn, while the dispensations of
Providence tended to drive them to despair. They brought
On
themselves the vengeance they justly merited, of which the
Israelites were to be executioners,
By the command the
Lord gave
to
Moses.
15-23 Never let the sons of
Anak be a terror to the
Israel of
God, for their
Day to fall will come. The land rested from
War.
It ended not in a peace with the
Canaanites, that was forbidden,
but in a peace from them. There is a
Rest, a
Rest from
War,
remaining for the people of
God, into which they shall enter,
when their warfare is accomplished. That which was now done, is
compared with what had been said to
Moses.
God's
Word and his
Works, if viewed together, will be found mutually to set each
other forth. If we make
Conscience of our duty, we need not
question the performance of the promise. But the believer must
never
Put off his
Armour, or expect lasting peace, till he
closes his eyes in
Death; nay, as his strength and usefulness
increase, he may expect more heavy trials; yet the
Lord will not
permit any enemies to assault the believer till he has prepared
him for the battle.
Christ Jesus ever lives to plead for his
people, and their
Faith shall not fail, however
Satan may be
permitted to assault them. And however tedious, sharp, and
difficult the believer's warfare, his patience in
Tribulation
may be encouraged
By the joyfulness of
Hope; for he will, ere
long,
Rest from
Sin and from sorrow in the
Canaan above.