give utterance to the fearful torments of hell? Weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth; everlasting fire; everlasting burnings; the smoke of their torment ascending up for ever and ever! Oh, how fearful! how tremendous! how dreadful! Yet such will be the doom of the wicked hereafter. Unspeakably blessed as the righteous will be in heaven; so, equally miserable will the wicked be in hell! And, as it was in the case of these Canaanites; so will it be in regard to all that perish. The enmity and hatred of their hearts against the holiness and authority of God, are some of the means by which they are hardened to their ruin, and which will torment them hereafter for ever!

But let us note the conclusion. It is expressly said, that Joshua "took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had said unto Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel, according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war" (v. 23). Observe this; for it is a point of main importance. The whole land was taken; the whole land was divided. There was no more war; because there were no more foes. Thus God fulfilled his word as he had spoken. Thus, in like manner, I will the Lord fulfil his word in the truth of the gospel, as he hath said. The whole land is your's. The whole salvation of Christ, in grace and glory, is the believer's happy portion for ever. All your enemies will be destroyed; all your sins will be taken away; all your wants will be supplied; all your fears shall be removed. The glory prepared above is laid up for all those who overcome by the blood of the Lamb. (Rev. xii. 11.)

the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;

3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and from 'the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah :

4 ¶ And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,

5 And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

6 Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

7 ¶ And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;

8 In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:

9 The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Beth-el, one;

10 The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;

11 The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;

Gezer, one; 12 The king of Eglon, one; the king of

13 The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;

14 The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

15 The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;

16 The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Beth-el, one;

17 The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;

18 The king of Aphek, one; the king of 3 Lasharon, one;

19 The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;

20 The king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;

21 The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;

In this chapter we have an account of the number of kings which were conquered by Moses and Joshua; by Moses, before his death, and by Joshua, after he succeeded to the command of the people. Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og the king of Bashan, were conquered by Moses; and their lands were given to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for a possession. Joshua's conquests were much more extensive. One and thirty kings are here enumerated as having been overcome by him; and all their lands were given to the other tribes for their possession.

When God works, much may be done in a little time. The space in which all these victories were gained, was very small: the thing was soon done, because the Lord did it. Now, you may here learn a seasonable truth. It is no proof that God's purposes will not be fulfilled, because you do not see them soon brought to pass. Years may elapse, but there is no delay; the Lord only waits the appointed time, and when that comes, his will is done. How long were Israel in Egypt before their deliverance took place! Yet, when the predicted time came, they were all brought forth. (Ex. xii. 41.) How

count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" and live. (2 Peter iii. 9.) Let all, then, be assured, that the Lord's word, both of mercy to his people, and of judgment upon his enemies, will surely come to pass. God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent: what he hath said he will do; what he hath promised he will perform. (Num. xxiii. 19.)

In the last place, from this enumeration of the kings which had been overcome by Joshua and Moses, we may learn, that, in a Christian sense, every child of God should endeavour to be able to declare what the Lord hath done for his soul; what mercies he hath received; what deliverances he hath experienced; what support he hath found; what answers to prayer he has had; in short, what pardon, life, peace, and salvation, he has obtained in Christ for his needy soul. So speaks the apostle Peter. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. (1 Peter iii. 15.) This honoureth the Lord, confirms your own faith, and gives glory and praise to his blessed name.

CHAPTER XIII.

1 The bounds of the land not yet conquered. 8 The inheritance of the two tribes and half. 14, 33 The Lord and his sacrifices are the inheritance of Levi. 15 The bounds of the inheritance of Reuben. 22 Balaam slain. 24 The bounds of the inheritance of Gad, 29 and of the half tribe of Manasseh.

mised, before he actually appeared! "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Gal. iv. 4,5.) In either case, properly speaking, there was no delay. So with regard to the day of judgment; because it is not yet come, many wicked men think it never will come. Their language is, "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Peter iii. 4.) But the Lord "is not slack concerning his promise, as some men

years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land 'to be possessed.

2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,

3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:

4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and 'Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:

5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baal

gad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

6 All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephoth-maim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.

7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

8 With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;

9 From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;

10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;

11 And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;

12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.

13 Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.

14 Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.

15 ¶ And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.

16 And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;

17 Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and 'Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon,

18 And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath.

19 And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-shahar in the mount of the valley.

20 And Beth-peor, and Ashdoth-pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth,

21 And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba,

which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.

22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

23 And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.

24 And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.

25 And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;

26 And from Heshbon unto Ramath-mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;

27 And in the valley, Beth-aram, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.

28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.

29 ¶ And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families.

30 And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities:

31 And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.

32 These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.

33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

age, which, if attended to, will always tell us where we are in the course of time: there are weaknesses and infirmities peculiar to the aged, of which youth knows little or nothing; till the young become old, and then they begin to feel what others have felt before them. Let us pause, and learn wisdom.

How soon does the life of man pass away! A few years, and we are gone! Like the grass of the field, "in the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up: in the evening it is cut down, and withereth." (Ps. xc. 6.) Shall we not be wise? Will you not learn true wisdom? Are you young? Ah, remember youth is but a fading flower. How many young persons come to an early grave! Oh, seek the Lord in your early days. Remember your Creator, your Redeemer, your Sanctifier, in the days of your youth, before the evil days come. (Eccles. xii. 1.) Are you in the prime of life? Let not the strong man glory in his strength, nor the healthy man glory in his health. How many are cut down in the prime of life: their days end, their purposes are broken, and they are seen no more. Ah, think of this! Many a strong man lies in the grave; many a once healthy man is now food for worms. Oh, "seek the Lord while he may be found: call ye upon him while he is near." (Is. lv. 6.) Are you more advanced in life? Like Joshua, are you old and stricken in years ? Are you

days, divide this land among the several tribes as the Lord directed. There never can be a time when you have nothing to do: a Christian's life must be active to the last. Idleness in all persons is sinful; but in a Christian it is most of all unbecoming. Mind this; you have always something to do. Ask you what? You have sin to flee from, blessings to pray for, enemies to resist, the flesh to crucify, the world to overcome, the Saviour to cleave to, the Spirit to walk in, the prize to press after, the crown to keep in view. You have friends to admonish, souls to warn, neighbours to edify, the gospel to spread, the cause of Christ to further, and a thousand other things daily to attend to as followers of the Lamb; and, the shorter the time is, the louder is the call for diligence and action. Who, then, can say, I have nothing to do? Even in heaven itself, activity in the service of God will be the unceasing employment and delight of the glorified saints for ever and ever. Where, then, we repeat the question, is he who can say, I have nothing to do? O Lord! may all our time be employed in thy service; and may all our powers be devoted to thy glory!

CHAPTER XIV.

1 The nine tribes and a half are to have their inheritance by lot. 6 Caleb by privilege obtaineth Hebron.

on to your last end? Remember, that end cannot be very far distant; at all events, it must soon come. Are you, then, prepared? Are you ready? Is your heart changed? Are your sins pardoned? Have you peace with God? Have you a good hope, through grace, that, when you die you shall depart in peace a happy monument of the Lord's grace, and a happy recipient of his salvation? Look to these things in time; do not put them off to a future day; a dying bed is but a poor place to begin to seek those blessings which ought to be the great object of your desire and pursuit all your life through.

But, although Joshua was old and stricken in years, God had more work for him yet to do, before he died, for the good of the people. The land was conquered, but not possessed: he must now, therefore, in his last

of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.

2 By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.

3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.

4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

5 As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

6 Then the children of Judah came unto

Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea.

7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel 1wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

(1) Heb. walked.

SOME things are stated in this chapter about the inheritance of the tribes which were yet unprovided; but the chief circumstance relates to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. This man was one of those who were sent by Moses in the first instance to spy out the land; and when his companions gave an evil report of it, which led the people to murmur and rebel, he and Joshua were the only persons who told the truth, and endeavoured to still the tumult. It is said, there was

"another spirit" in him, and that he followed the Lord fully: on that account the Lord promised, that he and Joshua, of all that congregation, which came up out of Egypt, should alone see that good land. The rebellious multitude were to wander and die in the wilderness, and their children should possess the promised inheritance. (Numb. xiv. 6-35.) That promise had been fulfilled: all those evil men were dead, with the exception of the two specified. Joshua led the people into the land, and was now actually dividing it among the several tribes: and here was Caleb coming forward to confess the Lord's goodness, and to ask for his inheritance among the Israel of God (v. 6-15).

How delightful is the spirit of this holy man! How evident is it that he possessed a true faith in the Lord God of Israel! It was as if he had said, I was one of those who were at that time sent forth; I well remember what the Lord said on that occasion: I have never lost sight of his word. Forty years old was I then; eighty-five years old am I now. These forty and five years hath the Lord kept me alive, as he spake unto me. As I was in the day that Moses sent me, so strong am I now for war, and to go out and to come in. Give me, then, this mountain which the Lord promised; and, if so be that the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive out the people that are there, as the Lord hath said. Such was the spirit of Caleb on this interesting occasion; and how was it met by Joshua? He blessed him in the name of the Lord, and gave him the portion which the Lord assigned him, "because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel" (v. 14).

Are

What an honourable testimony to this man's faith and devotedness to God! you like him? Amidst the general prevalence of vice and ungodliness, of unbelief and distrust, around you, is there "another spirit" in you? When others are turning aside, or going back, do you wholly follow the Lord your God? Do you follow him as Caleb did? Are you neither deterred by danger, nor shaken by fear? Can you testify the Lord's goodness, as he did? Can you witness his truth and faithfulness after his example? This man's strength wasted not by time; and his faith was as strong and