Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Joshua
Book: Joshua
Chapter: 12
Overview:
The two
Kings conquered
By Moses.
(1-6) The
Kings whom
Joshua
smote.
(7-24)
1-6 Fresh mercies must not
Drown the remembrance of former
mercies, nor must the
Glory of the present instruments of good
to the
Church diminish the just honour of those who went before
them, since
God is the same who wrought
By both.
Moses gave to
one part of
Israel a very rich and fruitful country, but it was
On the outside of
Jordan.
Joshua gave to all
Israel the holy
land, within
Jordan.
So the
Law has given to some few of
God's
spiritual
Israel worldly blessings, the
Earnest of good things to
come; but our
Lord Jesus, the true
Joshua, provided for all the
children of promise spiritual blessings, and the heavenly
Canaan.
7-24 We have here the limits of the country
Joshua conquered. A
list is given of the
Kings subdued
By Israel: thirty-one in all.
This shows how fruitful
Canaan then was, in which
So many chose
to throng together. This was the land
God appointed for
Israel;
yet in our
Day it is one of the most
Barren and unprofitable
countries in the world. Such is the effect of the
Curse it lies
under, since its possessors rejected
Christ and his
Gospel, as
was foretold
By Moses, De 29:23. The vengeance of a righteous
God, inflicted
On all these
Kings and their subjects, for their
wickedness, should make us dread and hate
Sin. The fruitful land
bestowed
On his
Chosen people, should fill our hearts with
Hope
and confidence in his
Mercy, and with humble gratitude.