he two kings conquered by Moses. (1-6) The kings whom Joshua
smote. (7-24)
Verses 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, earnests 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.
Verses 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.
he two kings conquered by Moses. (1-6) The kings whom Joshua
smote. (7-24)