26 And Joshua sware, &c.) Therefore this consecration ought to prevail, not only for one day, but to admonish the posterity of all ages, that this City was overthrown by none other, but by God himself. Wherefore, he would have ruins and waste places in steed of a trophy to remain for a perpetual monument: because the new building would have been as a blot, to wipe out the memory of the miracle. Therefore, that the deformity of the place, might renew the memory of the power and grace of God unto the posterity, Joshua decreeth with a severe curse, that no man should build the City being once destroyed. And out of this place we gather, that the dullness of men hath need of many helps, least they bury the benefits of God in forgetfulness. Therefore, the sight of these ruins, in which the power of God was plainly seen, did as it were covertly reprove men for their unthankfulness. The sum of the curse is this, That if any did ever attempt to build up Jericho again, he should feel by unhappy and lamentable success, that it was a wicked and detestable work. For, to lay the foundation upon his eldest son, is as much, as to cast down his son, that being bruised and overwhelmed with a heap of stones, he might end his life miserably. So, to set up the gates upon his younger son, signifieth as much, as to take in hand that building, which should not be finished, but by the death of his son. So he is condemned in his offspring, which should run headlong into so great madness. Neither did Joshua pronounce this curse of his own head, but as he was a proclaimer of the vengeance of God. So much the more monstrous it is, that there was a man found among the people of God, whom this terrible adjuration, conceived in solemn words, could not refrain from such sacrilegious rashness. For in the time of Ahab, there arose up one Hiel a Citizen of Bethel, which was so bold to provoke GOD, as it 1were of set purpose in this matter. But the holy history doth testify likewise, that the curse was not in vain which God pronounced by the mouth of Joshua: for in Abiram his eldest son, he laid the foundation of new Jericho, and in Segub his younger son, he set up the gates of it: that in the destruction of his children he might acknowledge, what it is to attempt any thing against the will of God and his determination.
26 And Iosue sware, &c.) Therefore this consecration ought to preuaile, not onely for one day, but to admonishe the posteritie of all ages, that this Citie was ouerthrowne by none other, but by God himselfe. Wherefore, he would haue ruines and waste places in steed of a tropheie to remaine for a perpetuall monument: because the new building woulde haue bene as a blotte, to wipe out the memorie of the miracle. Therefore, that the deformitie of the place, might renew the memorie of the power and grace of God vnto the posteritie, Iosue decreeth with a seuere curse, that no man shoulde builde the Citie being once destroyed. And out of this place we gather, that the dullnesse of men hath neede of many helpes, least they burie the benefites of God in forgetfulnesse. Therefore, the sight of these ruines, in which the power of God was plainely seene, did as it were couertly reproue men for their vnthankefulnesse. The summe of the curse is this, That if any did euer attempt to builde vp Iericho againe, he should feele by vnhappie and lamentable successe, that it was a wicked and detestable worke. For, to lay the foundation vppon his eldest sonne, is as much, as to cast downe his sonne, that being brused and ouerwhelmed with a heape of stones, he might end his life miserably. So, to set vp the gates vpon his younger sonne, signifieth as much, as to take in hande that building, which should not be finished, but by the death of his sonne. So he is condemned in his ofspring, which should runne headlong into so great madnesse. Neither did Iosue pronounce this curse of his owne head, but as he was a proclamer of the vengeance of God. So muche the more monstruous it is, that there was a man founde among the people of God, whom this terrible adiuration, conceiued in solemne woordes, could not refraine from suche sacrilegious rashnesse. For in the time of Achab, there arose vp one Hiel a Citizen of Bethel, which was so bolde to prouoke GOD, as it 1were of set purpose in this matter. But the holy historie doth testifie likewise, that the curse was not in vaine which God pronounced by the mouth of Iosue: for in Abiram his eldest sonne, he laide the foundation of new Iericho, and in Segub his younger sonne, he set vp the gates of it: that in the destruction of his children he might acknowledge, what it is to attempt any thing against the will of God and his determination.
- 11. Reg. 1•.
