THE

HISTORY OF JOSHUA:

VIEWED IN

CONNECTION WITH THE TOPOGRAPHY OF CANAAN

AND THE CUSTOMS OF THE TIMES IN

WHICH HE LIVED

BY THE

REV. THORNLEY SMITH

AUTHOR OF ‘THE HISTORY OF MOSES,’ ETC.

THIRD EDITION

NEW YORK:

THOMAS NELSON AND SONS

42 BLEECKER STREET

1875

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

Since the publication of the First Edition of this work, several attacks have been made on some of the Historical Books of the Old Testament, and especially on the Pentateuch and the Books of Joshua. But these books have stood the test, and it may be safely affirmed that they rest upon as firm a basis as ever, and one from which future criticism will not remove them. In the Keil and Delitzsch series of translations, published by the Messrs. Clark, another Commentary on Joshua has appeared, similar in character to the larger work to which frequent reference is made in these pages. The writer says: “Even if the Book of Joshua was not composed till some time after the events recorded (and the authorship cannot be determined with certainty), this does not affect its historico-prophetic character, for both the contents and form of the book show it to be an independent and simple work, composed with historical fidelity, and a work which is as thoroughly pervaded with the spirit of the Old Testament revelation as the Pentateuch itself.” On the standing still of the sun, the writer makes no reference to Keil’s interpretation in the larger work, but speaks of it as an optical stoppage of the sun, or rather a continuance of the visibility of the sun above the horizon, by celestial phenomena which are altogether unknown to us, or to naturalists in general. I confess, however, that I still lean to the view given in this volume; nor do I see any reason for alteration in other particulars of importance. The work is re-issued with the hope that it will still commend itself to the judgment of careful readers of the word of God, and be found a help in the study of this portion of inspired Scripture.

T. S.

October 28, 1869.

PREFACE

A History of Joshua must necessarily differ in many respects from a Commentary on the Book of Joshua. It will be seen, however, that this volume comprises such explanations of each chapter of that book as to render it almost as valuable as a commentary, and to the general reader it will perhaps be more attractive in this form than it would have been in another. The utmost care has been bestowed on its preparation, and all available helps have been made use of; yet it has not been written amidst learned leisure, but amidst numerous ministerial duties, often in hours stolen from recreation and rest.

Our language contains but few works on the subject. The Commentaries of Calvin and of Keil, which have been translated into it, and the Notes of Bush, an American writer, are the principal. It cannot, then, be said that such a work as this is uncalled for; the only question will be, whether it supplies the desideratum felt.

Among the old folios of the seventeenth ...