Commentary on the book of Joshua

“Interpretation of the Book of Joshua” (20 questions) is part of the essay “Questions on the Octateuch”, which Bl. Theodoret of Cyrus dedicated it to his “beloved son Hypatius,” the chorebishop. The work was written after 453 and is compiled in the form of questions and answers. Basically, only difficult passages of Scripture are explained. In particular, blzh. Theodoret writes about the appearance of the Archangel Michael to Joshua and the reason for the curse of Jericho, answers the question why the foreigner Rahab lived among the sons of Israel, etc. Question 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 “And it came to pass after the end of Moses, the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, saying: Moses my servant has passed away: now thou hast arisen, thou hast gone over Jordan, and all this people into the land which I have given unto them” (Joshua 1:1-2). The all-wise Paul taught us that the Old Testament was a type of the New. For he says: “All these images were received in silence; they were written for our teaching; in them the ends of the ages came” (1 Cor. 10:11). And in the letter to the Galatians he said this: “It is written, that Abraham had two sons: one by a bondwoman, and the other by a freeman. But some were born of a slave according to the flesh, and some were born of a free woman according to a promise. Even the essence is allegorical: this is for there are two covenants,” etc. (Gal. 4:22–24). The Apostle wrote this, not sweeping away history, but applying the image to the truth itself, Abraham to God, his wives to the two covenants, and his sons to the two nations. So here too, by Moses we must understand the law, and by Jesus the Savior named after him. And that the law is also called Moses, we have already proven this by presenting the evidence of Scripture. For it is said: “They have Moses and the prophets” (Luke. 16, 29); and: “even to this day, while Moses is always revered, a veil lies over their hearts” (2 Cor. 3:15). Therefore, as in history, when Moses died, Jesus led the people into the promised land; Thus, after the end of the law, Jesus, who appeared to us, opened the kingdom of heaven to pious people. For it is said: “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom. 10:4). The law and the prophets before John prophesied. “From the days of John ... the kingdom of heaven has been in need, and the needy have taken it away” (Matthew 11:12). Question 1. How is it fitting for our Lord Jesus Christ to serve? The writer said about Joshua: the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses (Joshua 1:1) And the Apostle, as we hear, says: I say, Christ Jesus, the servant of the former circumcision according to the truth of God, “to establish the promises of the fathers” (Rom. 15:8); and again: “When the end of the year had come, God sent His Son, begotten of a woman, to be under the law, that He might redeem those under the law, that we might receive sonship” (Gal. 4:4-5). Therefore Christ Jesus is called both one who was under the law, and also a minister of circumcision. So He said to the Jews: “If they believed quickly in Moses, they also believed in Me: for that is written about Me” (John 5:46). And the Jews said to Joshua: “We all listened to Moses, but we will listen to you” (Joshua 1:17). Question 2. Why did God, having promised to give the Jews every place where they would walk with the soles of their feet, and the desert, and Anti-Lebanon, even to the great river Euphrates (Joshua 1:3-4), did not fulfill this promise? What is said here is clear and does not require further explanation. Firstly, it is said: Every place where you pass with the sole of your feet, I will give it to you. Therefore, probably, under the leadership of Joshua, they did not enter another land. But adding speech completely solves the issue. For the Lord added: “As the words were spoken to Moses” (Joshua 1:3); He gave Moses a promise not without limitation, but under the condition: if you keep My commandments and My justifications (Deut. 11:22–24). Therefore, the Jews, as those who soon transgressed the law, did not receive the perfect promise. The Divine Apostles took possession not only of those places that they passed, but also by those where their all-wise writings were read, and the ancient desert was turned into the paradise of God. About this desert the Prophet Isaiah said: “Rejoice, thirsty desert” (Is. 35, 1), “rejoice in the desert, and rejoice in it” (Is. 42, 11). into watery meadows, and a thirsty land into streams” (Isa. 41:18). The Prophet also said about this desert that it would be like Carmel (Isa. 32:5). The preachers of truth also inherited Anti-Lebanon; by his name is meant the salvation of the pagans; because Jerusalem is called Lebanon. It is said: “the great-winged eagle, ... who commanded to come into Lebanon, ... the fortress ... the softness ... of the cedar” and the cypress (Ezek. 17: 3–4). And the Prophet called Babylon the eagle, Jerusalem the Lebanon, and the soft cedar and cypress the king and princes. Our Jesus sent these preachers of the truth not only as spies, but also as leaders. Just as the spies sent by Joshua saved the believing harlot, giving her “scarlet rope” as a sign of salvation (Joshua 2:18), so the Apostles of our Savior distracted the ancient harlot, a church devoted to various idols, from her former lewdness, and vouchsafed eternal blessings, not using the scarlet rope as a sign, but giving her salvation is through the all-holy blood. Therefore, let no one think that Rahab is unworthy to be a type of the Church, but let him hear what the Apostle says: “For sometimes we are foolish, disobedient, seduced, working with lusts and various pleasures, living in malice and envy, being scoundrels, and hating one another” (Tit. 3, 3); and again: “But then, if you do not know God, you do not serve as God by nature” (Gal. 4:8); and in another place: “For sometimes there was darkness, but now there is light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8). And in another place, having said: “Do not flatter yourself: neither the harlot, nor the idolater, nor the adulterers, nor the wicked, nor the homosexuals, nor the covetous, nor the thieves, nor the drunkards, nor the molesters, nor the predators will inherit the kingdom of God, he added later: You will be justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:9-11). So Rahab was formerly a harlot, but she accepted the spies with faith; and when the king ordered them to be handed over, she did not agree to this, but hid them, because she believed in the God of the Jews. Her faith is shown by the words when she says: “We know that the Lord God gave you the land: for your fear will attack us. ... For we have heard that the Lord God dried up the Red Sea before you, when you came out of Egypt, and made the two kings of the Amorites, who were upon it the land of Jordan, Zion and Og, who desired them; "Heaven is grief and valley is on earth" (Joshua 2:9-11). So true is the word that the Lord God spoke about Pharaoh: “For this purpose I have raised you up, so that by you I will show My power, and that My name may be proclaimed throughout all the earth” (Rom. 9:17). Through the very thing that befell Pharaoh, the God of the Hebrews became known to everyone. And the conditions of the spies are very consistent with the truth being represented. They said: “Whoever goes out of the door of your house will be guilty of himself, but we are innocent” of this word of yours (Joshua 2:19). And salvation is taught to us by the Church; and whoever is outside the Church will not accept eternal life. And everything else in this story prescribes the truth. When the Jews were preparing to cross the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Jesus: “This day I begin to exalt you before the children of Israel” (Joshua 3:7). This also happened with the typified truth. Just as it became known about Joshua from the miracle on the Jordan that he was a God-loving man, so our Jesus, after the Jordan and the baptism of John, laid the foundation for teaching and miracles. But perhaps it will seem incongruous to others to apply what was said to our Lord and Savior: on this day I begin to exalt you. But let them hear what He says to the Father: “Father, ... glorify Me ... with the glory that I had with You, before the world was not” (John 17:5). And the Apostle says: “With the same God has exalted Him, and given Him a name that is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). But, being exalted, He did not accept anything that He did not have, but only revealed that He had. They did not know about Him that He is the Son of the God of all, and it was revealed that He is the Son, when the Father said at the Jordan: “This is My beloved son, in Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Therefore, just as the priests carrying arks first entered the Jordan, and then the people began to cross with the Prophet and leader Jesus, so after John began to baptize and Jesus the Savior sanctified the nature of the waters: through all-holy baptism, all the pious enter the heavenly kingdom. Also, “twelve men” and the same number of stones (Joshua 4:2–3) prefigured the divine face of the Apostles; because they are both stewards and foundations. It is said: “An apostle and a prophet were built upon the foundation” (Eph. 2:20). And the same Apostle also said: “For the Architect is wise and laid the foundation” (1 Cor. 3:10). The word “thickening” (Joshua 3:16) Symmachus translated: leather fur; because the water, restrained in its striving, seemed to swell and rise, and the limit set by the Creator held it stronger than any adamantine wall. The crossing of the Jordan was completed before Easter; because, having crossed it on the tenth day (Joshua 4:19), they celebrated the Easter holiday on the fourteenth day. So in the prefigured truth of saving baptism there is the communion of the immaculate Lamb. Question 3. How should we understand what is said: the second circumcision of the sons of Israel (Joshua 5:2-3)? This word most of all prescribes the truth; because the preachers of the Gospel brought spiritual circumcision to those who received the circumcision of Moses. Believe, they said, “and be baptized every one of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ... and you will receive... the promise... of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The divine Apostle called this circumcision “not made by hands” (Col. 2:11). And in another place he says: “circumcision of the heart is by the Spirit, not by Scripture” (Rom. 2:29). Therefore, those of the Jews who believed in the Savior, having the circumcision of Moses, also received spiritual circumcision. Therefore, in the word: the second, the truth is typified: for twice circumcision of the flesh is impossible. The simple literal meaning shows that just as God gave this law to Abraham in the beginning; So he commanded Jesus a second time to circumcise those who were still uncircumcised. But the Jews are worthy of tears, because they cannot understand that those who were circumcised were subjected to various punishments and destroyed, while the uncircumcised were saved, the fathers perished, and the children received the promise. So we, being children, accept the kingdom of heaven; and the Jews, who are our fathers, have been deprived of eternal blessings, and have been denied kinship with the Patriarchs. Therefore, they should have learned from this that circumcision is not always necessary. For the Lord God, foretelling the time of his exile, commanded Abraham to be circumcised, but did not demand the keeping of this law from those who were freed from Egyptian slavery and lived in the desert, and did not punish them for violating it; because, living separately and free from mixing with foreign peoples, they had no need for this sign. But when God finally brought them into the Promised Land, then he commanded them to be circumcised so that mixing with foreigners would not damage their piety. For if someone happened to fall into deception, it was not difficult to see this sign and return it to the flock, because branded sheep, even if they are lost, are soon found. Question 4. Why did God command the Jews to be circumcised with stone knives (Joshua 5:2)? There was a great multitude of those being circumcised, and the circumcision had to be done quickly in order to celebrate the Passover. Therefore, it is likely that the people who lived for so long in the desert did not have many knives made of iron. Moreover, stone knives represent our circumcision; because the Lord Christ is a stone. It is said: “I piyahu from the spiritual stone that follows: the stone is Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4). It is also called a sword. It is said: “The Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12). And His saving teaching produces spiritual circumcision in us. Moreover, history shows that many of those born in Egypt were not circumcised: because their parents were probably afraid to circumcise them due to the killing of Jewish babies, yet, one might say, those born in the desert, with the exception of perhaps a few, remained uncircumcised. The place of circumcision is called Gilgalah, which means freedom. Then the God of all things said: “Today I have taken away the reproach of Egypt from you” (Joshua 5:9). And these words mean liberation from Egyptian slavery and wickedness and entry into possession of the promised land. But we also learn from this that he who has been worthy of all-holy baptism and has received spiritual circumcision lays aside the reproach of sin. Question 5. Who should be understood by the Archangel of the powers of the Lord (Joshua 5:14)? Some say that God the Word appeared to Jesus; and I think it was Archangel Michael. For when the Jews sinned, the God of all things spoke to Moses: “I myself will not go with you, for a stiff-necked people are... but... I will send my angel before you” ahead of you (Ex. 33:2-3). This Angel, I think, now appeared to Jesus to encourage him and foretell God’s help to him. Question 6. Why did the Archangel use the words spoken by God? - For he says: cut off the boot of your foot, for the place on which you stand is holy (Joshua 5:15) Because the God of all said to Jesus: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you” (Joshua 1:5). For this reason, what Moses heard, Jesus also hears, so that he may become fearless, as having received the same dignity. Question 7. Why did God command the city of Jericho to be cursed (Joshua 6:16)? This was the first city they took after crossing the river. Therefore, just as God commanded them to sacrifice the firstfruits of fruits, so he commanded them to offer the firstfruits of war spoils. Moreover, with these laws he teaches them to observe the necessary laws. Showing them His power, He makes the first city take without weapons and without military shells, and destroys it with one sound of trumpets, so that when, having entered into battle, they are defeated, they know that they themselves gave the reason for their defeat, having neglected God's laws. Question 8. Why did Rahab, being a foreigner, live among the children of Israel, as history shows? And this typifies what is happening to us. For the Lord said: “And other sheep are imams, which are not of this court; You too must be brought to Me, and My voice will be heard: and there will be one flock, and one Shepherd” (John 10:16). Therefore, when laying down the law, he said: “let there be one law... for both the native and the alien” (Ex. 12:49). Therefore, Moses the lawgiver did not forbid the Jews and Egyptians who wished to go with them. It was necessary that the virgin olive tree should be grafted onto the good olive tree, as blessed Paul says (Rom. 11:24). Question 9. What does it mean when it is said: on his firstborn he will found it, and on his youngest he will establish its gates (Joshua 6:25)? Because Jesus dedicated this city to God; It was not without reason that he destroyed it, deeming it indecent for what was set apart to God to become a place of common residence, and he laid an oath on those who would begin to build this city, namely, that whoever intended to violate this definition and laid the foundation of the city would lose the firstborn of his sons, and whoever built the gates would also lose his last son. This oath is also mentioned in the history of the kingdoms (1 Kings 16:34). Question 10. Why, when Achar kidnapped, were all the people punished? The kidnapper assumed that he would hide from both people and God. Therefore, it pleased God to expose him and to instill fear in everyone, so that those who keep God’s laws would expose those who violate them; because otherwise they themselves may be subject to the same punishment. The word: robe (ψιλὴ – Joshua 7, 21) Aquila translated long robe (στολὴ), and Joseph translated outer robe (ἀλανὶς), and the word: vessels (γλοσσα) – a piece of gold. From this it is clear that the clearing of Achor, called by the Prophets (Hosea 2:15), is the same one where Ahar was stoned. For Emek Achor (Joshua 7:24) is translated as the wilds of Achor. Question 11. Why did God command an ambush before Ai (Joshua 8:4)? Teaches those who have trusted in God’s call to use human imagination. Since the first city was taken with one sound of trumpets; Then, very opportunely, they learn to strive, toil, and wait for God’s help. God soon helped them fighting, and struck all those fleeing from them with lightning and hail. The word: “spear” γαισὸς (Joshua 8:18), with which Jesus erected those in ambush, Joseph, and also Symmachus translated: shield. Question 12. Others accuse the Prophet of cruelty because he kills everyone without exception, and hangs kings on trees (Joshua 8:24-29) Кто обвиняет Пророка, тот обвиняет и Повелевшего ему это; because the God of all things, through the lawgiver Moses, commanded to kill without exception all those who lived on that earth, as those who had done something worthy of final destruction and who had reached the extreme of lawlessness. Посему-то и потоп навел древле, и Содом и Гоморру огнем истребил. And the Prophet commanded the leaders to “step with their feet on the necks” of the kings (Joshua 10:24), so that, encouraged by this, they would enter the battle more zealously. Сие заповедал и наш Господь Иисус; for he said: “Behold, I give you power to tread on the serpent and the scorpion, and on all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19). Oh, if only we could step with our feet on the necks of resistant spirits! Question 13. Why did Jesus designate the Gibeonites as woodcutters and water-bearers (Joshua 9:27)? They deceived with their clothes and deceitful words. It was necessary to first question the Lord God, and then make a covenant with them; but, believing their false words, the Jews were convinced and confirmed the covenant with an oath. Meanwhile, the God of all commanded all the inhabitants of Canaan to be put to death. Therefore, Jesus, having chosen the middle between the divine commandment and the given oath, appointed the Gibeonites as ministers in sacred services. Serving God is not dishonor, but on the contrary, the greatest honor. Noah's prophecy also had to be fulfilled. For Noah said: “Cursed is the lad Canaan: he will be a servant to his brethren” (Gen. 9:25). This prophecy was fulfilled in the Gibeonites. Question 14. What does this mean: is this not written in the book found (Joshua 10:13)? The writer, having told us about such a power of the Prophet that in one word he forbade the great luminaries to continue their course until he had won a complete victory, and fearing that others would not believe this legend, he says that this was found in ancient scripture. From this it is clear that this book was written by someone else who lived later, having drawn it from another book. But this also prefigures the miracles of the Savior. While the Prophet was fighting, the sun became; and when our Savior destroyed death by death, the sun withheld its rays, and at noon darkness filled the universe. Question 15. How should we understand what was said: from the Lord it was necessary for their hearts to be strengthened, to resist them in the battle against Israel, so that they might consume them, for mercy would not be given to them, but that they might be consumed, as the Lord said to Moses (Joshua 11:20)? Regarding other nations, God gave a law to Israel: if, when their city is besieged by the Israelites, they send an embassy and wish for friendship, accept their embassy, ​​lift the siege and make peace with them (Deut. 20:10-11). Therefore, this legend teaches us that God, who has weight and measure for everything, allowed these nations to wage war with the Israelites, so that they would not deserve any mercy, but would be destroyed by God’s decree. Question 16. Why did Moses divide lots for one tribe to own the land, and Jesus for the other? И сие также прообразует истину. Поселившимся за Иорданом разделил землю Моисей, а перешедшим Иордан – Иисус. Those who accepted the lot through Moses serve as the image of the Jews, and those who accepted through Jesus are the image of the believing pagans. И поскольку Израиль есть первенец; then the firstborn - Reuben, Gad, Manasseh received lots through Moses. Впрочем и они вооруженные переходят Иордан прежде других ( Нав. 1, 14 ); because those who believed from the Jews brought salvation to the Gentiles. The Jebusites, the Canaanites and other foreign peoples were left alive and lived together with the Israelites. Но можно найти истинное значение и сего прообразования. For not everyone accepted the saving Word, but both the Jews and the Greeks, who inhabit the same cities and villages with us, remained in opposition. And whoever calls them Canaanites, Hittites and Jebusites will not sin. Those who adhere to vile heretical teachings are also worthy of this name. That is why the divine Apostle said: “Now we see that all things have been subjected to Him” (Heb. 2:8); and again: “It is fitting for Him to reign until He puts all enemies under His feet” (1 Cor. 15:25). Question 17. Why did Caleb ask for Hebron for himself (Joshua 14:13)? Decorated with piety, Caleb preferred to all cities the one in which the most valiant Patriarchs lived, and where they were laid to rest. This word shows that the Jews, after a seven-year battle, divided the land among themselves. For this is what Caleb said: “It was fourty years since Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Cadiz-Barnea to spy out the land. ... And now the Lord hath taught me, as he said, this is the forty and fifth year which the Lord said unto Moses” (Joshua 14:7, 10). But after God's judgment on six hundred thousand, the Jews spent thirty-eight years wandering in the desert. Therefore, there are still seven years left until forty-five 1. The Lord of all predicted this through the mouth of the most divine Moses: when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he promised to your fathers, “after seven years... read this law before all” the people (Deut. 31:10-11). It should be noted that the writer calls Jerusalem Jebus, and says that it was inherited by Benjamin (Joshua 18:28). А Симеон, по отцеву предречению, получил в жребий земли в разных местах. Ибо сказано: «и бысть наследие его посреде жребия сынов Иудиных» ( Нав. 19, 1 ). Then, having listed the cities, the writer added: “this is the inheritance of the tribes of the sons of Simeon: ... for the part ... of the inheritance of the sons of Judah was greater than theirs: and the sons of Simeon inherited in the midst of their lots” (Joshua 19:8-9). Question 18. Why did the most divine Jesus, having divided the earth to others, not assign lots to himself, but received Timnath-Sarai from the people (Joshua 19:50)? And in this he imitates the humility of the Master, who says: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Господь пребывал в крайней нищете, так что не имел и дома. Ибо говорит: «Сын человеческий не имать где главы подклонити» ( Матф. 8, 20 ). So, since Jesus, who was named with him, was His image, he did not assign himself a lot, but accepted what was offered to him by the people, teaching thereby those who were entrusted with any authority to care not about their own benefits, but about the benefits of their subordinates. Question 19. Why did Jesus give the priests cities in the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Simeon (Joshua 21:11)? And while wandering in the desert, the priests were joined to the tribe of Judah; because they and the tribe of Judah occupied the eastern side. And here they also received an inheritance with the tribe of Judah, because there was a family connection between these tribes. The first High Priest Aaron married the daughter of Aminadab, and the most famous High Priest Jehoiada had the sister of Ahaziah. The confusion of these tribes was allowed by the Lord, who, having descended in the flesh from the tribe of Judah, was not only a King, but also a High Priest. But it was necessary for the priests to live in the tribe of Benjamin; because God’s church was subsequently erected in this tribe; The priests also received several cities in the tribe of Simeon; because the lot of this tribe was in the neighborhood of the church. For just as God gave tithes of the fruits of the earth and of the flocks to the priests and Levites; So he commanded the cities to give them a kind of tithe. Patriarch Jacob promised to give these tithes to God. For he said: “Of all who are mine, I will give tenths to You” (Gen. 28:22). Therefore, the people did not bring a gift, but paid a fatherly debt. Moreover, the people took possession of the lands and lot of Levi. When the war stopped, the division of the land ended; the tribes that received the lots beyond the Jordan went there. But without even crossing the river, they created a great altar (Joshua 22:10). The nine tribes, not knowing the purpose of this building and supposing the beginning of wickedness in that building, set out to publicly take up arms against them, preferring piety to kinship. But the wise Jesus and Eleazar sent Phinehas, as one who had shown zeal against wickedness in the desert, so that he would remind him of his ancestors and God-given blessings, and stop the iniquity that was being undertaken. Those sent with Phinehas arrived and learned that this innovation was not undertaken out of superstition; on the contrary, they saw that the erected altar was called a monument of communion for piety, so that descendants could point to it in reproof of those who would attempt to distract them from the divine festivities; and therefore they returned, rejoicing and glorifying God for preserving the piety of the brethren and common peace. Likewise, the Jews of today should have known and said that their altar was not the true altar, but represented only the true altar. When the Prophet was preparing to leave life, he called all the people and exhorted them not to enter into a single marriage with the indigenous inhabitants of the country; потому что такое общение подает поводы к нечестью. Но к увещанию присовокупил он и угрозы. For he said: if you do this, “take away, lest the Lord cause you to consume these tongues from before you: and you will be a snare, and a stumbling block... in your side, and a thorn... in your hair, until you perish from the land of the good things that the Lord your God has given you” (Joshua 23:13). Но яснее представила нам сие история Судей. Let us also find out the reason why the Jews did not receive possession over the whole earth, according to the promise of God; because, having loved family ties with evil peoples, and becoming imitators of wickedness, they are deprived of Divine providence, and are forced to be their slaves. Чудно же и любомудренно слово Иисусово пред смертию. "Аз , – сказал он, – отхожду в путь, якоже и вси, иже на земли» ( Нав. 23, 14 ). But it also shows the untruthfulness of Divine prophecy. “And you shall know in your heart and in your soul that not one word has fallen from all the good words which the Lord your God spoke to you. ... Everything that he spoke to us, he gave to us ... And not a single word was separated from them” (Joshua 23:14). You have recognized the truth of God's promises through good deeds. God fulfilled everything he promised. Therefore, learn from this that the threats are not false. For Jesus added: “And it shall come to pass, in the same way that all the good words which the Lord God hath spoken unto you shall come upon you, that the Lord shall bring upon you all evil words, until ye shall consume from the land the good things that the Lord your God hath given you: ye shall never transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, His commandment unto you” (Joshua 23:15-16). Teaching that these are not human words, Jesus also added: “This says the Lord God of Israel” (Joshua 24:2), and mentioned Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor; included Nahor by relationship on his mother’s side; because from him came Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel. Then he announces that Terah served other gods, and therefore the Lord God, having separated Abraham, resettled him in the land of Canaan. Adds a legend about Jacob's journey to Egypt and about the descent from Egypt under Moses, and about the miracle of the sea, and about the stay in the desert, about the final death of the Ammorites and the plans of Balak, and about the blessings against the will of Balaam, about the miraculous crossing of the river, about the extermination of the rebel enemies, and about the enjoyment of all sorts of blessings; admonishes them to withdraw from serving foreign gods, and to serve the only God who created and saved, and invites them to make a choice: “Choose,” he says, “yourselves this day, whom you will serve, or the god of your fathers, who was in this land of rivers, or the god of the Amorites, in whom you live in their land” (Joshua 24:15). Thus, presenting others to make a choice, he himself shows the piety of his own will. For he says: “And my house also will serve the Lord, for it is holy” (Joshua 24:15). Then, when the people renounced serving false gods, and made a promise to serve the only God who saved them, the most divine Jesus in response to this said: “You will not be able to serve the Lord... for God is holy, and your zealot will not forsake your sin and your iniquities. When you leave the Lord and serve as a strange god, he will come to embitter you and consume you, instead of doing good for you” (Joshua 24:19-20). Do not expect that, even while indulging in lawlessness, you will enjoy these blessings. Lord God knows not only how to do good, but also how to punish a criminal. When the Jews listened to this and promised to serve the Lord, Jesus, of necessity, added: “You yourselves are witnesses to this, that you have chosen to serve the Lord Himself” (Joshua 24:22). But history has also shown that Jesus, having exhorted them to avoid serving foreign gods and given laws about piety, did not leave this unwritten, but in writing handed it over to them as a keepsake. Question 20. Why did Jesus, having set up a stone, say: behold, this stone will be for you to testify: that having heard all the words spoken by the Lord, He has spoken to you this day (Joshua 24:27)? Although the stone is inanimate, the inanimate also serves as evidence to expose the animate and rational. Moreover, Jesus also took advantage of the ancient custom. For Jacob and Laban, having concluded an agreement, called the hill a witness to the agreement. Meanwhile, how much benefit a pious and God-loving leader brings, history shows. For it is said: “Israel... worked for the Lord all the days of Jesus and all the days of the elders, having lived many days with Jesus, having understood all the works of the Lord... which he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:7). After their death, the Israelites sank into wickedness, as the end of history showed; and they were punished for wickedness, because, having lost God’s care for them, they were subjected to the yoke of slavery and the dominion of the king of Moab. However, the philanthropic God, remembering the promises given to their fathers, limited the time of slavery to eighteen years (Judges 3:14). In Greek it reads: until eighty-five, but this clearly contradicts what was said before: this is fourty and the fifth year. Explanation of difficult passages of divine scripture, optional. You might be interested in: