Jos 2:10, 4:23, Psa 66:6, 74:13, 106:9, 136:13, Isa 63:11-13, 1Cor 10:1, Heb 11:29 | JFB | STEP | 8-13. she came up unto them upon the roof and said-- Rahab's dialogue is full of interest, as showing the universal panic and consternation of the Canaanites on the one hand ( ; ), and her strong convictions on the other, founded on a knowledge of the divine promise, and the stupendous miracles that had opened the way of the Israelites to the confines of the promised land. She was convinced of the supremacy of Jehovah, and her earnest stipulations for the preservation of her relatives amid the perils of the approaching invasion, attest the sincerity and strength of her faith.

‏ Joshua 2:10

Jos 2:8-21. The Covenant between Her and Them.

8-13. she came up unto them upon the roof and said--Rahab's dialogue is full of interest, as showing the universal panic and consternation of the Canaanites on the one hand (Jos 24:11; De 2:25), and her strong convictions on the other, founded on a knowledge of the divine promise, and the stupendous miracles that had opened the way of the Israelites to the confines of the promised land. She was convinced of the supremacy of Jehovah, and her earnest stipulations for the preservation of her relatives amid the perils of the approaching invasion, attest the sincerity and strength of her faith.

‏ Joshua 4:23

20-24. those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal--Probably to render them more conspicuous, they might be raised on a foundation of earth or turf. The pile was designed to serve a double purpose--that of impressing the heathen with a sense of the omnipotence of God, while at the same time it would teach an important lesson in religion to the young and rising Israelites in after ages.

‏ Psalms 66:6

5-6. The terrible works illustrated in Israel's history (Ex 14:21). By this example let rebels be admonished.

‏ Psalms 74:13

13-15. Examples of the "salvation wrought" are cited.

divide the sea--that is, Red Sea.

brakest ... waters--Pharaoh and his host (compare Is 51:9, 10; Eze 29:3, 4).

‏ Psalms 106:9

7-12. Special confession. Their rebellion at the sea (Ex 14:11) was because they had not remembered nor understood God's miracles on their behalf. That God saved them in their unbelief was of His mere mercy, and for His own glory.

the sea ... the Red Sea--the very words in which Moses' song celebrated the scene of Israel's deliverance (Ex 15:4). Israel began to rebel against God at the very moment and scene of its deliverance by God!

‏ Psalms 136:13

‏ Isaiah 63:11-13

11. remembered--Notwithstanding their perversity, He forgot not His covenant of old; therefore He did not wholly forsake them (Le 26:40-42, 44, 45; Psa 106:45, 46); the Jews make this their plea with God, that He should not now forsake them.

saying--God is represented, in human language, mentally speaking of Himself and His former acts of love to Israel, as His ground for pitying them notwithstanding their rebellion.

sea--Red Sea.

shepherd--Moses; or if the Hebrew be read plural, "shepherds," Moses, Aaron, and the other leaders (so Psa 77:20).

put ... Spirit ... within him--Hebrew, "in the inward parts of him," that is, Moses; or it refers to the flock, "in the midst of his people" (Nu 11:17, 25; Ne 9:20; Hag 2:5).

12. The right hand of Moses was but the instrument; the arm of God was the real mover (Ex 15:6; 14:21).

dividing the water--(Ne 9:11; Psa 78:13).

13. deep--literally, "the tossing and roaring sea."

wilderness--rather, the "open plain" [Horsley], wherein there is no obstacle to cause a horse in its course the danger of stumbling.

‏ 1 Corinthians 10:1

CHAPTER 10

1Co 10:1-33. Danger of Fellowship with Idolatry Illustrated in the History of Israel: Such Fellowship Incompatible with Fellowship in the Lord's Supper. Even Lawful Things Are to Be Forborne, so as Not to Hurt Weak Brethren.

1. Moreover--The oldest manuscripts read "for." Thus the connection with the foregoing chapter is expressed. Ye need to exercise self-denying watchfulness notwithstanding all your privileges, lest ye be castaways. For the Israelites with all their privileges were most of them castaways through want of it.

ignorant--with all your boasted "knowledge."

our fathers--The Jewish Church stands in the relation of parent to the Christian Church.

all--Arrange as the Greek, "Our fathers were all under the cloud"; giving the "all" its proper emphasis. Not so much as one of so great a multitude was detained by force or disease (Psa 105:37) [Bengel]. Five times the "all" is repeated, in the enumeration of the five favors which God bestowed on Israel (1Co 10:1-4). Five times, correspondingly, they sinned (1Co 10:6-10). In contrast to the "all" stands "many (rather, 'the most') of them" (1Co 10:5). All of them had great privileges, yet most of them were castaways through lust. Beware you, having greater privileges, of sharing the same doom through a similar sin. Continuing the reasoning (1Co 9:24), "They which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize."

under the cloud--were continually under the defense of the pillar of cloud, the symbol of the divine presence (Ex 13:21, 22; Psa 105:39; compare Is 4:5).

passed through the sea--by God's miraculous interposition for them (Ex 14:29).

‏ Hebrews 11:29

29. they--Moses and Israel.

Red Sea--called so from its red seaweed, or rather from Edom (meaning "red"), whose country adjoined it.

which ... assaying to do--Greek, "of which (Red Sea) the Egyptians having made experiment." Rashness and presumption mistaken by many for faith; with similar rash presumption many rush into eternity. The same thing when done by the believer, and when done by the unbeliever, is not the same thing [Bengel]. What was faith in Israel, was presumption in the Egyptians.

were drowned--Greek, "were swallowed up," or "engulfed." They sank in the sands as much as in the waves of the Red Sea. Compare Ex 15:12, "the earth swallowed them."