1
Jos 5:1.
英文原文
Jos 5:1.
THE CANAANITES AFRAID.
1. the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea--Under the former designation were included the people who inhabited the mountainous region, and under the latter those who were on the seacoast of Palestine.
heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan . . . that their heart melted--They had probably reckoned on the swollen river interposing for a time a sure barrier of defense. But seeing it had been completely dried up, they were completely paralyzed by so incontestable a proof that God was on the side of the invaders. In fact, the conquest had already begun in the total prostration of spirit among the native chiefs. "Their heart melted," but unhappily not into faith and penitent submission.
2
Jos 5:2-12.
書 5:2-12。
重新行割禮
2. 那時——即過河安營之後。
耶和華對約書亞說：你製造火石刀——即石刀，要把火石收集備妥。在萬民的早期，火石都被使用；希伯來人雖在約書亞時代已知用鐵，但大概是因金屬器具數量不足，才在此時使用火石
(參
出 4:25)。
第二次給以色列人行割禮——原文作「再回去行割禮」。這道命令並非要他對已行過的人重行此禮，而是要恢復這一久已停止的禮儀。不過這話顯然指從前某次普遍的割禮——那次雖無記載，卻必是在西奈守逾越節之前行的
(參
出 12:48；
民 9:5)，
因為營中有閒雜人同行。「第二次」普遍的割禮，是在進入迦南之時。
英文原文
Jos 5:2-12.
CIRCUMCISION IS RENEWED.
2. At that time--on the encampment being made after the passage.
the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives--Stone knives, collect and make them ready. Flints have been used in the early times of all people; and although the use of iron was known to the Hebrews in the days of Joshua, probably the want of a sufficient number of metallic implements dictated the employment of flints on this occasion (compare
Ex 4:25).
circumcise again the children of Israel the second time--literally, "return and circumcise." The command did not require him to repeat the operation on those who had undergone it, but to resume the observance of the rite, which had been long discontinued. The language, however, evidently points to a general circumcising on some previous occasion, which, though unrecorded, must have been made before the celebration of the passover at Sinai (compare
Ex 12:48; Nu 9:5),
as a mixed multitude accompanied the camp. "The second time" of general circumcising was at the entrance into Canaan.
3
無標題
3. 在山脊上——大概是約旦河邊最高階地中的一座黏土山丘，位於棕櫚林旁的一處高地上。
英文原文
3. at the hill--probably one of the argillaceous hills that form the highest terrace of the Jordan, on a rising ground at the palm forest.
4
無標題
4-7. 約書亞施行割禮的緣故乃是——在曠野出生的孩童沒有受割禮，可能是因百姓奔波遷徙不停所致；但一般更普遍的看法以為，真正的原因乃是那不信的一代被主棄絕、定於礦野中滅盡，神與他們所立的約便暫時中止，而他們的兒女也要擔當父輩的罪孽
(民 14:33)；
不過，由於這些兒女終將進入應許之地，神的約也必與他們重新堅立。
英文原文
4-7. this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise--The omission to circumcise the children born in the wilderness might have been owing to the incessant movements of the people; but it is most generally thought that the true cause was a temporary suspension of the covenant with the unbelieving race who, being rejected of the Lord, were doomed to perish in the wilderness, and whose children had to bear the iniquity of their fathers
(Nu 14:33),
though, as the latter were to be brought into the promised land, the covenant would be renewed with them.
8
無標題
8. 給眾民行完了割禮——由於在曠野出生未受割禮的人數必然極其龐大，人們難免要問：這麼短的時間內如何能為如此眾多的人行這禮？但據計算，已經受過割禮的人（宣告判刑時尚未滿二十歲的）與當受割禮的人之比為一比四，因此全部典禮不難在一天之內完成。割禮既是聖約的記號與印證，行割禮便等於在應許之地領受了基業；神將此事推遲到他們實際進入那地才行，實在是神智慧而滿有恩典的舉措——祂把這艱難的本分延後，直到百姓因最近那驚人的神蹟而大受振奮，預備好順服神的旨意之時。
他們在營中……直等到痊癒了——據估算，在那些不必受割禮的人中，仍有五萬多人留守，可在敵軍來襲時護衛營盤。
英文原文
8. when they had done circumcising all the people--As the number of those born in the wilderness and uncircumcised must have been immense, a difficulty is apt to be felt how the rite could have been performed on such a multitude in so short a time. But it has been calculated that the proportion between those already circumcised (under twenty when the doom was pronounced) and those to be circumcised, was one to four, and consequently the whole ceremony could easily have been performed in a day. Circumcision being the sign and seal of the covenant, its performance was virtually an investment in the promised land, and its being delayed till their actual entrance into the country was a wise and gracious act on the part of God, who postponed this trying duty till the hearts of the people, animated by the recent astonishing miracle, were prepared to obey the divine will.
they abode in their places . . . till they were whole--It is calculated that, of those who did not need to be circumcised, more than fifty thousand were left to defend the camp if an attack had been then made upon it.
9
無標題
9. 耶和華對約書亞說：我今日將埃及的羞辱從你們身上滾去了——埃及人因以色列人停止了割禮，便大肆譏誚，說他們舉國被神棄絕；如今割禮之禮重新恢復，實際上就是宣告聖約已得恢復 [KEIL]。
吉甲——今日其名其址已全無蹤跡可尋；但據約瑟夫所記，它距耶利哥約二英里，因有樹蔭和水源之利，頗宜安營。這是聖地中頭一個被稱為「聖」的地方
(書 5:15)。
英文原文
9. the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt--The taunts industriously cast by that people upon Israel as nationally rejected by God by the cessation of circumcision and the renewal of that rite was a practical announcement of the restoration of the covenant [KEIL].
Gilgal--No trace either of the name or site is now to be found; but it was about two miles from Jericho [JOSEPHUS], and well suited for an encampment by the advantages of shade and water. It was the first place pronounced "holy" in the Holy Land
(Jos 5:15).
10
無標題
10. 正月十四日黃昏，守逾越節——這是律法所定的日期
(參
出 12:17；
利 23:5；
民 28:16)。
如此，這民族便以一項莊嚴的宗教奉獻之禮開始了它的存在。
英文原文
10. kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even--The time fixed by the law (see on
Ex 12:17;
Le 23:5;
Nu 28:16).
Thus the national existence was commenced by a solemn act of religious dedication.
11
無標題
11、12. 他們吃了那地的出產——這些是居民逃入耶利哥時所存放在糧倉裏的。
烘的穀——新穀
(參
利 23:10)，
大概還堆在田間。烤過——一種簡單古樸的預備法，在東方頗受歡迎。食物既如此豐足，嗎哪便停止降下；它適逢其時地不再降下，結合其在荒蕪曠野中按時顯現的事實來看，正是其來源神奇的有力明證。
英文原文
11, 12. And they did eat of the old corn of the land--found in storehouses of the inhabitants who had fled into Jericho.
parched corn--new grain (see on
Le 23:10),
probably lying in the fields. Roasted--a simple and primitive preparation, much liked in the East. This abundance of food led to the discontinuance of the manna; and the fact of its then ceasing, viewed in connection with its seasonable appearance in the barren wilderness, is a striking proof of its miraculous origin.
13
Jos 5:13-15.
書 5:13-15。
使者向約書亞顯現
13. 約書亞靠近耶利哥的時候——即在那城近郊，大概正在視察其防務，籌劃攻城的良策。
有一個人對面站着，手裏有拔出來的刀——從上下文的語氣可見，這不是異象，而是真實的顯現；其突兀使這位無畏的領袖驚訝，卻未使他懼怕。
英文原文
Jos 5:13-15.
AN ANGEL APPEARS TO JOSHUA.
13. when Joshua was by Jericho--in the immediate vicinity of that city, probably engaged in surveying the fortifications, and in meditating the best plan of a siege.
there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn--It is evident from the strain of the context that this was not a mere vision, but an actual appearance; the suddenness of which surprised, but did not daunt, the intrepid leader.
14
無標題
14. 耶和華的軍隊——或指以色列民
(出 7:4；12:41；
賽 55:4)，
或指眾天使
(詩 148:2)，
或二者兼包；其元帥乃是立約的使者，祂可見的顯現因時而異。祂那整裝待發的姿態，表明祂贊許並關切這場侵略之戰。
約書亞俯伏在下拜——約書亞採用這種絕對的伏俯之禮，表明這陌生人的言語和威儀在他心中所激發的深切敬畏。這人的真實身分，因祂接受敬拜的尊榮而顯明出來
(參
徒 10:25、26；
啟 19:10)，
更因那命令「把你腳上的鞋脫下來」而進一步顯明
(出 3:5)。
英文原文
14. the host of the Lord--either the Israelitish people
(Ex 7:4; 12:41; Isa 55:4),
or the angels
(Ps 148:2),
or both included, and the Captain of it was the angel of the covenant, whose visible manifestations were varied according to the occasion. His attitude of equipment betokened his approval of, and interest in, the war of invasion.
Joshua fell on his face . . ., and did worship--The adoption by Joshua of this absolute form of prostration demonstrates the sentiments of profound reverence with which the language and majestic bearing of the stranger inspired him. The real character of this personage was disclosed by His accepting the homage of worship (compare
Ac 10:25, 26; Re 19:10),
and still further in the command, "Loose thy shoe from off thy foot"
(Ex 3:5).
書 5:1。
迦南人恐懼
1. 約旦河西亞摩利人的諸王，和靠海迦南人的諸王——前一稱呼包括住在山區的民，後一稱呼包括住在巴勒斯坦沿海的民。
聽見耶和華使約旦河的水乾了……他們的心就消化了——他們大概指望那漲溢的河水暫時成為一道可靠的防線。但既見河水完全乾涸，他們便因這神與侵略者同在的無可辯駁之證據而完全癱瘓。事實上，征服之工已在本地首領們心靈的完全崩潰中開始了。「他們的心消化了」，可惜卻沒有消化為信心和悔改的順服。