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where the Scripture is silent that we should remain silent too. Had the reference in
Matt. 1: 5 followed the other references and said plainly, "Rahab the harlot", all doubt
would have been removed. As it is, there is no necessity to explain the presence of a
Canaanite in the genealogy of the Saviour, unless we are to assume that only one person
ever bore the name of Rahab, which would be absurd.
Rahab the harlot stands out for all time as a type of the sinner who, realizing the truth
and the fact of destruction, flees for refuge to the only hope that is set before us, the
precious blood of Christ.
JOSHUA.
#4.
The significance of the crossing of Jordan (3: 1 - 5: 1).
pp. 98 - 103
After the interlude of the visit of the spies to Rahab, we return to the time at which the
Book of Joshua opens. In chapter 1: we read the command:--
"Arise, go over this Jordan . . . . .within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan"
(Josh. 1: 2, 11).
In chapter 3:, in obedience to this command, we read:--
"And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to
Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. And it
came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host" (Josh. 3: 1, 2).
The passage of the Jordan is dealt with in 3: 1 to 5: 12, but the subject is too great
to be dealt with as a whole. In this article we shall devote our attention to that section
which deals with the actual crossing of the Jordan, leaving the teaching of chapter 5: to
be considered separately.