I comprise these verses into one view, because they relate to the victories of Moses, before the people passed Jordan. For what special purpose the Holy Ghost thought proper to influence the mind of the sacred historian, to bring in, again in this place, the relation of Moses ' s victories, I presume not to say. But one sweet instruction we may learn from it, namely, in the renewal of any tokens of divine favor, to call to mind past blessings. And when the Holy Ghost is graciously pleased to act in his merciful office, as the Remembrancer, how very delightful is it to the believing soul, to look back and trace all the way, the Lord our God hath led us through the wilderness; to know the righteousness of the Father, and to be refreshed in the recollection of all the love-tokens of Jesus: see Micah 6:6; Micah 6:6; John 14:26. Oh! thou blessed Spirit, thou glorifier of Jesus, and who alone canst shed abroad the love of the Father in our hearts! do thou continually condescend, to bring to the remembrance of my faithless and ungrateful heart, the recollection of past blessings, while giving me a proper apprehension and enjoyment of present ones! And when at anytime, my God is preparing for use renewed tokens of his favor, as well in his trying, as smiling dispensations, give me the spirit of thy servant Asaph, to remember the years of the right hand of the most high. Psalms 77:10-12. I must not forget to remind the Reader, that in the division of those countries, Moses had assigned to the two tribes and half of Israel at their request, as we have the account in Numbers 32:1; as well as the historical account of their extent and situation: Deuteronomy 2:1; Deuteronomy 3:1; Deuteronomy 4:1. But when the Reader hath fully satisfied himself on those points, I would desire to call him to an higher improvement of the subject. Though these countries, particularly Edrei and Ashtaroth, were fruitful spots of the earth, and abounded with everything the eye or heart of natural desires could wish; yet Moses himself considered the whole as nothing, compared to what Joshua was to attain. Reader! turn to Moses ' s prayer on this subject, and hear how vehemently he prayed, that God would grant his servant to see that good land beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain of Lebanon! see Deuteronomy 3:24-25. Reader! spiritualize the subject. What is Edrei with all its beauties to Canaan: or this world with all its splendour to heaven? Who would set up their rest like the Reubenites, because of a fertile soil on this side the land of promise; or wish to dwell here when the rest of Jesus is before them. Dearest Redeemer! thou Joshua of thy people! do thou incline my soul, to long for the passage of Jordan, and may I here learn, that Moses and the law can confer only temporal blessings, but thine are eternal. The law can make nothing perfect, but the bringing in of this better hope doth, by which we draw nigh unto God. Hebrews 7:19.
Joshua 12:1-6
1 Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:
2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;
3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth; and from the south,a under Ashdothpisgah:
4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
5 And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
6 Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.