第26章 迦勒和约书亚
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第26章 迦勒和约书亚
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Chap. 26—Caleb and Joshua
§3
耶和华吩咐摩西，派人去窥探祂所要赐给以色列民的迦南地。他要从每一支派中选出一个作首领的人担任这项工作。他们出发了，经过四十天之后，他们窥探那地才回来，并到摩西、亚伦和以色列全会众面前，给他们看那地的果子。他们都异口同声说那地果然是美地，又拿出他们所带来为凭据的丰美果子。有一挂葡萄非常大，甚至必须由两个人扛抬回来。他们也带了些盛长在那地的无花果和石榴。探子们在提及那地如何肥沃之后，除了两个人之外，其他十人都很沮丧地论到他们究竟能否取得那地。他们说：住在那地的居民非常强壮，城邑都筑有高大的城墙；较比这一切更厉害的，就是他们在那里看到了巨人亚衲的后裔。于是他们就形容那里的居民如何分布于迦南全地，并声称他们去占领那地是绝不可能的。{4aSG 21.2}[1]
§4
The Lord commanded Moses to send men to search the land of Canaan, which he would give unto the children of Israel. A ruler of each tribe was to be selected for this purpose. They went, and after forty days returned from their search, and came before Moses and Aaron, and all the congregation of Israel, and showed them the fruit of the land. All agreed that it was a good land, and they exhibited the rich fruit?which they had brought as evidence. One cluster of the grapes was so large that two men carried it between them on a staff. They also brought of the figs, and the pomegranates, which grew there in abundance. After they had spoken of the fertility of the land, all but two spoke very discouragingly of their being able to possess it. They said that the people were very strong that dwelt in the land, and the cities were surrounded with great and high walls, and, more than all this, they saw the children of the giant Anak there. They then described how the people were situated around Canaan, and the impossibility of their ever being able to possess it.?{4aSG 21.2}[1]
§5
民众听到了这个报告，便以恶毒的怨言和哭号发泄他们的灰心失望。他们没有平心静气思量一下，并推想那已经把他们领到这个地步的上帝，必能把那地交给他们。他们反而立即就灰心了。他们竟限制了那圣者的能力，不肯依靠那位一直到现在都带领他们的上帝。他们责怪摩西，并怨恨地彼此议论说，你看，这就是我们一切希望的结果。这就是我们从埃及出来所要承受的那地。迦勒和约书亚试图向民众讲话，但群众情绪激昂，以至无法安定下来听他们。在众人稍微平静下来之后，迦勒便冒险出来讲话。他对民众说：“我们立刻上去得那地吧，我们足能得胜。”但那些和他同去的人却说：“我们不能上去攻击那民，因为他们比我们强壮。”他们继续重申自己所报的恶信，并宣称所有的居民都是身量高大的。“我们在那里看见亚衲族人，就是伟人，他们是伟人的后裔，据我们看自己就如同蚱蜢一样，据他们看我们也是如此。当下全会众大声喧嚷，那夜百姓都哭号。以色列众人向摩西亚伦发怨言，全会众对他们说：巴不得我们早死在埃及地！或是死在这旷野！耶和华为什么把我们领到那地，使我们倒在刀下呢？我们的妻子和孩子，必被掳掠，我们回埃及去岂不好吗？众人彼此说：我们不如立一个首领，回埃及去吧，摩西、亚伦就俯伏在以色列全会众面前”（民13:30-33；14:1-5）。{4aSG 22.1}[2]
§6
As the people listened to this report they gave vent to their disappointment with bitter reproaches and wailing. They did not wait, and reflect, and reason, that God, who had brought them out thus far, would certainly give them the land. But they yielded to discouragement at once. They limited the power of the Holy One, and trusted not in God, who had hitherto led them. They reproached Moses, and murmuringly said to one another, This, then, is the end of all our hopes. This is the land that we have been traveling from Egypt to obtain. Caleb and Joshua sought to obtain a hearing. But the people were so excited they could not command themselves to listen to these two men. After they were calmed a little, Caleb ventured to speak. He said to the people, “Let us go up at once, and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it.” But the men that went up with him said, “We be not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they continued to repeat their evil report, and declared that all the men were of great stature. “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants. And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. And the whole congregation said unto?them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God that we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.”?{4aSG 22.1}[2]
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以色列人不但埋怨摩西，也控告上帝欺骗了他们，竟将他们所无法占领的地方应许给他们。他们叛逆的情绪非常高涨，甚至忘记了那把他们领出埃及地，并借一系列神迹引导他们到当前地步之全能者的膀臂，而决定推举一个首领把他们带回埃及，就是他们从前被奴役并忍受许多痛苦的地方去。结果他们真派出了一个领队的人来，借此罢免了他们那富有耐心、备尝忧患的领袖摩西；他们也恶毒地埋怨了上帝。{4aSG 23.1}[3]
§8
The Israelites not only gave vent to their complaints against Moses, but accused God himself of dealing deceitfully with them, by promising them a land which they were unable to possess. Their rebellious spirit here arose so high that, forgetful of the strong arm of Omnipotence, which had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and had thus far conducted them by a series of miracles, they resolved to choose a commander to lead them back to Egypt, where they had been slaves, and had suffered so many hardships. They actually appointed them a captain, thus discarding Moses, their patient, suffering leader, and they murmured bitterly against God.?{4aSG 23.1}[3]
§9
摩西和亚伦当着全会众俯伏在耶和华面前，求上帝怜恤这悖逆的子民。但他们的苦难和悲伤太深重了，因而一言不发。他们在全然缄默中面伏于地。迦勒和约书亚撕裂自己的衣服，用来表示极沉重的忧伤。他们“对以色列全会众说：我们所窥探经过之地，是极美之地。耶和华若喜悦我们，就必将我们领进那地，把地赐给我们；那地原是流奶与蜜之地。但你们不可背叛耶和华，也不要怕那地的居民；因为他们是我们的食物，并且荫庇他们的已经离开他们，有耶和华与我们同在，不要怕他们”（民14:7-9）。{4aSG 23.2}[4]
§10
Moses and Aaron fell upon their faces before the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation, to implore the mercy of God in favor of a rebellious people. But their distress and grief was too great for utterance. They remained upon their faces in utter silence. Caleb and Joshua rent their clothes, as an expression of the greatest sorrow. “And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us. Their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Fear them not.”?{4aSG 23.2}[4]
§11
“荫庇他们的已经离开他们。”这意思就是，迦南人已经恶贯满盈，因此神的保护已经从他们撤回，而且他们自以为安全无患，没有为战争作准备；再者，那地已经因上帝所立的约而保证赐给我们了。这些话在民众身上非但没有发挥其所应有的作用，反而增强了他们坚决反叛的心，他们竟大发烈怒，大声而愤怒地喊叫，要用石头将迦勒和约书亚打死，这时如果耶和华没有在会幕中当着以色列众人显示祂可怕的威荣，而加以干涉，他们二人便真要被打死了。{4aSG 23.3}[5]
§12
“Their defense is departed from them.” That is,?the Canaanites had filled up the measure of their iniquity, and the divine protection was withdrawn from them, and they felt perfectly secure and were unprepared for battle, and by the covenant of God the land is insured to us. Instead of these words having the designed effect upon the people, they increased their determined rebellion. They became in a rage, and cried out with a loud and angry cry, that Caleb and Joshua should be stoned, which would have been done had not the Lord interposed, by a most signal display of his terrible glory in the tabernacle of the congregation, before all the children of Israel.?{4aSG 23.3}[5]
§13
摩西进到圣所去与上帝会谈，“耶和华对摩西说：这百姓藐视我要到几时呢？我在他们中间行了这一切神迹，他们还不信我要到几时呢？我要用瘟疫击杀他们，使他们不得承受那地，叫你的后裔成为大国，比他们强胜。摩西对耶和华说：埃及人必听见这事，因为祢曾施展大能，将这百姓从他们中间领上来。埃及人要将这事传给迦南地的居民，那民已经听见祢耶和华是在这百姓中间，因为祢面对面被人看见，有祢的云彩停在他们以上，祢日间在云柱中，夜间在火柱中，在他们面前行。如今祢若把这百姓杀了，如杀一人，那些听见祢名声的列邦必议论说，耶和华因为不能把这百姓领进祂向他们起誓应许之地，所以在旷野把他们杀了”（民14:11-16）。{4aSG 24.1}[6]
§14
Moses went into the tabernacle to converse with God. “And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they. And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them; and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land, for they have heard that thou, Lord, art among this people, that thou, Lord, art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by daytime in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. Now, if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.”?{4aSG 24.1}[6]
§15
摩西再度不同意让以色列民被灭绝，而容他自己成为比以色列更强大的民族。上帝所眷爱的这个仆人既表现了他对以色列人的爱心，也显明了他对创造主的荣耀和祂子民的荣誉的亲切热诚：祢既已从在埃及直到如今赦免这班子民的罪，祢至今依然对这忘恩负义的民众存有宽容与怜爱；不论他们是多么地不配，祢的慈怜总不改变。他恳求说：因此，祢岂不能再饶恕他们这一次，再次将祢神圣的忍耐，加在祢过去多次表现的忍耐上吗？{4aSG 24.2}[7]
§16
Moses again refuses to have Israel destroyed, and himself made a mightier nation than was Israel. This favored servant of God manifests his love for Israel, and shows his zeal for the glory of his Maker, and the honor of his people. As thou hast forgiven this people from Egypt even until now, thou hast been long-suffering and merciful hitherto toward this ungrateful people, however unworthy they may be, thy mercy is the?same. He pleads, Wilt thou not, therefore, spare them this once, and add this one more instance of divine patience to the many thou hast already given??{4aSG 24.2}[7]
§17
“耶和华说：我照着你的话赦免了他们。然而我指着我的永生起誓，遍地要被我的荣耀充满。这些人虽看见我的荣耀，和我在埃及与旷野所行的神迹，仍然试探我这十次，不听从我的话；他们断不得看见我与他们的祖宗所起誓应许之地，凡藐视我的，一个也不得看见；惟独我的仆人迦勒，因他另有一个心志，专一跟从我，我就把他领进他所去过的那地；他的后裔也必得那地为业”（民14:20-24）。{4aSG 25.1}[8]
§18
“And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word. But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice, surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it. But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went, and his seed shall possess it.”?{4aSG 25.1}[8]
§19
主吩咐希伯来人转回，从红海的路往旷野去。他们已经离那美地不远，但竟因恶性的悖逆，而致丧失上帝的保护。如果他们听从了迦勒和约书亚的报告而立时上去，上帝就必将迦南地赐给他们。但他们既没有信心，又对上帝表示非常轻慢的态度，以致就为自己招来永远不能进入应许之地的责备。上帝将他们遣回红海边去，乃是出于祂的怜悯和慈爱，因为正在他们迟疑抱怨的同时，亚玛力人和迦南人已经听到探子的事，并且准备要与以色列民作战。{4aSG 25.2}[9]
§20
The Lord bade the Hebrews to return, and go into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea. They were very near the good land, but by their wicked rebellion they forfeited the protection of God. Had they received the report of Caleb and Joshua, and gone immediately up, God would have given them the land of Canaan. But they were unbelieving, and showed such an insolent spirit against God, that they brought upon themselves the denunciation, that they should never enter the promised land. It was in pity and mercy that God sent them back by the Red Sea, for the Amalekites and Canaanites, while they were delaying and murmuring, heard of the spies, and prepared themselves to make war with the children of Israel.?{4aSG 25.2}[9]
§21
“耶和华对摩西、亚伦说：这恶会众向我发怨言，我忍耐他们要到几时呢？以色列人向我所发的怨言，我都听见了”（民14:27）。主吩咐摩西和亚伦告诉民众说，祂要照他们所说的对待他们。他们曾说：“巴不得我们早死在埃及地！或是死在这旷野”（民14:2）！现在上帝要按照他们的话而行了。祂告诉祂的仆人向他们说，凡在二十岁以上的人都要死在旷野，因为他们叛逆并且埋怨主。惟有迦勒和约书亚必可进入迦南地。“但你们的妇人孩子，就是你们所说要被掳掠的，我必把他们领进去，他们就得知你们所厌弃的那地”（民14:31）。{4aSG 25.3}[10]
§22
“And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.” The Lord told Moses and Aaron to say to the people that he would do to them as they had spoken. They had said, “Would God we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness.” Now God will take them at their word. He tells his servants to say to them, that they should fall in the wilderness, from twenty[10]
§23
主声明希伯来人的儿女将要因他们父母的叛逆，而在旷野漂流四十年，是从他们离开埃及的时候算起，直到他们的父母都完全死去为止。如此他们将要担当并承受他们罪孽的后果四十年。照他们窥探那地的四十日，一日顶一年。“你们……就知道我与你们疏远了”（民14:34）。他们理应充分地认识到，那使主不得不改变祂对于他们的初衷的，乃是因为祂必须刑罚他们的拜偶像和发悖逆的怨言。迦勒和约书亚得蒙应许在全以色列民中有优先的赏赐，乃是因为以色列民已经放弃了所有要求上帝眷爱和保护的权利。{4aSG 26.1}[11]
§24
years old and upward, because of their rebellion and murmurings against the Lord. Only Caleb and Joshua should go unto the land of Canaan. “But your little ones which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.”?{4aSG 25.3}[11]
§25
主叫火从祂面前发出，消灭了那些报恶信的人，那恶信使得全会众都抱怨摩西和耶和华。但迦勒和约书亚却活在主面前和百姓面前，这便向众人证明他们的报告是正确的。{4aSG 26.2}[12]
§26
The Lord declared that the children of the Hebrews should wander in the wilderness forty years, reckoning from the time they left Egypt, because of the rebellion of their parents, until their parents should all die. Thus should they bear and suffer the consequence of their iniquity forty years, according to the number of days they were searching the land, a day for a year. “And ye shall know my breach of promise.” They should fully realize that it was the punishment for their idolatry, and rebellious murmurings, which had obliged the Lord to change his purpose concerning them. Caleb and Joshua were promised a reward in preference to all the host of Israel, because they had forfeited all claim to God’s favor and protection.?{4aSG 26.1}[12]
§27
当百姓从摩西知道上帝对他们的旨意时，他们就很悲哀。他们清早起来，聚集到摩西面前，全副武装要去作战，说：“我们在这里，我们有罪了；情愿上耶和华所应许的地方去”（民14:40）。主已说过他们不应占有那地，而应死在旷野，他们要是上去作战，就不会成功。摩西说：“不要上去；因为耶和华不在你们中间，恐怕你们被仇敌杀败了。亚玛力人和迦南人都在你们面前，你们必倒在刀下；因你们退回不跟从耶和华，所以祂必不与你们同在”（民14:42,43）。但他们却擅敢出去与敌人作战，既没有所指定给他们的领袖，也没有耶和华的约柜同在。他们遇到敌人，便被杀退了。这里说明以色列人悔改得太晚了，而当上帝说他们不应去占有那地时，他们却向前要去，就象他们以前后退一样。{4aSG 26.3}[13]
§28
The Lord sent fire from his presence and consumed the men who had brought the evil report, which made all the congregation murmur against Moses and against the Lord. But Caleb and Joshua lived before the Lord, and before the people which evidenced to them that their report was correct.?{4aSG 26.2}[13]
§29
尽管以色列人最近发了怨言，主也宣布他们应当死在旷野，他们还是没有谨慎谦卑地行在主面前。{4aSG 27.1}[14]
§30
When the people learned from Moses the purpose of God concerning them, they mourned greatly. Early the next morning they gathered themselves before Moses, all equipped for war, and said, “We be here, and will go unto the place the Lord hath promised, for we have sinned.” The Lord had said that they should not possess the land, but should die in the wilderness, and if they should go up to battle they would not prosper. Moses said, “Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies; for the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword; because ye are turned away from the Lord,?therefore the Lord will not be with you.” But they ventured to go out against their enemies, without their appointed leader, and without the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and they were met by their enemies, and smitten, and driven before them. Here the Israelites repented too late, and when God had said they should not go up to possess the land, they were as forward to go, as they had been backward before.?{4aSG 26.3}[14]
§31
主曾使米利暗的事成为给以色列人的一个特别的鉴戒。他们曾见到上帝的忿怒显在她身上，因为她嫉妒和抱怨了主所拣选的仆人摩西。主当时告诉过他们，摩西比先知更大，祂以一种比对先知更为直接的方式向摩西显示自己。主说：“我要与他面对面说话。”然后祂便问他们：“你们毁谤我的仆人摩西，为何不惧怕呢”（民12:8）？于是米利暗就长了大麻疯。在这种情况下给亚伦和米利暗的指示并不单单是为了他们的益处，而是为了以色列全会众的益处。{4aSG 27.2}[15]
§32
Notwithstanding the recent murmurings of the Israelites, and the declaration from God that they should die in the wilderness, they did not walk carefully and humbly before him.?{4aSG 27.1}[15]