Verse 15

VER. 15.

All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them.

What this Gilgal was I opened in the 4th Chapter at the 15th verse, it was a very famous place for many remarkable things: Stones were set up in remembrance of so great a mercy in coming over Jordan, and there was the first Passover that ever they had, and there they were circumcised, and the Lord said to Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you, from where it had the name; they were not circumcised in all that time in the Wilderness, from where it was called Gilgal, because the reproach was rolled away. I showed abundance of mercy to them in Gilgal, there they eat the fruit of the Land, and there the reproach was rolled away, and the monument of my great mercy in bringing them over Jordan; but now they have turned this place to the most abominable place in the Country, for because there were such great things done in Gilgal, they thought that it was a holy place, and therefore they might justify their superstitious ways, though God afterwards did choose another place for his worship, yet they thought to sacrifice and worship in Gilgal, they thought it might be justified, because it was a place where such great things were done. Now says God, I never intended that, all their wickedness is in Gilgal.

Superstitious men are proud to put holiness upon places that have had remarkable things done in them in reference to religion. This phrase we have had occasion to meet with before, and therefore I pass it.