Joshua 24:3,4

Joshua 24:3 a

“And I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac, and I gave to Isaac, Jacob and Esau, and I gave to Esau Mount Seir to possess it.”

The next statement was what God gave to Abraham and his sons. He brought Abraham from beyond the Euphrates, from Mesopotamia, and into the promised land, who walked throughout it and, by faith, took possession of it, and He gave him Isaac the child of promise. Then He gave to Isaac, Jacob and Esau, and to Esau He gave Mount Seir. This last sums up God's blessing to Esau and Joshua then goes on to deal with Jacob/Israel.

“Multiplied his seed probably refers to the fact that his household grew rapidly so that he was able to put into the field three hundred and eighteen fighting men ‘born in his house” (Genesis 14:14), although it may have in mind the birth of Ishmael and his many children, and the future multiplication of his actual descendants.

“Mount Seir” is the mountain range of the Arabah from south of the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqabah. See Genesis 32:3; Genesis 36:8; Deuteronomy 2:4.

Joshua 24:4

“And Jacob and his children went down into Egypt, and I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt in accordance with the things which I did among them, and afterwards I brought you out.”

The migration to Egypt to escape famine was then described (see Genesis 46:3), followed by a description of YHWH's deliverance from Egypt with great signs and wonders, which resulted in YHWH bringing them out. It is noteworthy that, apart from the deliverance, what happened in Egypt was not considered of importance. It was not a part of the divine plan of deliverance.

“I sent Moses and Aaron”, the joint deliverers, with Moses to the fore (Exodus 3:10; Exodus 4:27; see also 1 Samuel 12:6; 1 Samuel 12:8).