INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 1 Moses being dead, the Lord directs and encourages Joshua to take the command of the children of Israel, and go over Jordan with them, and take possession of the land of Canaan, and divide it to them; giving him gracious promises and strong assurances of his presence, and so... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW AFTER THE DEATH OF MOSES,.... Or "and after" h; the book begins as if something went before, it is connected with; and indeed it seems to be the last chapter of the book of Deuteronomy, which treats of the death of Moses; and Joshua being the penman of Deuteronomy 34:5, as say the Talmudists i,... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES MY SERVANT IS DEAD,.... Which was said not for the information of Joshua, but to lead on to, and show the cause and reason of what he was about to say to him: NOW THEREFORE ARISE, GO OVER THIS JORDAN; near to which the whole body of the people of Israel were, and very probably were in sight o... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY PLACE THAT THE SOLE OF YOUR FEET SHALL TREAD UPON,.... That is, in the land of Canaan: THAT HAVE I GIVEN UNTO YOU, AS I SAID UNTO MOSES: Deuteronomy 11:24; though the Jews extend this to all without the land subdued by them, and even to all the countries they now tread on, and are exiles in;... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE WILDERNESS,.... The wilderness of Kadesh and Sin, on the border of Edom; in the southeast corner, as Jarchi says, see Numbers 34:3; AND THIS LEBANON; which though on the other side Jordan, and at a considerable distance, being the northern border of the land towards Syria, might be seen a... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE SHALL NOT ANY MAN BE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE THEE ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE,.... What is promised to the people in common, Deuteronomy 11:25; is here particularly promised to Joshua their general; and which was fulfilled in him, and still more in Christ his antitype, who made an end of sin, destr... [ Continue Reading ]
BE STRONG, AND OF GOOD COURAGE,.... The same exhortation Moses gave him, Deuteronomy 31:7; and is afterwards repeated in this chapter, as being of great moment and importance, as it is in the general of an army to show greatness and strength of mind, valour and courage, and not be dismayed at the nu... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY BE THOU STRONG, AND VERY COURAGEOUS,.... For though Joshua was a man of valour and courage, as appears by his war with Amalek, yet there was need of this exhortation, and of repeating it, since he was to engage with a people more and mightier than those with him, and who dwelt in strong and for... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS BOOK OF THE LAW SHALL NOT DEPART OUT OF THY MOUTH,.... He was often to read it, frequently repeat it, and speak of it, to refresh his own memory with it, and the memory of those about him. Jarchi restrains it to the book of Deuteronomy now before him: BUT THOU SHALT MEDITATE THEREIN DAY AND NI... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE NOT I COMMANDED THEE?.... The above things, to go over Jordan with the people into the land of Canaan, and to observe the law of Moses in all things, and to be of good courage, which is again repeated; consider who it is that has given these orders and instructions, the great Jehovah, the everl... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JOSHUA COMMANDED THE OFFICERS OF THE PEOPLE,.... The same word is used in Deuteronomy 16:18; where it seems to design such officers that attended on the judges, and executed their orders; but one would think it should here rather signify officers in the army, as captains, and the like; unless i... [ Continue Reading ]
PASS THROUGH THE HOST,.... The whole camp of Israel, consisting of six hundred thousand fighting men: AND COMMAND THE PEOPLE; even all the people of Israel; this includes women as well as men, for the one, as well as the other, were to do what follows, and especially it may seem the business of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO THE REUBENITES, AND TO THE GADITES, AND TO HALF THE TRIBE OF MANASSEH,.... Who were settled on that side Jordan where Israel now were: SPAKE JOSHUA, SAYING; as follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THE WORD WHICH MOSES THE SERVANT OF THE LORD COMMANDED YOU,.... In Numbers 32:29; and to which they had solemnly agreed; and, now the time was come to put it into execution, Joshua reminds them of it: SAYING, THE LORD YOUR GOD HATH GIVEN YOU REST: from their travels, and a settlement in a... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR WIVES, YOUR LITTLE ONES, AND YOUR CATTLE, SHALL REMAIN IN THE LAND WHICH MOSES GAVE YOU ON THIS SIDE JORDAN,.... This was what they themselves proposed, agreed unto, and confirmed, Numbers 32:16; BUT YE SHALL PASS OVER BEFORE YOUR BRETHREN ARMED; bearing arms, to fight for them; for none but... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE LORD HATH GIVEN YOUR BRETHREN REST, AS [HE HATH GIVEN] YOU,.... Rest from their travels, as they had: AND THEY ALSO HAVE POSSESSED THE LAND WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD GIVETH THEM: are settled in the land of Canaan, as they were on that side Jordan: THEN YE SHALL RETURN UNTO THE LAND OF YOUR... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY ANSWERED JOSHUA,.... The two tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh, the heads of them, such as were deputed for that purpose, and were their mouths to him: SAYING, ALL THAT THOU COMMANDEST WE WILL DO; with respect to this affair of going over Jordan with their brethren,... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING AS WE HAVE HEARKENED UNTO MOSES IN ALL THINGS, SO WILL WE HEARKEN UNTO THEE,.... Not right or wrong, but in all things that were according to the laws and will of God made known to them; and particularly it may refer to the above affair, which was settled between Moses and them, to whom th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER [HE BE] THAT DOTH REBEL AGAINST THY COMMANDMENT,.... Refuses to go over Jordan with his brethren the children of Israel, when commanded by Joshua so to do: AND WILL NOT HEARKEN TO THY WORDS IN ALL THAT THOU COMMANDEST HIM; or, if he does go over, yet will not obey orders to take such a po... [ Continue Reading ]