13 Remember H2142 the word H1697 which Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 you, saying, H559 The LORD H3068 your God H430 hath given you rest, H5117 and hath given H5414 you this land. H776
And Moses H4872 said H559 unto them, If ye will do H6213 this thing, H1697 if ye will go armed H2502 before H6440 the LORD H3068 to war, H4421 And will go H5674 all of you armed H2502 over H5674 Jordan H3383 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 until he hath driven out H3423 his enemies H341 from before H6440 him, And the land H776 be subdued H3533 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 then afterward H310 ye shall return, H7725 and be guiltless H5355 before the LORD, H3068 and before Israel; H3478 and this land H776 shall be your possession H272 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 But if ye will not do so, H6213 behold, ye have sinned H2398 against the LORD: H3068 and be sure H3045 your sin H2403 will find you out. H4672 Build H1129 you cities H5892 for your little ones, H2945 and folds H1448 for your sheep; H6792 and do H6213 that which hath proceeded H3318 out of your mouth. H6310 And the children H1121 of Gad H1410 and the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 spake H559 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 Thy servants H5650 will do H6213 as my lord H113 commandeth. H6680 Our little ones, H2945 our wives, H802 our flocks, H4735 and all our cattle, H929 shall be there in the cities H5892 of Gilead: H1568 But thy servants H5650 will pass over, H5674 every man armed H2502 for war, H6635 before H6440 the LORD H3068 to battle, H4421 as my lord H113 saith. H1696 So concerning them Moses H4872 commanded H6680 Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun, H5126 and the chief H7218 fathers H1 of the tribes H4294 of the children H1121 of Israel: H3478
And I commanded H6680 you at that time, H6256 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 your God H430 hath given H5414 you this land H776 to possess H3423 it: ye shall pass over H5674 armed H2502 before H6440 your brethren H251 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 all that are meet H1121 for the war. H2428 But your wives, H802 and your little ones, H2945 and your cattle, H4735 (for I know H3045 that ye have much H7227 cattle,) H4735 shall abide H3427 in your cities H5892 which I have given H5414 you; Until the LORD H3068 have given rest H5117 unto your brethren, H251 as well as unto you, and until they also possess H3423 the land H776 which the LORD H3068 your God H430 hath given H5414 them beyond H5676 Jordan: H3383 and then shall ye return H7725 every man H376 unto his possession, H3425 which I have given H5414 you.
Then Joshua H3091 called H7121 the Reubenites, H7206 and the Gadites, H1425 and the half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh, H4519 And said H559 unto them, Ye have kept H8104 all that Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 you, and have obeyed H8085 my voice H6963 in all that I commanded H6680 you: Ye have not left H5800 your brethren H251 these many H7227 days H3117 unto this day, H3117 but have kept H8104 the charge H4931 of the commandment H4687 of the LORD H3068 your God. H430 And now the LORD H3068 your God H430 hath given rest H5117 unto your brethren, H251 as he promised H1696 them: therefore now return H6437 ye, and get H3212 you unto your tents, H168 and unto the land H776 of your possession, H272 which Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 gave H5414 you on the other side H5676 Jordan. H3383
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 1
Commentary on Joshua 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 1
Jos 1:1-18. The Lord Appoints Joshua to Succeed Moses.
1. Now after the death of Moses—Joshua, having been already appointed and designated leader of Israel (Nu 27:18-23), in all probability assumed the reins of government immediately "after the death of Moses."
the servant of the Lord—This was the official title of Moses as invested with a special mission to make known the will of God; and it conferred great honor and authority.
the Lord spake unto Joshua—probably during the period of public mourning, and either by a direct revelation to the mind of Joshua, or by means of Urim and Thummim (Nu 27:21). This first communication gave a pledge that the divine instructions which, according to the provisions of the theocracy, had been imparted to Moses, would be continued to the new leader, though God might not perhaps speak to him "mouth to mouth" (Nu 12:8).
Joshua—The original name, Oshea, (Nu 13:8), which had been, according to Eastern usage, changed like those of Abram and Sarai (Ge 17:5-15) into Jehoshua or Joshua (that is, "God's salvation") was significant of the services he was to render, and typified those of a greater Saviour (Heb 4:8).
Moses' minister—that is, his official attendant, who, from being constantly employed in important services and early initiated into the principles of the government, would be well trained for undertaking the leadership of Israel.
2-9. now therefore arise, go over this Jordan—Joshua's mission was that of a military leader. This passage records his call to begin the work, and the address contains a literal repetition of the promise made to Moses (De 11:24, 25; 31:6-8, 23).
3, 4. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon that have I given you—meaning, of course, not universal dominion, but only the territory comprised within the boundaries here specified (see on De 19:8).
4. all the land of the Hittites—These occupied the southern extremities and were the dominant tribe of Canaan. Their superior power and the extent of their dominions are attested by the mention of them under the name of Khita, on the Assyrian inscriptions, and still more frequently on the Egyptian inscriptions of the eighteenth and nineteenth Dynasties. What life and encouragement must have been imparted to Joshua by the assurance that his people, who had been overwhelmed with fear of that gigantic race, were to possess "all the land of the Hittites"!
5-9. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee—Canaan was theirs by a divine grant; and the renewed confirmation of that grant to Joshua when about to lead the people into it, intimated not only a certain but an easy conquest. It is remarkable, however, that his courage and hope of victory were made to depend (see on De 17:18) on his firm and inflexible adherence to the law of God, not only that regarding the extirpation of the Canaanites, but the whole divine code.
10-18. Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people—These were the Shoterim (see on Ex 5:6; De 20:5).
11-13. command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals—not manna, which, though it still fell, would not keep; but corn, sheep, and articles of food procurable in the conquered countries.
for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan—that is, the third day, according to Hebrew idiom—the time allotted for getting ready before the encampment in Abel-Shittim broke up and they removed to the desert bank of the river where no victuals were available. At the same time Joshua himself convened the two and a half tribes which had settled east of Jordan, to remind them of their promise (Nu 32:1-42) to assist their brethren in the conquest of western Canaan. Their readiness to redeem their pledge and the terms in which they answered the appeal of Joshua displayed to great advantage their patriotic and pious feelings at so interesting a crisis.
14. ye shall pass … armed—that is, officered or marshalled under five leaders in the old and approved caravan order (see on Ex 13:18).
all the mighty men of valour—The words are not to be interpreted strictly as meaning the whole, but only the flower or choice of the fighting men (see on Jos 4:12).