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Joshua Chapter
One
New King James Version (NKJV)
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 some good advice with respect to his conduct
Joshua 1:1; upon
which Joshua orders the people to be ready in three days to go along with him
Joshua 1:10; and
particularly addresses the Reubenites and Gadites
and half tribe of Manasseh
and puts them in mind of what Moses had ordered
and they had promised
to go
along with their brethren
and assist them in conquering the land
Joshua 1:12; which
they readily agreed to do
and promised obedience to him in all things
Joshua 1:16.
Joshua 1:1 After
the death of Moses the servant of the Lord
it came to pass that the
Lord spoke to
Joshua the son of Nun
Moses’ assistant
saying:
YLT
1And it cometh to pass after
the death of Moses
servant of Jehovah
that Jehovah speaketh unto Joshua son
of Nun
minister of Moses
saying
Now after the death of
Moses
.... Or "and after"F8ויהי
"et factum est"
V. L. "et fuit"
Pagninus
Montanus
Vatablus. ; 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 TalmudistsF9T. Bab. Bava Bathra
fol. 14. 2.
and of
this book
as has been seen
having wrote them
he goes on with the history of
his own affairs in strict connection with that account
beginning where that
ended; namely
at the death of Moses
whose character here given is
the servant of the Lord; and a faithful one he
was in all things belonging to it
and in whatsoever was enjoined him by the
Lord
see Deuteronomy 34:5
and it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun
Moses's minister; either in a dream
or vision
or by an
articulate voice out of the sanctuary: of Joshua's descent and relation
see Exodus 33:11; and
of his office under Moses
not as a menial servant
but a minister of state
see Exodus 24:13
saying; as follows.
Joshua 1:2 2 “Moses My servant is dead.
Now therefore
arise
go over this Jordan
you and all this people
to the land
which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.
YLT
2`Moses my servant is dead
and now
rise
pass over this Jordan
thou
and all this people
unto the land
which I am giving to them
to the sons of Israel.
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 of
it:
thou
and all this people: which were very
numerous
six hundred thousand men or more
besides a great number of women and
children
and no boats to carry them over
or pontoons to put across the river:
unto the land which I give unto them
even to the children
of Israel; and therefore it could be no case of conscience with Joshua
to
go and take it out of the hands of the present inhabitants
since the Lord
who
had a right to dispose of it
gave it to them. As this land was a type of
heaven
and eternal life
which is the free gift of God through Christ
passing
over the river of Jordan to it may be an emblem of the passage through death to
the heavenly state; both of the death of Christ
the antitypical Joshua
who
passed through it
as a surety to make satisfaction for sin
and as a
forerunner to set an example
to sanctify death
to open a way into the holiest
of holies
and prepare a place for his people; and of the death of the saints
which is necessary to their enjoyment of perfect rest and happiness.
Joshua 1:3 3 Every place that the sole
of your foot will tread upon I have given you
as I said to Moses.
YLT
3`Every place on which the
sole of your foot treadeth
to you I have given it
as I have spoken unto
Moses.
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: See Gill on 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; but the limits of
what the Lord gave them are fixed in Joshua 1:4.
Joshua 1:4 4 From the wilderness and
this Lebanon as far as the great river
the River Euphrates
all the land of
the Hittites
and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun
shall be
your territory.
YLT
4From this wilderness and
Lebanon
and unto the great river
the river Phrath
all the land of the
Hittites
and unto the great Sea -- the going in of the sun -- is your border.
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 afar off; or it is expressed
because it was a well known
place
as Kimchi remarks:
even unto the great river
the river Euphrates; which was the
eastern border of the land
and to which it reached in the times of Solomon
whose dominion extended thither
1 Kings 4:21;
according to Jarchi
this was its breadth from south to north:
all the land of the Hittites: who
though only one of
the seven nations of Canaan
are put for the rest
and the rather mentioned
because
as their name signifies
they were very formidable and terrible; among
them dwelt the Anakim
and they themselves were very warlike and populous; or
they are taken notice of particularly here
because they dwelt in the western
part of the land described by them
so Kimchi thinks; according to Jarchi
this
was its length from east to west:
and unto the great sea: the Mediterranean sea
which was the western border of the land of Canaan
called great
in comparison
of the sea of Tiberias
and the salt sea
which were in it:
toward the going down of the sun
shall be your coast; the western
coast; see Gill on Deuteronomy 11:24;
this will be more fully verified in Christ
when his kingdom is from sea to
sea
Psalm 72:8.
Joshua 1:5 5 No man shall be able to
stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses
so I
will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
YLT
5`No man doth station
himself before thee all days of thy life; as I have been with Moses
I am with
thee
I do not fail thee
nor forsake thee;
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
destroyed the devil
spoiled principalities and powers
abolished death
and
overcame the world:
as I was with Moses
so will I be with thee; to counsel
and advise
guide and direct
protect and defend
prosper and succeed; the
Targum of Jonathan is
as my Word"was for the help of Moses
so will I be
with thee:"
I will not fail thee
nor forsake thee; but grant him
his presence
communicate strength unto him
make good his promises
and leave
him not till he had made an entire conquest of the land of Canaan
and even not
till the end of his days; and was true of Christ in his state of humiliation
in his sufferings and death
and even in the grave
where he was not left so
long as to see corruption; as this is applied to particular believers; see Gill
on Hebrews 13:5.
Joshua 1:6 6 Be strong and of good
courage
for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I
swore to their fathers to give them.
YLT
6be strong and courageous
for thou -- thou dost cause this people to inherit the land which I have sworn
to their fathers to give to them.
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 number and strength of
the enemy. As Joshua's work in fighting with the Canaanites
and conquering
their land
so Christ's work in the redemption of his people
and subduing
their enemies
required strength and courage
and both were very eminent in
him:
for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land
which I sware unto their fathers to give them; and
this promise
included and ensured the conquest of it
and the putting the people into the
possession of it; for if he was to divide it to them
he must first take it out
of the hands of the present inhabitants
and deliver it into the hands of the
children of Israel
to be possessed by them
dividing to each tribe and family
their part and portion.
Joshua 1:7 7 Only be strong and very
courageous
that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My
servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left
that you may prosper wherever you go.
YLT
7`Only
be strong and very
courageous
to observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant
commanded thee; thou dost not turn aside from it right or left
so that thou
dost act wisely in every [place] whither thou goest;
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 fortified places
and had been preparing
for some time
having had notice
and were in expectation of the Israelites'
attempt upon them:
that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which
Moses my servant commanded thee; not only as a private man obliged to
observe the whole law
and act according to it in all things; though no mere
man is capable of it
only Joshua's antitype
who is the end of it for
righteousness to all that believe
having fulfilled it in all respects; but as
the supreme magistrate under God
who was to see that the law was obeyed by the
people in all things
and particularly as the general of the army
who was to
observe to do what had been ordered
with respect to the Canaanites
see Deuteronomy 7:1
turn not from it to the right hand or to the left: from the law
by adding to it
or taking from it; so Ben Gersom explains it
"turning to
the right hand is
when any adds to its words; and turning to the left hand
when he diminishes from them;'or "from him"F11ממנו "ab so"
Montanus
Vatablus
Junius &
Tremellius.
that is
from Moses; from his good way
as Kimchi; though he
adds
or else from the book of the law; for though he does not mention the
book
he does the law; so Ben Melech:
that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest; succeed in
every battle he engaged in; it would be well if generals of armies would
observe this; the way to obtain victory over enemies being to be observant of
the laws of God themselves
and to take care that they be observed by the
soldiers under their command: or "that thou mayest act wisely"F12למען תשכיל ινα συνης
Sept. "ut intelligas"
V. L. Pagninus
Montanus;
"ut prudenter agas"
Tigurine version. ; the word of God furnishing
out instruction to men in every station of life
see Luke 3:10.
Joshua 1:8 8 This Book of the Law shall
not depart from your mouth
but you shall meditate in it day and night
that
you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will
make your way prosperous
and then you will have good success.
YLT
8the book of this law doth
not depart out of thy mouth
and thou hast meditated in it by day and by night
so that thou dost observe to do according to all that is written in it
for
then thou dost cause thy way to prosper
and then thou dost act wisely.
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 night; whenever he
had any leisure from the important business of his office
whether by day or
night
see Psalm 1:2
that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written
therein; which frequent speaking of it
and constant meditation on it
would lead unto:
for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous
and then thou shalt
have good success; in his wars with the Canaanites.
Joshua 1:9 9 Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid
nor be dismayed
for the Lord your God is
with you wherever you go.”
YLT
9`Have not I commanded thee?
be strong and courageous; be not terrified nor affrighted
for with thee [is]
Jehovah thy God in every [place] whither thou goest.'
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 everlasting I AM
who is faithful to his
promises
and able to perform. The consideration of which would serve to
animate him to the work he was called unto
to encourage his faith in God
to
engage in his service cheerfully and readily:
be strong
and of a good courage; See Gill on Joshua 1:6; See
Gill on Joshua 1:7.
be not afraid
nor be thou dismayed; at his enemies
numerous
and powerful
nor discouraged at anything in himself
any unfitness for such
service
as he might think
or at any difficulties he might fear from the
people he had the government of
and was to lead on; it was enough that the
divine Presence was promised him
and which is repeated:
for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest: or
as the
Targum of Jonathan
"for thy help is the Word of the Lord thy God;'See Gill
on Joshua 1:5.
Joshua 1:10 10 Then Joshua commanded the
officers of the people
saying
YLT
10And Joshua commandeth the
authorities of the people
saying
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 it should design a sort
of heralds
who were to make proclamation throughout the camp
each of the
orders issued by Joshua
immediately upon his having the above directions and
instructions from the Lord:
saying; as follows.
Joshua 1:11 11 “Pass through the camp and
command the people
saying
‘Prepare provisions for yourselves
for within
three days you will cross over this Jordan
to go in to possess the land which
the Lord
your God is giving you to possess.’”
YLT
11`Pass over into the midst
of the camp
and command the people
saying
Prepare for yourselves provision
for within three days ye are passing over this Jordan
to go in to possess the
land which Jehovah your God is giving to you to possess it.'
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 former:
saying
prepare ye victuals; this must be understood;
as Kimchi observes
of other sorts of food besides bread; for they had manna
the bread of heaven
which fell about their tents every morning
so that they were
sufficiently provided with that always
and which did not cease until they had
entered the land
even until the sixteenth of Nisan
Joshua 5:12; though
indeed
as Abendana observes
that might be said to be prepared
it being
ground in mills
and beat in mortars
and made cakes of
Numbers 11:8; but
rather this designs meat and other provisions
which being upon the borders of
Moab and Midian
they could furnish themselves with for their money; and
besides
they were in the possession of a fine country
of Bashan and Gilead
they had taken from Sihon and Og. Jarchi interprets it of everything fit for
journeying
and arms for war
with which they were supplied from the spoils of
their enemies
the Egyptians at the Red sea
Amalek at Rephidim
and the
Amorites and Midianites lately smitten by them; and to this sense JosephusF13Antiqu.
l. 5. c. 1. sect. 1. seems to agree:
for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan: or at the end
of three days
as the Targum of Jonathan; and so Jarchi
while there are yet
three days
after that ye shall pass over: but here arises a difficulty to be
reconciled
how this could be done three days after
when the spies
which
Joshua is afterward said to send into the land
stayed three days in the
mountains
besides the time of their going
and returning
and stay at Rahab's
house; and it was not till after their return that the camp began to move; to
which it may be observed
that though the affair of the spies is afterward
related
they might have been sent by Joshua before this order was given to
prepare for the journey
and of this opinion are several of the Jewish writersF14Jarchi
Ben Gersom
& Abarbinel in loc. : this being the case
they might return
before the expiration of these three days
at the end of which Joshua
with the
whole host
moved
agreeably to these orders:
to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God giveth you to
possess it; which must be a great inducement and encouragement to them to
observe his instructions
and go over with him.
Joshua 1:12 12 And to the Reubenites
the
Gadites
and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke
saying
YLT
12And to the Reubenite
and
to the Gadite
and to the half of the tribe of Manasseh
hath Joshua spoken
saying
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.
Joshua 1:13 13 “Remember the word which
Moses the servant of the Lord
commanded you
saying
‘The Lord your God is giving you
rest and is giving you this land.’
YLT
13`Remember the word which
Moses
servant of Jehovah
commanded you
saying
Jehovah your God is giving
rest to you
and He hath given to you this land;
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 country agreeably to their own desire:
and hath given you this land; where they now were
and
which they had taken from Sihon and Og
kings of the Amorites
and joined to
Moab
on the borders of which Israel lay encamped; and by this it appears
that
the settlement of these tribes
on the other side Jordan
was according to the
will of God; he gave it to them.
Joshua 1:14 14 Your wives
your little
ones
and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this
side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed
all your
mighty men of valor
and help them
YLT
14your wives
your infants
and your substance
abide in the land which Moses hath given to you beyond the
Jordan
and ye -- ye pass over by fifties
before your brethren
all the mighty
ones of valour
and have helped them
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 such that were fit to bear arms were obliged to
go; and these were to go "harnessed"F15חמשים
"ordine militari"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator;
"quintati"
Montanus.
as some render the word
or in a military
order
in rank and file
by fives
five in a row; not at the front of the army
for the standard of Judah went first
but along with them; for "before
them" signifies no other than in the presence of them
and in company with
them:
all the mighty men of valour
and help them; to obtain a
conquest over the Canaanites; all
according to the order of Moses
and by
their agreement
were to go
all that were able to bear arms; but Joshua did
not take them all
only a select company of strong and valiant for
out of an
hundred thirty thousand
but forty thousand went with him
Joshua 4:13.
Joshua 1:15 15 until the Lord has given your
brethren rest
as He gave you
and they also have taken possession of
the land which the Lord
your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession
and enjoy it
which Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on
this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”
YLT
15till that Jehovah giveth
rest to your brethren as to yourselves
and they have possessed
even they
the
land which Jehovah your God is giving to them; then ye have turned back to the
land of your possession
and have possessed it
which Moses
servant of
Jehovah
hath given to you beyond the Jordan
[at] the sun-rising.'
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 possession
and enjoy
it; the countries of Sihon and Og
they were put into the possession
of:
which Moses the Lord's servant gave you on this side Jordan
toward the sunrising; the land
given to them lay to the east of Jordan.
Joshua 1:16 16 So they answered Joshua
saying
“All that you command us we will do
and wherever you send us we will
go.
YLT
16And they answer Joshua
saying
`All that thou hast commanded us we do; and unto every [place] whither
thou dost send us
we go;
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
to assist them in the
conquest of the land of Canaan:
and whithersoever thou sendest us
we will go; in what
position he would have them be in the army
and to whatsoever part of the
country he should send them to subdue
and to whatsoever city he should order them
to besiege.
Joshua 1:17 17 Just as we heeded Moses in
all things
so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God be with you
as
He was with Moses.
YLT
17according to all that we
hearkened unto Moses [in]
so we hearken unto thee; surely Jehovah thy God is
with thee as He hath been with Moses.
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 they then hearkened
and now
promise to confirm the same
and hearken to whatsoever orders and instructions
Joshua should give them relative to it
according to the plan agreed upon:
only the Lord thy God be with thee
as he was with Moses; which is not
mentioned as a condition of their obedience to him
but rather as a reason of
it
and as an encouraging motive to it; for
according to Kimchi
the true
sense and meaning is
"for the Lord thy God will be with thee
as he was
with Moses;'so Noldius renders it
"seeing the Lord thy God is with thee.'
Joshua 1:18 18 Whoever rebels against
your command and does not heed your words
in all that you command him
shall
be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”
YLT
18Any man who doth provoke
thy mouth
and doth not hear thy words
in all that thou dost command him
is
put to death; only
be strong and courageous.'
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 post
or go against such
a city
or march into such a part of the country:
he shall be put to death; this part of military
discipline they agree to
and hereby declare their entire submission to him as
their general; some understand this as spoken by all Israel
and of their
promise of obedience to Joshua
as their governor
in all things:
only be strong
and of a good courage; which also is
not to be understood as a condition of their submission and obedience
but as a
hearty wish and prayer for him
that he might have strength and courage
necessary to the great work he was engaging in
and which to see would be no
small encouragement to follow and obey him.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》