Joshua 1:1 serves as an introduction to the history of the war, and pointedly call attention to the leading thought of the whole book - that the invasion and subjugation of Canaan were undertaken by the Israelites at God’s direct command and completed in His never-failing strength.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW ... - Hebrew: “and, ...” The statement following is thus connected with some previous one, which is assumed to be known to the reader. So Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, etc., are by the same means linked on to the books preceding them. The connection here is the closer, since the Book of Deuteronomy co... [ Continue Reading ]
Lebanon is spoken of as “this Lebanon,” because visible from the neighborhood in which Israel was encamped. (Compare Deuteronomy 3:8.) “The wilderness” of the text is the Desert of Arabia, which forms the southern, as Lebanon does the northern, limit of the promised land. The boundaries on the east... [ Continue Reading ]
PROSPER - See the margin. The literal rendering should be retained here since the notion of prosperity is separately introduced by a different word in Joshua 1:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
OFFICERS - The “scribes.” (See the Exodus 5:6 note, and Deuteronomy 16:18.)... [ Continue Reading ]
PREPARE YOU VICTUALS - The order was probably given with the knowledge that the manna would cease when the host crossed the Jordan Exodus 16:35, and possibly because amidst their preparations there might not be opportunity to gather it in sufficient quantity. Nor does it appear that manna ever forme... [ Continue Reading ]
ARMED - Rather, “arrayed” (see Exodus 13:18 note). ON THIS SIDE JORDAN - Compare Deuteronomy 1:1, note.... [ Continue Reading ]