_GOD COMMANDS JOSHUA TO INTRODUCE THE PEOPLE INTO CANAAN, AND TO STUDY THE BOOK OF THE LAW NIGHT AND DAY. JOSHUA COMMANDS THE PEOPLE TO PREPARE FOR THEIR MARCH, AND THE TWO TRIBES OF REUBEN AND GAD, AND THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH, TO GO WITH THEM: THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL PROMISE OBEDIENCE TO JOSHUA._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 1. _NOW AFTER THE DEATH OF MOSES,_ &C.— The Hebrew is, _and after,_ &c. This conjunction points out the connection of this book with the foregoing, of which, indeed, it is a continuation. The book of Judges is connected with that of Joshua, and the book of Ruth with that of Judges, in the sam... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 2. _MOSES MY SERVANT IS DEAD; NOW THEREFORE ARISE, GO OVER THIS JORDAN,_ &C.— The camp of the Israelites rested at Shittim near Jordan, in sight of the land of Canaan, during all the time they were mourning for Moses. But at length, the funeral solemnities of that great legislator being accom... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 3. _EVERY PLACE—HAVE I GIVEN UNTO YOU_— See the note on Deuteronomy 11:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 4. _FROM THE WILDERNESS AND THIS LEBANON—SHALL BE YOUR COAST_— That is, from all that desart which lies south of the place where you now are, to mount Lebanon, fronting you on the north; and from the Euphrates on the east, to the Mediterranean sea on the west. See Genesis 25:18. Deuteronomy 1... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 6. _BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE_— However courageous and valiant Joshua might be, it was, nevertheless, very necessary to animate him to the undertaking of so difficult an enterprize as was here entrusted to him; nothing less than such a divine assurance could indeed have supported his co... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 7. _ONLY BE THOU STRONG AND VERY COURAGEOUS,_ &C.— God requires of Joshua fortitude and courage; which, indeed, ought necessarily to adorn the character of every person raised to the government of a nation; that so, being always faithful in the cause of religion, he may enforce its duties on... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 8. _THIS BOOK OF THE LAW SHALL NOT DEPART OUT OF THY MOUTH,_ &C.— "This law, whose original is laid up in the sanctuary, shall never cease to be the subject of thy meditations and discourses, that so all thy conduct may be perfectly conformable thereto." By which it is evident, that Joshua ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 9. _HAVE NOT I COMMANDED THEE?_ &C.— These are the grounds of that intrepid courage which was to animate the soul of Joshua 1 st, The calling wherewith God had dignified him. 2nd, The positive promise of a lasting protection. REFLECTIONS.—Moses had been a faithful servant; but death is the co... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 10. _THEN JOSHUA COMMANDED THE OFFICERS OF THE PEOPLE_— Obedient to the divine injunction, Joshua hastens to take all those measures which human prudence could suggest to a pious mind in the present emergency. He commands the _schoterim, i.e._ the _officers_ subordinate to the _schophetim,_ o... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 11. _PASS THROUGH THE HOST, AND COMMAND THE PEOPLE, SAYING, PREPARE YOU VICTUALS_— They were to make proclamation throughout the several tribes, in all the camps of Israel, to provide themselves with such victuals as the countries of Sihon and Og, which they had lately conquered, afforded. Bu... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 12-15. _AND TO THE REUBENITES,_ &C. _SPAKE JOSHUA_— We have elsewhere remarked, that Moses had given to these two tribes and a half settlements on this side Jordan; but on condition, that when it became necessary to pass that river, they should furnish their quota of troops, and march at the... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 16, 17. _AND THEY ANSWERED JOSHUA, SAYING, ALL THAT THOU COMMANDEST US, WE WILL DO,_ &C. _ACCORDING AS WE HEARKENED UNTO MOSES_— This is a very express acknowledgment of the divinity of Joshua's mission, and an absolute submission to his commands: all the tribes evidently gave the like answer... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 18. _WHOSOEVER HE BE THAT DOTH REBEL,_ &C. _HE SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH_— He shall be treated as a criminal guilty of high treason: so the words are understood by Maimonides and most of the rabbis. We may further take notice, that Joshua was a king and a prophet, as Moses had been; and that, acc... [ Continue Reading ]