Joshua 1:10

_THEN JOSHUA COMMANDED THE OFFICERS OF THE PEOPLE, SAYING,_ Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people. Thus divinely commissioned and encouraged, the new leader inaugurated his work by issuing orders to the Shoterim (see the notes at Exodus 5:10; Deuteronomy 20:5), whose duty it was to keep a regular genealogical register of the people in their divisions and sub-divisions, to allot to each one his share of public work, by levying men for military service, and noting those who claimed exemption....

10._Then Joshua commanded _(25) etc It may be doubted whether or not this proclamation was made after the spies were sent, and of course on their return. And certainly I think it not only probable, but I am fully convinced that it was only after their report furnished him with the knowledge he required, that he resolved to move his camp. It would have been preposterous haste to hurry on an unknown path, while he considered it expedient to be informed on many points before setting foot on a hostile territory. Nor is there anything novel in neglecting the order of time, and afterwards interweaving what had been omitted. The second chapter must therefore be regarded as a kind of interposed parenthesis, explaining to the reader more fully what had happened, when Joshua at length commanded the people to collect their vessels. After all necessary matters had been ascertained, he saw it was hig...

10-15 Joshua says to the people, Ye shall pass over Jordan, and shall possess the land; because God had said so to him. We honour the truth of God, when we stagger not at the promise of God. The two tribes and a half were to go over Jordan with their brethren. When God, by his providence, has given us rest, we ought to consider what service we may do to our brethren....

Verse Joshua 1:10. _COMMANDED THE OFFICERS_] שטרים _shoterim_. These were different from the שפטים _shophetim_, who were judges among the people, and whose business it was to determine in all civil cases. The _shoterim_ have been supposed to be subordinate officers, whose business it was to see the decisions of the _shophetim_ carried into effect. Calmet conjectures that the _shoterim_ here may have been the _heralds_ of the army like those so often met with in _Homer_, who were called the _messengers both of the gods and men_; who bore sceptres, and whose persons were ever held sacred. See on Deuteronomy 1:13-5....

OFFICERS - The “scribes.” (See the Exodus 5:6 note, and Deuteronomy 16:18.)...

EXPOSITION JOSHUA'S COMMAND TO THE PEOPLE,— JOSHUA 1:10 THEN JOSHUA COMMANDED THE OFFICERS OF THE PEOPLE. The _Shoterim, _a term derived from the same root as an Arabic word signifying "to write." Different ideas have been entertained of their duties. Keil, Jahn (_Hebrew Commonwealth_)_, _and others believe that they were genealogists; but it seems more probable that their original duties were to keep processes and minutes, and that, like our Indian "writers" and the "Master of the Rolls" at home, they exercised some kind of judicial functions, with which, moreover, active duties were sometimes combined. The idea that they were genealogists is contrary, as Gesenius shows, to the context in many places. Thus in...

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....

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE ENTRANCE OF THE PEOPLE INTO CANAAN AND THE CONFLICTS 1. The Entrance Commanded and Success Promised CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The Lord speaks to Joshua (Joshua 1:1)_ 2. Joshua speaks to the people (Joshua 1:10) 3. The answer of the people (Joshua 1:16) The little word “now” with which this book begins is in the Hebrew “and.” It links the book with Deuteronomy and the other books of the Pentateuch. It also shows that the previous books were in existence, for the mention of Moses, his death, and Joshua, the minister of Moses, presupposes that the reader knows all about them. But there is a stronger evidence in the eighth verse of the chapter, that the Pentateuch

I. JOSHUA'S COMMISSION; PREPARATION FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE JORDAN. This chapter does not call for much comment. It is, for the most part, an introduction to the whole book from a Deuteronomic writer. There may have been a Deuteronomic account of the conquest of the land which the compiler of our book used, but more probably the old narrative of JE was taken over by the Deuteronomist, who managed to superimpose his own views by means of an introduction and various additions. These additions are very considerable; hardly any Chapter s have escaped. JOSHUA 1:4. The boundaries of the land are strangely indicated, AND the passage should no doubt read, From the wilderness in the south to Lebanon; and from the river Euphrates to the western sea (_i.e._ the Mediterranean) shall be your border or rather, territory. In reality, the kingdom never extended as far as this from E. to W.

The Command of Joshua to the People 10. _the officers_ Or, _Shoterim_. The word denotes (1) literally a "writer," or "scribe;" then (2) an overseer, in whose office were combined various duties, including enrolments, orders &c., also genealogies; (3) a magistrate, prefect, leader of the people, especially, as here, the leaders, officers, of the Israelites in Egypt and in the desert. Comp. Numbers 11:16; Numbers 31:14; Numbers 31:48; Deuteronomy 1:15; Deuteronomy 16:18;...