Joshua 1:13

_REMEMBER THE WORD WHICH MOSES THE SERVANT OF THE LORD COMMANDED YOU, SAYING, THE LORD YOUR GOD HATH GIVEN YOU REST, AND HATH GIVEN YOU THIS LAND._ Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying. The words spoken by Joshua are not a literal quotation, but the substance only of what was addressed by Moses (Deuteronomy 3:18) to the two tribes and a half, reminding them of their obligation to aid their brethren in the war of invasion. ON THIS SIDE JORDAN - i:e., on the east side. х_ `EEBER_ (H5676) is rendered sometimes on this, sometimes on the other side Jordan, its proper meaning in any passage being determined by the position of the writer or speaker. It is used in Deuteronomy, and also in Joshua (Josh

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 1:13. _REMEMBER THE WORD_] He puts the Reubenites, c., in remembrance of the engagements they had made with Moses (See Numbers 32:20) when he granted them their portion on the east side of Jordan....

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...

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....

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 WORD. Compare Numbers 32:20....

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;...

_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 head of the whole army into the land of Canaan, properly so called. Here, therefore, Joshua puts them again in mind of this engagement; and seems less to command them, than to remind them of the orders they had already received from Moses. See Numbers 32:20; Numbers 32:42.Deuteronomy 3:18; Deuteronomy 3:29. We f