Joshua 23:1

_AND IT CAME TO PASS A LONG TIME AFTER THAT THE LORD HAD GIVEN REST UNTO ISRAEL FROM ALL THEIR ENEMIES ROUND ABOUT, THAT JOSHUA WAXED OLD AND STRICKEN IN AGE._ A long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel - about 14 years afar the conquest of Canaan, and 7 years after the distribution of that country among the tribes....

Here we have a narrative of the solemn protestation which Joshua used towards the time of his death, that he might leave the pure worship of God surviving him. But although the peace and quiet which the Israelites obtained among the nations of Canaan is described as an excellent blessing from God, it is necessary to keep in mind what I formerly taught, that it was owing to their cowardice that they dwelt among their enemies, whom it would not have been difficult to rout and destroy. But thanks are justly rendered to God for his goodness in pardoning their ingratitude. The pious solicitude of Joshua is here also set forth, for the imitation of all who are in authority. For as the father of a family will not be considered sufficiently provident if he thinks of his children only till the end of his own life, and does not extend his care farther, studying as much as in him lies to do them go...

1-10 Joshua was old and dying, let them observe what he said now. He put them in mind of the great things God had done for them in his days. He exhorted them to be very courageous. Keep with care, do with diligence, and regard with sincerity what is written. Also, very cautiously to endeavour that the heathen idolatry may be forgotten, so that it may never be revived. It is sad that among Christians the names of the heathen gods are so commonly used, and made so familiar as they are. Joshua exhorts them to be very constant. There might be many things amiss among them, but they had not forsaken the Lord their God; the way to make people better, is to make the best of them....

CHAPTER XXIII _Joshua, being old, calls for the rulers and different heads of_ _the Israelites_, 1, 2, _to whom he relates how God had put them in possession of the_ _promised land_, 3, 4; _from which all their remaining enemies should be expelled_, 5. _Exhorts them to be faithful to God, and to avoid all connections_ _with the idolatrous nations_, 6-8. _Encourages them with the strongest promises, that no enemy_ _should ever be able to prevail against them, if they continued_ _to love the Lord their God_, 9-11....

This and the next chapter contain the last addresses of Joshua. These addresses were no doubt among the closing acts of Joshua’s life, but were evidently given on different occasions, and are of different character and scope. In the former Joshua briefly reminds the princes of the recent benefits of God toward them and their people, declares that God had fulfilled all His promises, and exhorts to faithfulness on their side to God that so His mercies may not be withdrawn: in the latter he takes a wider range, rehearses the gracious dealings of God with the nation from its very origin, and upon these as his grounds, he claims for God their sincere and entire service. But he grants them the option of withdrawing from the covenant if they so choose; and when they elect still to abide by it, it is solemnly renewed by the free consent of the whole people. Joshua’s reproofs and warnings are in...

EXPOSITION JOSHUA'S SOLEMN CHARGE.— JOSHUA 23:1 WAXED OLD AND STRICKEN IN AGE. Literally, _was old, advanced in days _(see Joshua 13:1). But this refers to a more advanced age still, when the patriarch felt his powers failing him, and desired, as far as his influence went, to preserve the Israelites in the path in which they had walked since their entrance into Canaan. Calvin has some good remarks on the "pious solicitude" shown by the aged warrior for those whom he had led in time of war and guided in time of peace. He seems to have sent for the chief men in Israel to his home at Timnath-Serah, where apparently he had led a retired and peaceful life, only coming forward to direct the affairs of t

AND IT CAME TO PASS A LONG TIME AFTER,.... Or "after many days" o, that is, years: THAT THE LORD HAD GIVEN REST UNTO ISRAEL FROM ALL THEIR ENEMIES ROUND ABOUT; the greatest part of the land of Canaan was subdued, the whole divided by lot to the tribes of Israel, and they quietly settled in the respective portions assigned them, the Canaanites that remained giving them no disturbance, in which state of rest and peace they had now been for some years; and this may be reasonably supposed to be the last year of the life of Joshua, see Joshua 23:14. THAT JOSHUA WAXED OLD [AND] STRICKEN IN AGE; and became feeble and decrepit, and greatly declined; for though he was ten years younger than Moses when he died, yet not so vigorous, strong, and robust as he, but was pressed and bore down with the infirmities of age. o מימים רבים "post dies multos", Pa

2. JOSHUA'S TWO ADDRESSES The First Address CHAPTER 23 _ 1. The people gathered (Joshua 23:1)_ 2. God's faithfulness remembered (Joshua 23:3) 3. Exhortations to obedience (Joshua 23:6) 4. Warning (Joshua 23:12) 5. Conclusion of first address (Joshua 23:14) It was about eight years after the Lord had given rest unto Israel, that the aged Joshua called for all Israel and their elders to assemble in his presence. He was very old and the time of his departure at hand. The purpose of his first address is

A LONG TIME AFTER. Eight years. See App-50. THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. OLD AND STRICKEN IN AGE. Aged 102. Compare Joshua 13:1. Figure of speech, _Pleonasm_. App-6. Hebrew. "old and advanced in (or come into) the days"....

Joshua 23:1-16. Joshua's first Farewell Address 1. _had given rest_ Comp. Joshua 21:43-44; Joshua 22:3-4. _waxed old_ Comp. Joshua 13:1, "Now Joshua was old and stricken in years." _stricken in age_ Heb. _come into days_; "of ful eld age," Wyclif....