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The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 22:34
Ed. This word is not in the original. It is found in some late MSS. and in the Syriac and Arabic versions, but not in the LXX. or Chaldee. Even in the MSS. which have it, the word is found sometimes before and sometimes…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 23:1-10
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 rega…
Joshua's Charge to Israel. (b. c. 1427.)
JOSHUA'S CHARGE TO ISRAEL. (B. C. 1427.) As to the date of this edict of Joshua, I. No mention at all is made of the place where this general assembly was held; some think it was at Timnath-serah, Joshua's own city, whe…
The Pulpit Commentary on 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 w…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:1-16
The last words of the aged servant of God. The influence gained by a long and successful life is immense. It was so in Joshua's case, for it outlasted his life, and continued as long as any of his former colleagues and…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:1-16
EXPOSITION JOSHUA'S SOLEMN CHARGE.—
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:2
All Israel. By their representatives, as subsequently mentioned. For their officers (see Joshua 1:10). In the original the pronoun is in the singular throughout (see note on Joshua 6:25). And said unto them. This speech…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:3
Because of you. Literally, before you.
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:4
Divided unto you by lot. Literally, caused to fall, the lot being of necessity understood. These nations that remain. Israel had therefore not driven them out. This, however, need not of necessity be imputed to them as…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:5
And the Lord your God, he shall expel them. Or, Jehovah your God, He shall thrust them out. Joshua here uses the unusual word found in Deuteronomy 6:19; Deuteronomy 9:4, another instance of quotation from Deuteronomy. T…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:6-8
Cleaving unto the Lord. I. THE DUTY. II. THE DANGER. Joshua saw that there was a danger that the people should cease to "cleave unto the Lord." This arose from various causes: III. THE MOTIVES FOR OVERCOMING THE DANGER…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:6
Be ye therefore very courageous. The original is stronger, Be ye exceedingly courageous (see note on Joshua 1:6). That is written in the book of the law of Moses. A yet more distinct intimation that the words of Moses h…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:7
That ye come not among these nations (see note on Joshua 23:4). We can here perceive that the Israelites, though living among these nations, held no intercourse with them. Neither make mention of the name of their gods.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:8
But cleave unto the Lord your God. Or, ye shall cleave unto Jehovah your God. The phrase denotes the intimate union between God and the soul (see above, and Genesis 2:24).
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:9
For the Lord your God hath driven out. So the Masora and the LXX. The Vulgate and the margin of our version translate by the future. So Luther also. The next verse is undeniably future. An appeal to their experience, wh…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:10
One man of you shall chase a thousand. A quotation from the song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:30).
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:10
Victory assured through the help of God. I. VICTORY IS ASSURED. II. THE SECRET OF VICTORY IS THE HELP OF GOD. Israel must be brave and faithful, and must labour and fight. Yet victory is not secured by these means alone…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 23:11-16
Would we cleave to the Lord, we must always stand upon our guard, for many a soul is lost through carelessness. Love the Lord your God, and you will not leave him. Has God been thus true to you? Be not you false to him.…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 23:11-16
Here, I. Joshua directs them what to do, that they might persevere in religion, Joshua 23:11. Would we cleave to the Lord, and not forsake him, 1. We must always stand upon our guard, for many a precious soul is lost an…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:11
A needed caution. Whilst the words of the youthful sometimes claim our attention, none can forbear to give earnest heed to the advice of him whoso head is whitened with the snows of many winters. Respect is due to the a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:11
Take good heed to yourselves. This is quoted from Deuteronomy 4:15, word for word. The Hebrew is, take heed exceedingly to your souls; but the meaning is either "as you value your lives" (Gesenius), or "with all your so…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:11
Love to God. We are called to love God. It is not enough that we discharge our duty to our neighbour; we have a distinct duty to God (Malachi 1:6), This duty is not fulfilled by the most scrupulous devotion to external…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:12
Go back. Literally, return. Cleave. A word (see Joshua 23:8) signifying close and intimate relationship. And the intimacy of the relationship is indicated, as in Joshua 23:8, by the use of the preposition בְּ. Make marr…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 23:13
Snares and traps. Perhaps, rather, nets and snares. The LXX; where our translation has snare, has παγίς, and for traps has incorrectly σκάνδαλα. The snare or pach was evidently (Amos 3:5) laid upon the earth; but ther…