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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Reubenites' Answer. (b. c. 1451.)
THE REUBENITES' ANSWER. (B. C. 1451.) This answer was given not by the two tribes and a half only (though they are spoken of immediately before), but by the officers of all the people (Joshua 1:10), as their representat…
The Two Spies and Rahab. (b. c. 1451.)
THE TWO SPIES AND RAHAB. (B. C. 1451.) In these verses we have, I. The prudence of Joshua, in sending spies to observe this important pass, which was likely to be disputed at the entrance of Israel into Canaan (Joshua 2…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 2:8-21
The matter is here settled between Rahab and the spies respecting the service she was now to do for them, and the favour they were afterwards to show to her. She secures them on condition that they should secure her. I.…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 2:22-24
We have here the safe return of the spies Joshua had sent, and the great encouragement they brought with them to Israel to proceed in their descent upon Canaan. Had they been disposed to discourage the people, as the ev…
Preparation for Passing over the Jordan. (b. c. 1451.)
PREPARATION FOR PASSING OVER THE JORDAN. (B. C. 1451.) Rahab, in mentioning to the spies the drying up of the Red Sea (Joshua 2:10), the report of which terrified the Canaanites more than anything else, intimates that t…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 3:7-13
We may observe here how God honours Joshua, and by this wondrous work he is about to do designs to make Israel know that he is their governor, and then how Joshua honours God and endeavours by it to make Israel know tha…
The Passage over the Jordan. (b. c. 1451.)
THE PASSAGE OVER THE JORDAN. (B. C. 1451.) Here we have a short and plain account of the dividing of the river Jordan, and the passage of the children of Israel through it. The story is not garnished with the flowers of…
The Passage over the Jordan. (b. c. 1451.)
THE PASSAGE OVER THE JORDAN. (B. C. 1451.) We may well imagine how busy Joshua and all the men of war were while they were passing over Jordan, when besides their own marching into an enemy's country, and in the face of…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 4:10-19
The inspired historian seems to be so well pleased with his subject here that he is loth to quit it, and is therefore very particular in his narrative, especially in observing how closely Joshua pursued the orders God g…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 4:20-24
The twelve stones which were laid down in Gilgal (Joshua 4:8) are here set up either one upon another, yet so as that they might be distinctly counted, or one by another in rows; for after they were fixed they are not c…
The Circumcision of the Israelites. (b. c. 1451.)
THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE ISRAELITES. (B. C. 1451.) A vast show, no doubt, the numerous camp of Israel made in the plains of Jericho, where now they had pitched their tents. Who can count the dust of Jacob? That which had…
The Ceasing of the Manna. (b. c. 1451.)
THE CEASING OF THE MANNA. (B. C. 1451.) We may well imagine that the people of Canaan were astonished, and that when they observed the motions of the enemy they could not but think them very strange. When soldiers take…
The Captain of the Lord's Host. (b. c. 1451.)
THE CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST. (B. C. 1451.) We have hitherto found God often speaking to Joshua, but we read not till now of any appearance of God's glory to him; now that his difficulties increased his encouragements…
The Siege of Jericho. (b. c. 1451.)
THE SIEGE OF JERICHO. (B. C. 1451.) We have here a contest between God and the men of Jericho, and their different resolutions, upon which it is easy to say whose word shall prevail. I. Jericho resolves Israel shall not…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 6:6-16
We have here an account of the cavalcade which Israel made about Jericho, the orders Joshua gave concerning it, as he had received them from the Lord and their punctual observance of these orders. We do not find that he…
Jericho Destroyed; Preservation of Rahab. (b. c. 1451.)
JERICHO DESTROYED; PRESERVATION OF RAHAB. (B. C. 1451.) The people had religiously observed the orders given them concerning the besieging of Jericho, and now at length Joshua had told them (Joshua 6:16), "The Lord hath…
The Sin of Achan. (b. c. 1451.)
THE SIN OF ACHAN. (B. C. 1451.) The story of this chapter begins with a but. The Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was noised through all that country, so the foregoing chapter ends, and it left no room to doubt but th…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 7:6-9
We have here an account of the deep concern Joshua was in upon this sad occasion. He, as a public person, interested himself more than any other in this public loss, and is therein an example to princes and great men, a…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 7:10-15
We have here God's answer to Joshua's address, which, we may suppose, came from the oracle over the ark, before which Joshua had prostrated himself, Joshua 7:6. Those that desire to know the will of God must attend with…
Achan's Arraignment; Achan's Confession; The Execution of Achan. (b. c. 1451.)
ACHAN'S ARRAIGNMENT; ACHAN'S CONFESSION; THE EXECUTION OF ACHAN. (B. C. 1451.) We have in these verses, I. The discovery of Achan by the lot, which proved a perfect lot, though it proceeded gradually. Though we may supp…
The Destruction of Ai. (b. c. 1451.)
THE DESTRUCTION OF AI. (B. C. 1451.) Israel were very happy in having such a commander as Joshua, but Joshua was more happy in having such a director as God himself; when any difficulty occurred, he needed not to call a…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 8:3-22
We have here an account of the taking of Ai by stratagem. The stratagem here used, we are sure, was lawful and good; God himself appointed it, and we have no reason to think but that the like is lawful and good in other…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 8:23-29
We have here an account of the improvement which the Israelites made of their victory over Ai. 1. They put all to the sword, not only in the field, but in the city, man, woman, and child, none of them remained, Joshua 8…
Sacrifice Offered on Mount Ebal; The Reading of the Law. (b. c. 1451.)
SACRIFICE OFFERED ON MOUNT EBAL; THE READING OF THE LAW. (B. C. 1451.) This religious solemnity of which we have here an account comes in somewhat surprisingly in the midst of the history of the wars of Canaan. After th…