Joshua 1:6-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 1:1-9

Joshua the successor of Moses. The very name Joshua, Jesus, "God's salvation," is enough of itself to awaken special interest in the man who, on the page of Scripture, first bears it. It is suggestive at once of the nature of his life work, and it leads us to anticipate some points of analogy between him and the Savior of the world. Joshua is one of the few Old Testament characters against whose name there is no reproach. Not that this Book presents any formal delineation of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 1:5-6

The leader's promise. Such is God's word to Joshua when commencing his great task. He needed the urgent precept and the supporting promise. He was no youthful dreamer, but one long past middle life, who had no exaggerated estimate of Israel's faithfulness, and no illusions about its task. He needed, and here he gets, the quickening influence of a sacred charge. As God spake to him, so he would speak to all who are constrained by a sense of duty to God or man to undertake some task that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 1:5-9

The source of Joshua's confidence. I. HE HAD BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD . Moses was dead, and Joshua's heart might well have failed him. For the great lawgiver had found the task of leading the Israelites from Egypt to the borders of the promised land too much for his strength and spirit ( Exodus 18:13-17 ; Numbers 11:11-17 ; Deuteronomy 1:9-15 ). Constant rebellions and murmurings had weakened his hands. "They provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 1:6

Be strong and of a good courage. Literally, be strong and vigorous. The word does not refer so much to the character of Joshua as to his actions. He was to be a man of action, alert, prompt, ready to act when occasion demanded (see Deuteronomy 31:6 , Deuteronomy 31:7 , Deuteronomy 31:8 , Deuteronomy 31:23 ). Which I sware unto their fathers (see note on verse 3). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 1:6-9

A renewed covenant. The covenant made with the patriarchs, and afterwards with their descendants when they came out of Egypt, is here renewed in almost the same words. The promises are identical ( Joshua 1:4 , Joshua 1:5 ), and also the conditions of their fulfilment, which are summed up in fidelity and obedience: " Observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee" ( Joshua 1:7 , Joshua 1:8 ). This renewal to each generation of the covenant between... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 1:7

Be very courageous . The word is the same as is translated "be of good courage" above. Knobel remarks that the phraseology here is similar to that of Deuteronomy, but "strange to the other Books" of the Pentateuch. This may be from the fact that Deuteronomy is throughout hortatory, while the other Books are historical. But the recurrence of the hortatory phrases of Deuteronomy here is at least remarkable (see verse 3). Prosper . Rather, perhaps be wise (cf. Deuteronomy 29:9 , though,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 1:8

This book of the law. The law was, therefore, embodied in a written document when the Book of Joshua was written; and as the antiquity of this Book may be regarded as proved, we may quote thus an early authority for the genuineness of at least some portions of the Pentateuch. There was a "book of the law" in Joshua's time, according to this early testimony, and we may conclude from verses 3-7 that Deuteronomy formed a part of it (see also Deuteronomy 17:19 for a similar precept. And for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 1:8

The study of the Bible. Who without secret misgiving could succeed to the position of Moses, that large-hearted, clear-sighted, faithful servant of God? How overwhelming the anxiety of him who would aspire to be leader of the Israelites; a fickle people who, "like bees about to swarm, were ready to alight on any bough." He who summoned Joshua to occupy the vacant post promised to stand by and strengthen him. He gave him the direction contained in the text, to study well the book of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 1:7

Prosper - See the margin. The literal rendering should be retained here since the notion of prosperity is separately introduced by a different word in Joshua 1:8. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 1:6

Joshua 1:6. Be strong and of a good courage Joshua, though a person of great courage and resolution, whereof he had given sufficient proof, yet needed these exhortations, partly because his work was great, and difficult, and long, and in a great measure new; partly because he had a very mean opinion of himself, especially if compared with Moses: and remembering how perverse and ungovernable that people were, even under Moses, he might very well suspect the burden of ruling them would be too... read more

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