Joshua 1:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 1:1-9

Honour is here put upon Joshua, and great power lodged in his hand, by him that is the fountain of honour and power, and by whom kings reign. Instructions are given him by Infinite Wisdom, and encouragements by the God of all consolation. God had before spoken to Moses concerning him (Num. 27:18), but now he speaks to him (Josh. 1:1), probably as he spoke to Moses (Lev. 1:1) out of the tabernacle of the congregation, where Joshua had with Moses presented himself (Deut. 31:14), to learn the way... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 1:4

From the wilderness ,.... The wilderness of Kadesh and Sin, on the border of Edom; in the southeast corner, as Jarchi says, see Numbers 34:3 , and this Lebanon ; which though on the other side Jordan, and at a considerable distance, being the northern border of the land towards Syria, might be seen afar off; or it is expressed, because it was a well known place, as Kimchi remarks: even unto the great river, the river Euphrates ; which was the eastern border of the land, and to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 1:4

From the wilderness and this Lebanon - Joshua appears to be standing with his face towards the promised land, and pointing out the different places, or their situation, with his hand, This Lebanon, etc. The utmost of their limits should be from the desert of Arabia Petraea on the South to Lebanon on the North: and from the Euphrates on the East to the Mediterranean Sea on the West. The Israelites did not possess the full extent of this grant till the days of David. See 2 Samuel... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 1:4

Verse 4 4.From the wilderness and this Lebanon, etc How the truth and fulfillment of this promise surmounted all the obstacles interposed by the wickedness of the people, though they did not obtain immediate possession of the whole territory, I have explained in the Argument. For although God had unfolded the inestimable treasures of his beneficence by constituting them lords of the country, it did not follow that their misconduct was not to be chastised. Nay, there behooved to be a fulfillment... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 1:1-4

Joshua's Commission. This passage may be viewed under two main aspects: As these points of view suggest two perfectly distinct and independent lines of thought, it is obvious that they are better fitted for two separate discourses than for being combined in one. I. JOSHUA AS THE TYPE OF GOD 'S MINISTERS . 1. After the death of Moses, the task devolves upon his minister. So after the death of Christ, the task of conquering the world devolved upon His apostles, His... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 1:4

From the wilderness and this Lebanon. The words suppose a line to be drawn from the desert of Arabia on the south and the range of Lebanon on the north, to the River Euphrates on the one hand and the Mediterranean Sea on the other, including the land of the Hittites (see 1 Kings 4:24 ; 2 Chronicles 9:26 ). Tiphsah, the later Thapsacus, was far north of the utmost limits of Palestine, and almost in the latitude of Antioch. Azzah is generally termed Gaza in our version. See note on Joshua... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 1:4

Lebanon is spoken of as “this Lebanon,” because visible from the neighborhood in which Israel was encamped. (Compare Deuteronomy 3:8-9.) “The wilderness” of the text is the Desert of Arabia, which forms the southern, as Lebanon does the northern, limit of the promised land. The boundaries on the east and west are likewise indicated; and the intervening territory is described generally as “all the land of the Hittites.” The Hittites are properly the inhabitants of northern Canaan and Phoenicia... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 1:3-4

Joshua 1:3-4. Every place That is, within the following bounds. This Lebanon Emphatically, as being the most eminent mountain in Syria, and the northern border of the land: or this which is within thy view. Hittites Of the Canaanites, who, elsewhere, are called Amorites, (Genesis 15:16,) and here Hittites, the Hittites being the most considerable and formidable of them all. The greater sea The midland sea, great in itself, and especially compared with those lesser collections of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 1:1-18

1:1-5:15 ENTRY INTO CANAANPreparations (1:1-2:24)God’s command to Joshua was brief and straightforward: he was to take the land of Canaan. (The region in which Canaan was situated was occupied by various tribal peoples, the most important of whom were the Hittites and the Amorites.) Israel would not win the land without a fight, but the people had God’s assurance that wherever they advanced they would gain possession (1:1-5). As leader of the people, Joshua had the assurance of God’s presence,... read more

Group of Brands