I sent Moses also and Aaron ,.... To demand Israel's dismission of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and to be the deliverers of them: and I plagued Egypt according to that which I did amongst them ; inflicting ten plagues upon them for refusing to let Israel go: and afterwards I brought you out ; that is, out of Egypt, with an high hand, and outstretched arm. read more
And I brought your fathers out of Egypt ,.... Which more fully expresses the sense of the last clause of Joshua 24:5 , and you came unto the sea ; which respects some senior persons then present; for, besides Caleb and Joshua, there were many at this time alive who came to and passed through the Red sea, at their coming out of Egypt; for those whose carcasses fell in the wilderness were such as were mere than twenty years of age at their coming out from Egypt, and who were the... read more
And when they cried unto the Lord ,.... That is, the Israelites, being in the utmost distress, the sea before them, Pharaoh's large host behind them, and the rocks on each side of them; see Exodus 14:10 , he put darkness between you and the Egyptians ; the pillar of cloud, the dark side of which was turned to the Egyptians, and which was the reason of their following the Israelites into the sea; for not being able to see their way, knew not where they were; see Exodus 14:20 , and... read more
And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan ,.... The kingdoms of Sihon and Og, and they fought with you; the two kings of them, and their armies: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land ; and which was now possessed by the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh: and I destroyed them from before you ; the kings, their forces, and the inhabitants of their countries; the history of which see in ... read more
Then Balak the son of Zippor, the king of Moab, arose ,.... Being alarmed with what Israel had done to the two kings of the Amorites, and by their near approach to the borders of his kingdom: and warred against Israel ; he fully designed it, and purpose is put for action, as Kimchi observes; he prepared for it, proclaimed war, and commenced it, though he did not come to a battle, he made use of stratagems and wiles, and magical arts, to hurt them, and sent for Balaam to curse them, that... read more
But I would not hearken unto Balaam ,.... Who was very solicitous to get leave of the Lord to curse Israel, which he knew he could not do without; he had a goodwill to it but could not accomplish it: therefore he blessed you still ; went on blessing Israel to the last, when Balak hoped every time he would have cursed them; and Balaam himself was very desirous of doing it; but could not, being overruled by the Lord, and under his restraint; which shows his power over evil spirits, and... read more
And ye went over Jordan ,.... In a miraculous manner, the waters parting to make way for the host of Israel: and came unto Jericho ; the first city of any size and strength in the land, which was about seven or eight miles from Jordan; See Gill on Numbers 22:1 , and the men of Jericho fought against you ; by endeavouring to intercept their spies, and cut them off; by shutting up the gates of their city against Israel; and it may be throwing darts, arrows, and stones, from off the... read more
And I sent the hornet before you ,.... Of which See Gill on Exodus 23:28 , which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites ; who were Sihon and Og, and not only them, and the Amorites under them, but the other nations, Hivites, Hittites, &c.; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow ; but by insects of the Lord's sending to them, which, as Kimchi says, so blinded their eyes, that they could not see to fight, and so Israel came upon them, and slew... read more
And I have given you a land for which you did not labour ,.... Or, in which F26 בה "in qua", V. L. Pagninus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. , by manuring and cultivating it, by dunging, and ploughing, and sowing: and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them ; neither built the houses in them, nor the walls and fortifications about them; in which now they dwelt safely, and at ease, and which had been promised them as well as what follows; see Deuteronomy 6:10 , of... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 24:1-14
Joshua thought he had taken his last farewell of Israel in the solemn charge he gave them in the foregoing chapter, when he said, I go the way of all the earth; but God graciously continuing his life longer than expected, and renewing his strength, he was desirous to improve it for the good of Israel. He did not say, ?I have taken my leave of them once, and let that serve;? but, having yet a longer space given him, he summons them together again, that he might try what more he could do to... read more