John Calvin Commentary Joshua 23:14

"And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which Jehovah your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, not one thing hath failed thereof." — Joshua 23:14 (ASV)

And, behold, this day I am going, etc. Since it has been appointed to all men once to die (Hebrews 9:27), Joshua says that in regard to himself the common end of all is at hand, because he, too, was born mortal. These expressions are evidently adapted to console the people and prevent them from feeling immoderate grief at the bereavement when he would be taken from them.

For there cannot be a doubt that his loss filled the people with the deepest regret, when they saw themselves reduced, as it were, to a mutilated trunk by being deprived of their head. He therefore admonishes them that since the race of life is ended by having reached the goal, they should not ask that his condition be different from that of the whole human race. Meanwhile, he does not imply that the form of dying is the same for all. This is because believers of heavenly doctrine are distinguished from unbelievers by an incorruptible seed, which does not allow them to perish in the same way. He only refers to what is common to all, namely, departure from the world after the course of life is ended. The substance of his whole address amounts to this: that as God had proved himself true by his favors and the fulfillment of his promises, so his threats would not be empty or vain, and he would certainly avenge the profanation of his worship by their final destruction.