Matthew Henry Commentary Joshua 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Joshua 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Joshua 1
"Now it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of Jehovah, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses` minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you have I given it, as I spake unto Moses. From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border." — Joshua 1:1-4 (ASV)
Joshua had served Moses. He who was called to honor had long been accustomed to responsibilities. Our Lord Jesus took upon him the form of a servant. Joshua was trained under command. Those are most fit to rule who have learned to obey.
The removal of useful men should spur survivors to be more diligent in doing good. Arise, go over Jordan. At this place and at this time, the banks were overflowed. Joshua had no bridge or boats, and yet he must believe that God, having ordered the people over, would open a way.
"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." — Joshua 1:5-9 (ASV)
Joshua is to make the law of God his rule. He is charged to meditate on it day and night, that he might understand it. Whatever affairs of this world we have to mind, we must not neglect the one thing needful. All his orders to the people, and his judgments, must be according to the law of God. Joshua must himself be under command; no man's dignity or dominion sets him above the law of God.
He is to encourage himself with the promise and presence of God. Do not let the sense of your own infirmities dishearten you; God is all-sufficient. I have commanded, called, and commissioned you to do it, and will be sure to support you in it.
When we are in the way of duty, we have reason to be strong and very bold. Our Lord Jesus, as Joshua here, was sustained under his sufferings by a regard to the will of God, and the commandment from his Father.
"Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Pass through the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which Jehovah your God giveth you to possess it. And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, Remember the word which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, saying, Jehovah your God giveth you rest, and will give you this land. Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall abide in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but ye shall pass over before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them; until Jehovah have given your brethren rest, as [he hath given] you, and they also have possessed the land which Jehovah your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising." — Joshua 1:10-15 (ASV)
Joshua says to the people, Ye shall pass over Jordan, and shall possess the land; because God had said so to him. We honour the truth of God when we do not stagger at the promise of God. The two and a half tribes were to go over Jordan with their brothers. When God, by his providence, has given us rest, we ought to consider what service we may do for our brothers.
"And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou hast commanded us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go. According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only Jehovah thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. Whosoever he be that shall rebel against thy commandment, and shall not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of good courage." — Joshua 1:16-18 (ASV)
The people of Israel commit to obeying Joshua; all that you command us to do, we will readily do, without murmuring or disputing, and wherever you send us, we will go.
The best we can ask of God for our magistrates is that they may have God's presence; this will make them blessings to us, so that in seeking this for them, we also serve our own interest.
May we be enabled to enlist under the banner of the Captain of our salvation, to be obedient to His commands, and to fight the good fight of faith, with all who trust in and love His name, against all who oppose His authority.
For whoever refuses to obey Him must be destroyed.
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