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| 1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, |
The LORD spake – Typifying his messages of encouragement to the Christ company in the present time. R3079:5
Unto Joshua – Type of Christ. A79
Originally, "Hoshea"--salvation; to which was prefixed "Je"--Jehovah (Num. 13:16). Thus it became "Jehoshua"-- Jehovah's salvation. This was shortened to Joshua and Jeshua (Neh. 8:17). Greek form is Jesus. R5335:3, R4060:3, R5296:5
The oldest or next-to-oldest man in Israel. R4061:1
Moses' minister – Moses' Prime Minister. R3079:1
This training made him familiar with the divine plans and methods as understood and practiced by Moses. R4060:6
Yet void of that ambition which led to the overthrow of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. R3079:2
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| 2 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. |
Now therefore arise – Being meek, he waited for the Lord to authorize his taking command. R4061:1
Go over this Jordan – In the case of the Church, from a state of sin and degradation into harmony with God. R5509:6
The land – As Joshua was to deliver the Lord's people and give them possession of the land of promise; so Jesus is to deliver spiritual Israel and give them their inheritance. R5296:5
Give to them – Not because of their worthiness, but because of his favor toward them, according to his own plan. R5335:6
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| 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. |
Foot shall tread upon – Nothing was theirs except as the soles of their feet claimed possession. It was theirs by faith in that promise--a faith that would lead to works. Likewise spiritual Israelites must claim the promises to obtain them. R4061:2
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| 4 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 coast. |
Of the Hittites – The typical enemies of Israel picture the enemies we find entrenched in our own bodies. R5509:6
Recent excavations in Assyria show that at this time the Hittites were a mighty people. R3079:6
Shall be your coast – The boundaries outlined are practically the same as those possessed during Solomon's reign. R4061:3
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| 5 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. |
Will be with thee – "Without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5)--he is with us only when we do what is clearly indicated in God's Word. R4061:6
Typifying that during the Millennial age the victory of Christ shall be by and through the Father's power. R3079:5
God did not say to him, "Remember your age and long experience and previous successes as a general." R4061:4
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| 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. |
Be strong – In your arms and shoulders--aggressive warfare. R4061:6
God had not promised to give them amicable possessions; they were to fight and conquer their foes. R5509:3
Of a good courage – Have full confidence; not in yourself, but in God. R3079:2, R4064:5
Not the courage born of egotism and self-reliance, nor of recklessness; but, recognizing our own insufficiency, looking to the Lord for assistance. R5510:4
Associated with lower limbs, implying defensive power. R4061:6
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| 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest 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 prosper whithersoever thou goest.
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Be thou strong – The basis for their strength and courage was the promise of God to Abraham that he would bring his seed into the land of Canaan. R5509:2
Joshua, as successor of Moses, needed this encouragement on the occasion of the Israelites entering the promised land. R5296:1, R5509:2
Against Israel's enemies, entrenched in the land of Canaan. R5296:2
Very courageous – Morally courageous. R4062:3
The New Creatures, under the leadership of the antitypical Joshua, are to overcome the weaknesses of the fallen nature. R5296:3
Strength of character and courage are needed now when the iniquity of the whole world has come to the full; and all present governments are about to be swept away. R5707:4
There is a difference between being strong and being courageous. The Great Company will finally overcome, with the Lord's help, yet they will not have been very courageous. R5296:5
Turn not from it – Require neither more nor less than the divine standard, keeping in absolute alignment with the divine Word; a rebuke to those who think the eternal torment theory should be taught whether in the Bible or not. R3080:1
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| 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein 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. |
Meditate therein – Those who carefully lay up the treasures of divine wisdom that they may live by them, are those that truly keep the commandments of God. R2093:6*
Day and night – Not literally; but in the sense of making it your guide and director at all times and in all things. R4062:4
Good success – For spiritual Israelites success in making their calling and election sure will be proportionate to their obedience to the divine message. R4062:5, R3080:5
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| 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. |
I commanded thee – It is not our battle, but the Lord's. R4061:6
Neither be thou dismayed – Through fear of the giants of weaknesses and sin-habits; nor through the thought of the high walls and fortifications of entrenched sin. R4064:2
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| 10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, |
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| 11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it. |
Within three days – Representing the fifth, sixth and seventh thousand-year days. R3080:6
Joshua's promptness and zeal here displayed are worthy of emulation. R4062:6
Prepare you victuals – Representing the Church with her Lord as the Bread from heaven. "We, being many, are one bread." (1 Cor. 10:17) R3081:4
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| 12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, |
Half the tribe of Manasseh – Also given a large tract east of Jordan; showing how Joseph's branches (in Manasseh) went "over the wall" or river. (Gen. 49:22) R2124:6
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| 13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land. |
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| 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them; |
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| 15 Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD'S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising. |
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| 16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. |
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| 17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. |
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| 18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage. |
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