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| 1 And it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of Jehovah, that Jehovah spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' attendant, 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; and now, rise up, go over this Jordan, thou and all this people, into the land which I give unto them, 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 whereon the sole of your foot shall tread have I given to 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 to the great river, the river Euphrates, the whole land of the Hittites, to the great sea, toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. |
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 None shall be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee; I will not leave thee, neither will I 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 courageous, for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I have sworn 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 strong and very courageous, that thou mayest take heed to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded thee. Turn not from it to the right or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. |
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 from thy mouth; and thou shalt meditate upon it day and night, that thou mayest take heed to do according to all that is written therein; for then shalt thou have good success in thy ways, and then shalt thou prosper. |
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 I not commanded thee: Be strong and courageous? Be not afraid, neither be dismayed; for Jehovah 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 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, |
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| 11 Go through the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying, Prepare yourselves victuals, for in three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, that ye may enter in to take possession of the land which Jehovah 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 spoke 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 that Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, saying, Jehovah your God has given you rest and has given you this land. |
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| 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall abide in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan, but ye, all the valiant men, shall go over in array before your brethren and help them, |
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| 15 until Jehovah give your brethren rest as to you, and they also take possession of the land which Jehovah your God giveth them; then shall ye return into the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sun-rising. |
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| 16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou hast commanded us will we do, and whither thou shalt send us will we go. |
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| 17 According as we hearkened to Moses in all things, so will we hearken to thee; only may Jehovah thy God be with thee as he was with Moses. |
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| 18 Every one that is rebellious against thy commandment and hearkeneth not to thy words in everything that thou commandest us, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous. |
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