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| 1 And it came to pass, after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh,–that Yahweh spake unto Joshua son of Nun, the attendant of Moses, 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, pass over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, into the land which I am giving unto them–unto the sons 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, unto you, have I given it,–as I spake 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 desert 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 in of the sun, shall be your boundary. |
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 No man shall 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, 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 firm and bold,–for, thou, shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers,–to give unto 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 very firm and bold, taking heed to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee, do not turn aside therefrom, to the right hand 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 scroll of the law must not cease out of thy mouth, but thou must talk to thyself therein, day and night, that thou mayest take heed to do according to all that is written therein,–for, then, shalt thou make thy way prosperous, and, then, shalt thou 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 I not commanded thee, Be firm and bold, do not start nor be dismayed,–for, with thee, is Yahweh thy God, 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 So then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying: |
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| 11 Pass ye through the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying: Make ready for yourselves, provisions,–for, in three days more, are ye to pass over this Jordan, to go in and possess the land which Yahweh your God is giving you, to possess. |
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, unto the Reubenites, and unto the Gadites, and unto the half 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 Yahweh commanded you, saying,–Yahweh your God, is granting you rest, and doth give you this land. |
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| 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses hath given you over the Jordan,–but, ye, shall pass over, armed, before your brethren,–all ye mighty men of valour, and shall help them; |
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| 15 until that Yahweh shall grant rest unto your brethren, as unto you, so shall, they also, possess the land which Yahweh your God giveth them,–then shall ye return unto the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Yahweh hath given you over the Jordan, towards the rising of the sun. |
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| 16 Then responded they to Joshua, saying,–All that thou hast commanded us, will we do, and, whithersoever thou shalt send us, will we go: |
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| 17 As in every thing we hearkened unto Moses, so, will we hearken unto thee,–only let Yahweh thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. |
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| 18 Any man who shall rebel against thy bidding, and not hearken unto thy words in all that thou shalt command him, shall be put to death,–only be firm and bold. |
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