Bible Commentaries

And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old [and] stricken in age.

Joshua waxed old. — And so more fit to give counsel than now to act great exploits, εργα νεων, βουλαι δε γερονων . Howbeit he was willing to show that although he was old and withering, yet "the root of the matter was in him"; and like the rose, he kept his sweet savour, though he had lost his lovely colour.

return to '

And Joshua called for all Israel, [and] for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old [and] stricken in age:

I am old and stricken in age. — Audite senem iuvenes, quem iuvenem senes audierunt, said old Augustus to his mutineers, and settled them.

“ Tanta fuit quondam capitis reverentia cani,

Inque sou precio ruga senilis erat. ”

return to '

And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God [is] he that hath fought for you.

And ye have seen all that the Lord your God. — Joshua intituleth God to all his conquests so did David, and our Richard I. So have we vanquished the king of France at Gisors, said he in his letter to Philip Bishop of Duresme; howbeit, we have not done the same, but Dieu et mon droit God and our right, by us. And the like did our Henry V at the battle of Agincourt; and our late thrice noble generals in their highest achievements at home and abroad. Hoveden, fol. 445. Speed, 799.

return to '

Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

With all the nations that I have cut off. — That is, God by my hands, as Joshua 23:3 for he it was who taught mine hands to war, and my fingers to fight.

return to '

And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.

And drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess. — The same Hebrew word Jarash here signifieth to possess and to dispossess. Canaanites shall be cast out of what they get or detain from God’s people.

return to '

Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom [to] the right hand or [to] the left;

Be ye therefore very courageous. — Get good store of spiritual mettle, which is got by prayer, and maketh a man invincible. Of cowards they were wont to say in Rome, that there was nothing Roman in them: of many amongst us it may be said, There is nothing Christian in them.

return to '

That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

That ye come not among these nations. — For if ye once give way to come amongst them and converse with them, you will easily and quickly be drawn to do worse; even all that is here mentioned, to make honourable mention of their gods, to swear by them, to serve them, … Sin is wondrous catching, and contagious, and Nemo repente fuit turpissimus.

return to '

But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.

As ye have done unto this day, — viz., Since I have had the governance of you, Vita Principis censura est, imo Cynosura: the life of the prince is the loade star of the Commonwealth, Magnates magnetes; good governors make good people: and on the contrary, Qualis rix, talis grex.

return to '