Bible Commentaries
Joshua 1

Verses 1-18

I. Joshua’ s Commission; Preparation for the Passage of the Jordan.— This chapter does not call for much comment. It is, for the most part, an introduction to the whole book from a Deuteronomic writer. There may have been a Deuteronomic account of the conquest of the land which the compiler of our book used, but more probably the old narrative of JE was taken over by the Deuteronomist, who managed to superimpose his own views by means of an introduction and various additions. These additions are very considerable; hardly any chapters have escaped.

Joshua 1:4 . The boundaries of the land are strangely indicated, and the passage should no doubt read, From the wilderness in the south to Lebanon; and from the river Euphrates to the western sea ( i.e. the Mediterranean) shall be your border”— or rather, territory. In reality, the kingdom never extended as far as this from E. to W., though the N. and S. boundaries would hold good for David’ s time.

Joshua 1:12-15 . See Numbers 32.