Matthew Poole and continuators on Joshua 1:14

14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattel 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:

To wit, over Iordan.

Either, 1. in their presence. Or, 2. In the front of all of them; which was but reasonable; partly, because they had the advantage of their brethren, having actually received their Portion, which their Brethren had only in hope, and therefore were obliged to more service, the rather to prevent the envy of the other Tribes; partly because they were freed from those Impediments which the rest were exposed to, their Wives, and Children, and Estates being safely lodged; and partly to prevent their retreat and withdrawing themselves from the present service, which they otherwise should have had opportunity and temptation to do, because of the nearness of their Habitations.

For by this time they were well furnished with Arms, which they had either from the Egyptians, or Amalekites, or Amorites, from whom they had taken them; or by purchase from those people by whose borders they passed. Or, in military order: See on Exod. 13. 18.

All such were obliged to go over if occasion required it, but Ioshua took only some of them, partly because they were sufficient for his purpose, and partly because some were fit to be left, both to secure their own Wives, Children, and Possessions, and to prevent their enemies on that side from giving them disturbance or hinderance in their enterprize upon Canaan.

Marginal references: Heb. marshalled by five.