Matthew Poole and continuators on Joshua 23

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.

About 14 years after it.

Marginal references: Heb. come into days.

2 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.

Either to his own City, or rather to Shiloh, the usual place of such Assemblies, where his words being uttered before the Lord, were likely to have the more effect upon them.

Not all the people in their own persons, who could not either come thither, or hear him there; but in their Representatives, by their Elders, Heads, Iudges and Officers, which are here added for the restriction and explication of that general expression.

Or, even for, &c.

3 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.

For your sake and good, that you might gain by their losses.

Marginal references: Exod. 14. 14.

4 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 .

Not yet Conquered.

You shall certainly subdue them, and inherit their Land, as you have done the rest, if you be not wanting to your selves.

i. e. With the Land of those Nations; the People put for their Land, as we have seen before; and as sometimes on the contrary, the Land is put for the People.

Where the Philistines, your most formidable Adversaries yet survive; but them also and their Land I have given to you, and you shall undoubtedly destroy them, if you will proceed vigorously in your work.

Marginal references: Heb. at the sun-set.

6 Be ye therefore very couragious , 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 .

For it will require great Courage and Resolution to execute all the Commands of Moses, and particularly, that of expelling and destroying the residue of the Canaanites.

i. e. In one kind or other, by adding to the Law, or diminishing from it, as Moses speaks.

Marginal references: Deut. 5. 32. and 28. 14.

7 That ye come not among these nations , these that remain amongst you, neither make mention of the name of their gods , nor cause to swear by them , neither serve them, nor bow your selves unto them .

i. e. Avoid all familiar converse and contracts, but especially Marriages with them, as it is explained, v. 12. and as the Hebrew Verb intimates; being oft used of coming or going in to a Woman.

To wit, unnecessarily and familiarly, lest the mention of them breed discourse about them, and so by degrees bring a man to the approbation and worship of them. Compare Exod. 23. 13. Deut. 12. 3. Psal. 16. 4. Eph. 5. 3.

Nor require or compel the Gentiles to swear by them, as they used to do, especially in Leagues and Contracts, which therefore the Israelites are here implicitely forbidden to make with them.

Neither give them any inward reverence, or outward adoration. Here is an observable gradation, whereby he shews what notable Progress Sin usually makes, and what need there is to look to the beginnings of it, forasmuch as a civil and common conversation with their persons was likely to bring them, and indeed did actually bring them, by insensible steps, to the Worship of their gods. So it is no wonder, if some things not simply and in themselves evil, be forbidden by God, as here the naming of their gods is, because they are occasions and introductions to evil.

Marginal references: Psal. 16. 4. Jer. 5. 7. Zeph. 1. 5.

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

By firm Affiance, constant Obedience, intire Affection, faithful Service and Worship of him alone.

To wit, since you came into Canaan, since which time the body of the people (for of them he speaks, not of every particular person) had behaved themselves much better than they did in the Wilderness; and had not been guilty of any gross and general Apostacy from God, or Rebellion against him.

Marginal references: Or, for if [illegible: 1 word] will cleave, &c.; Deut. 11. [illegible: 1 word].

9 For the LORD hath driven out from before you, great nations and strong, but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

To wit, whom you have invaded; otherwise some of those people did yet remain unconquered.

Marginal references: Or, then the LORD [illegible: 1 word] drive.

10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you , as he hath promised you.

Impute not this therefore to your own valour, as you will be apt to do, but to Gods gracious and powerful assistance.

Marginal references: Lev. 26. [illegible: 1+ letters]. Deut. 32. [illegible: 1 word].; Exod. 1[illegible: 1+ letters] 1[illegible: 1+ letters] and 23. 2[illegible: 1+ letters].

11 Take good heed therefore unto your selves : that ye love the LORD your God.

Now it requires more watchfulness and diligence than it did in the Wilderness, because your Temptations are now more and stronger; partly, from the examples and insinuations of your bad Neighbours, the remainders of this wicked people; and partly from your own Peace and Prosperity; and the Pride, Security, Forgetfulness of God, and Luxury, which usually attend upon that condition, as God had warned them, Deut. 6. 10, 11, 12.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word]

12 Else, if ye do in any wise go back , and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them , and they to you;

From God, and from his Worship and Service.

The Phrase notes the Matrimonial act.

13 Know for a certainty, that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you , and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes ; until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

By your indulgence to them, and converse with them, you will be inticed and drawn by degrees into their Errors, and Impieties, and bruitish Lusts.

When they have inveagled, and seduced, and thereby weakned you, then they will molest and vex you, no less than a severe Scourge doth a mans Sides which are lashed by it, or than a small Thorn doth the Eye when it is got within it.

They shall so Persecute you, and Fight against you with such Success, that you shall be forced to quit your own Land, and wander you know not whither, which must needs be very Terrible to them to think of, when they compared this present Ease, and Plenty and Safety, with the Pains, and Weariness, and Hazards, and Wants of their former Wandrings.

Marginal references: Exod. [illegible: 1+ letters]3. [illegible: 1 word] Numb. 33. [illegible: 1 word] Deut. 7. 1[illegible: 1+ letters].

14 And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth , and ye know in all your hearts, and in all your souls , that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you, all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

i. e. Of all flesh, or of all men, the way which all men go; I am about to Die, as all men must, Heb. 9. 27. The same Phrase is 1 King. 2. 2.

i. e. You know assuredly, your own experience puts it out of all question.

Qu. How is this true, when so great a part of the Promised Land and People yet remained unconquered? Ans. God promised them to destroy all their Enemies, and to give them the whole Land, not at once, but by degrees, by little and little, as is expressed, Deut. 7. 22. and as was most convenient for them.

Marginal references: Chap. 21. 45.

15 Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you: so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things , until he have destroyed you from off this good land, which the LORD your God hath given you.

The accomplishment of Gods Promises is a Pledge or Assurance, that he will also fulfil his Threatnings, both of them depending upon the same ground, the faithfulness of God.

Marginal references: Lev. 26. 16. Deut. 28. 15, 16, &c.