Calvin’s Commentary On The Bible
9.Have not I commanded, etc Although in Hebrew a simple affirmation is often made in the form of a question, and this phraseology is of very frequent occurrence, here, however, the question is emphatic, to give an attestation to what had previously been taught, while the Lord, by bringing his own authority distinctly forward, relieves his servant from care and hesitancy. He asks, Is it not I who have commanded thee? I too will be present with thee. Observe the emphasis: inasmuch as it is not lawful to resist his command. This passage also teaches that nothing is more effectual to produce confidence than when trusting to the call and the command of God, and feeling fully assured of it in our own conscience, we follow whithersoever he is pleased to lead.
French, Cest bien pour certain avec grande signifiance que ceci se dit dautant quil nest pas question de resister a son commandement It is certainly with great significancy that this is said, inasmuch as there is no question of resisting his command.Ed.
Compare Joshua : 9 In Four Translations
I have commanded you, Be strong and courageous! Dont tremble or be terrified, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.GODS WORD Translation Meaning-for-Meaning
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.King James Version
Joshua : 9 Meaning And Commentary
Joshua 1:9
Have not I commanded thee?& c.] The above things, to go over Jordan with the people into the land of Canaan, and to observe the law of Moses in all things, and to be of good courage, which is again repeated consider who it is that has given these orders and instructions, the great Jehovah, the everlasting I AM, who is faithful to his promises, and able to perform. The consideration of which would serve to animate him to the work he was called unto, to encourage his faith in God, to engage in his service cheerfully and readily:
be strong, and of a good courage .
be not afraid, nor be thou dismayed at his enemies, numerous and powerful, nor discouraged at anything in himself, any unfitness for such service, as he might think, or at any difficulties he might fear from the people he had the government of, and was to lead on it was enough that the divine Presence was promised him, and which is repeated:
for the Lord thy God with thee whithersoever thou goest: or, as the Targum of Jonathan,
“for thy help is the Word of the Lord thy God ”
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Meaning Of Joshua : 9
With these words, Jehovah a God assured his faithful worshipper Joshua that he could be courageous and strong despite facing challenging circumstances and seemingly overwhelming obstacles. Joshua had no reason to be afraid of the future if he obeyed Gods commands, because it would be as if Jehovah were right there with him helping him to succeed. God was with Joshua by instructing him and by giving him victory over his enemies.
How could Joshua be courageous and strong? He could draw courage and strength from the inspired writings that Jehovah had provided at that time. This included the entire Law that Moses servant commanded . b Jehovah told Joshua to read it in an undertone day and night. Such reading and meditation fortified Joshuas mind and heart to do Gods will. Joshua then needed to act on what he learned in Gods Word, to observe carefully all that written in it. If he did so, then he would act wisely and be successful. And that is exactly what happened. Although he faced challenges, Joshua lived a full and satisfying life as a faithful worshipper of Jehovah.Joshua 23:14 24:15.
Jehovahs words to Joshua continue to be encouraging today. They reveal how much Jehovah cares for all his worshippers, especially when they face challenges. He wants them to be successful just as Joshua was! And like Joshua, they can be courageous and strong by regularly reading and meditating on Gods Word, the Bible, and then acting in harmony with its direction.
Context Of Joshua : 9
After Moses death, Jehovah directed that Joshua lead the nation of Israel. At that time, the Israelites were poised to enter the Promised Land, the land of Canaan. But powerful enemies stood before them. For example, Joshua had to wage war against the Canaanites, who were exceedingly wicked. c The Canaanites were also more numerous and better equipped militarily than the Israelites. But Joshua courageously followed Jehovahs instructions. And God did prove to be with him, for the Israelites conquered the majority of their enemies in just six years.Joshua 21:43, 44.
Read Joshua chapter 1 along with explanatory footnotes and cross-references.
a The name Jehovah is an English translation of the Hebrew name for Godthe four letters , known as the Tetragrammaton. This name is rendered the LORD in this verse in the New International Version. For more information about Jehovah and why some Bible translations fail to use that name, see the article Who is Jehovah?
b The inspired writings available to Joshua, and now to all of us in the Bible, likely included the five books of Moses , the book of Job, and one or two psalms.
c For a discussion of why such war was necessary, see the article Why Did God Wage War Against the Canaanites? in the January 1, 2010, issue of The Watchtower.
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Coffman’s Commentaries On The Bible
“There shall not any man be able to 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, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of good courage for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it, to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
“Be strong and of good courage …” The recurrence of these words, almost like the refrain of a song, should be noted in Joshua 1:6,7,9,18. It was indeed an incredibly daring and dangerous thing that God called upon Joshua to do.
SUBSEQUENT REFERENCES TO THE PENTATEUCH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
Josiah’s reforms led to a popular observance of the sabbath, and of the Passover, . How did they know how to keep such laws? Where else but in the Pentateuch could the instructions be found?
the antiquity of the Pentateuch
the integrity of the Pentateuch
Kelly Commentary On Books Of The Bible
The book of Joshua naturally follows the five books of Moses, and indeed is connected more manifestly with those that go before it than might appear to an ordinary reader. It opens not with a mere particle of time nor of transition but of connection. This is not expressed in the English version, but it is the fact in the Hebrew text. Undoubtedly it was the Holy Spirit writing by another servant of the Lord but He was carrying on the same testimony, and a testimony too for which the book of Deuteronomy more particularly prepares us for all that book was uttered by Moses when the children of Israel were upon the eve, as it were, of entering the promised land. Here, as elsewhere, it is of great importance that we should clearly apprehend the special object of the Spirit of God in the book. I shall make a few remarks therefore of a general nature in order to present it as clearly as the Lord enables me.
On the one hand the passage of the Red Sea is our being dead with Christ and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord as a question of righteousness. We are thus justified from sin, and effectually delivered from Satan’s power. There is no longer a question of dread as to the judgment of God. On the other hand the crossing of the Jordan means our introduction according to the fulness of Christ’s title, even now, into heavenly places. On this basis the Spirit would familiarize us with heavenly things.
This divides the book, accordingly, into its earlier and its later parts.
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Gill’s Exposition Of The Whole Bible
Have not I commanded thee?…. The above things, to go over Jordan with the people into the land of Canaan, and to observe the law of Moses in all things, and to be of good courage, which is again repeated consider who it is that has given these orders and instructions, the great Jehovah, the everlasting I AM, who is faithful to his promises, and able to perform. The consideration of which would serve to animate him to the work he was called unto, to encourage his faith in God, to engage in his service cheerfully and readily:
be strong, and of a good courage :-
be not afraid, nor be thou dismayed at his enemies, numerous and powerful, nor discouraged at anything in himself, any unfitness for such service, as he might think, or at any difficulties he might fear from the people he had the government of, and was to lead on it was enough that the divine Presence was promised him, and which is repeated:
for the Lord thy God with thee whithersoever thou goest: or, as the Targum of Jonathan,
“for thy help is the Word of the Lord thy God ”
| Joshua Directed and Encouraged. | B. C. 1451. |
III. The call itself that God gave him, which is very full.
6. The charge or command he gives to Joshua, which is,
What Does It Mean To Be Strong
Part of being strong and of a good courage means trusting in the Lord as our true source of strength. In Joshuas case, he didnt have all the answers for the challenges before him. But he was counseled to go forward anyway, acting in faith. Like Joshua, we seldom have all the answers to our personal challenges. But God promises that when we turn to Him for guidance, we will succeed. God is all-powerful and all-knowing. He has the answers and the strength we need to face any challenge before us. He was with Joshua, and He will be with us.
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Bible Verse Joshua : 9
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it. And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
Joshua 1:9-12
We know that the nature of genius is to provide idiots with ideas 20 years later.
Louis Aragon was a French poet and an important influence in the surrealist movement.
This Is My Commandbe Strong And Courageous Do Not Be Afraid Or Discouraged For The Lord Your God Is With You Wherever You Go Joshua : 9
Its so easy to become afraid. Whether its fear of the future, fear of failing your history test, or fear that your crush will reject you, everyone deals with fear. And while fear is something that we all face, if we let it, fear will stop us from doing the things God wants us to do.
The bad thing about fear is that if you give in to it, youll find yourself unhappy and living with lots of regrets. So instead of letting fear cripple your life, choose to be strong and courageous.
You can stand against fear when you know that God is with you. You know that youll come out on the other side of every difficulty winning because God will not leave you. Today, regardless of what youre facing, know that God has a plan for you. Dont allow fear to stop you from doing what God has called you to do.
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