Joshua 1:1 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

After the death of Moses Either immediately after it, or when the days of mourning for Moses were expired. Joshua was appointed and declared Moses's successor in the government before this time; and here he receives confirmation from God therein. The servant of the Lord This title is given to Moses here, and Joshua 1:2, as also Deuteronomy 34:5, and is repeated, not without cause, to reflect honour upon him, to give authority to his laws and writings, in publishing whereof he acted as God's servant, in his name: and that the Israelites might not think of Moses above what was meet, remembering that he was not the Lord himself, but only the Lord's servant; and therefore not to be too pertinaciously followed in all his institutions, when the Lord himself should come and abolish part of the Mosaical dispensation; it being but reasonable that he, who was only a servant in God's house, should give place to him who was the son, and heir, and lord of it. The Lord spake Either in a dream or vision, or by Urim, Numbers 27:21. Moses's minister Who had waited upon Moses in his great employments, and thereby been privy to his manner of government, and so was prepared for it.