Commentary On The Book of Joshua Chapter s 1-4.
Israel prepare to enter the land of Canaan, and experience the miraculous power of YHWH in opening up the River Jordan so that they can pass over. Meanwhile two military scouts have reconnoitred Jericho, being saved from capture by a prostitute innkeeper Rahab who is promised that when Jericho is taken she and all her close family will be spared. The crossing of the Jordan is safely accomplished and twelve stones set up as a memorial of the event.
Chapter 1. God Instructs and Encourages Joshua.
The book commences with the fact that, with Moses being dead, YHWH directs and encourages Joshua to take command of the children of Israel, and to go over Jordan with them. His purpose was that Joshua might take possession of the land of Canaan, and divide it among them. He initially gives him firm and gracious promises and strong assurances of His presence, and some good advice with respect to his behaviour, upon which Joshua orders the people to be ready ‘in three days' to go along with him. He particularly addresses the Reubenites and Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, who had settled in Transjordan, and puts them in mind of what Moses had ordered when they had obtained permission to do so. They had subsequently promised to go along with their ‘brothers', and assist them in conquering the land. This they had readily agreed to do, and had promised total obedience to him. Now they were being called on to fulfil their obligation.
‘And it happened after the death of Moses, the servant of YHWH, that YHWH spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' deputy minister, saying.'
Moses was dead! This was a new beginning. For so long Moses had led the people (over forty years). He had spoken to them on God's behalf. He had always been there. Through him God had performed His wonders. He had been uniquely the Servant of YHWH. And now he was dead. We can imagine the effect that this devastating news would have had on the people of Israel. He had been the bulwark on which they had leaned, the target for their dissension when they were dissatisfied. But he had always been there. Thus both God and the people now looked to another, to Joshua, Moses' trained assistant, to carry on his work. Note the beginning ‘and'. The Book is seen as a continuation of what has gone before. Moses may be dead but the salvation history goes on.
“The servant of YHWH.” This was the prime accolade, only given to Moses, and, once he had proved himself, to Joshua (Joshua 24:29; Judges 2:8), demonstrating the high regard in which they were held. Others, including Caleb, David and the great Servant in Isaiah, would be described as ‘My servant'. But none were described by others in the Old Testament as ‘the servant of YHWH'. The term ‘servant' so used meant a high official as well as a loyal servant.
“YHWH spoke to Joshua the son of Nun.” We do not know how YHWH did speak to Joshua. This was more than could be communicated by Urim and Thummim, the means by which He communicated His will to Israel in the future. Probably it came to him in a dream of the night, or possibly while he was at prayer, as he considered the future. Either way words which were deeply impressed into his mind from the memorable words of Moses in his speeches in Deuteronomy, which he could never forget, came into his mind. He knew that YHWH was pressing them home on him. It may even have been by hearing the voice of the Angel of YHWH (compare Joshua 5:3-15), for this was a unique moment in history, a time of deliverance. But the constant use of Deuteronomy throughout the book favours the former.
The name Joshua means ‘YHWH is salvation'. It translated into Greek as ‘Jesus'. He was originally called ‘Hoshea' (Numbers 13:8; Deuteronomy 32:44), but Yah was added when he became God's appointed man (Numbers 13:16). It may, however, be that Hoshea was a shortened name with his full name being Joshua from the beginning.