Ver. 1. Now after the death of Moses, &c.— The Hebrew is, and after, &c. This conjunction points out the connection of this book with the foregoing, of which, indeed, it is a continuation. The book of Judges is connected with that of Joshua, and the book of Ruth with that of Judges, in the same plain manner. Thus too the LXX have joined the Lamentations of Jeremiah with the Prophesies of that prophet. This manner of writing is that of a just and exact mind, elevated above the vanity of making a shew of what he composes. He leads the understanding from events to events, without distracting the reader, and without even apprizing him that he who speaks is a new historian. The ancient manner of transcribing the sacred books was conformable to the taste of those who composed them. The works were not distinguished by Chapter s, and frequently the books had no title; they were written in continuation, those which followed being joined to the foregoing by a conjunction, as we see in this place: see Calmet. With respect to the time here specified by the words, after the death of Moses, it may very probably be placed immediately after the forty days mourning for that holy man were fully elapsed.
The servant of the Lord— Respecting this title, see Deuteronomy 34:5.
The Lord spake unto Joshua, &c.— He gave him his orders. But whereas he spake to Moses familiarly face to face, as a man speaketh with his friend; he informed Joshua out of the sanctuary, and by the mouth of Eleazar the high-priest; who, being invested with the breast-plate, and presenting himself before the veil, over against the mercy-seat, whereon rested the divine presence, consulted God by the Urim and Thummim; and God answered him by an intelligible voice which issued from the mercy-seat.
Moses' minister— i.e. Who had been Moses' minister. The expression in the original gives the idea of an honourable minister, acting by no means in a servile capacity. See Exodus 24:13.Deuteronomy 1:38.