Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
Now ... it came to pass, х wayªhiy (H1961)] - and it was. The copulative waw (w), and, placed at the commencement of a book, is a nexus or link uniting that book with another, and, conjoined with the verb х yªhiy (H1961)], implies that the mind of the writer was occupied with some leading ideas of known publicity that bore upon the statements he was about to make. The phrase in this passage points to the previous designation of Joshua to be, on the demise of Moses, the future leader of Israel; and thus betokens the work which it introduces to be not only a continuation of the history of the Hebrew people, but to be closely connected with the preceding book, though not necessarily composed by the same author. It is employed as the customary formula of beginning the later historical books, even where there is no direct reference to any prior writing (Ruth 1:1; Esther 1:1; Ezekiel 1:1). [Septuagint, kai (G2532) egeneto (G1096).]
After the death of Moses. Joshua having been already appointed and designated leader of Israel (Numbers 27:18; Numbers 27:23; Deuteronomy 1:38; Deuteronomy 3:28), in all probability assumed the reins of government immediately after the death of Moses, though no movement toward breaking up the encampment in Shittim was made.
The servant of the Lord. This phrase was used to describe not merely a worshipper of God, a pious Israelite, but one who had received a special call, or a commission to perform some important service. In the former sense it is applied to the angels (Job 4:18), to the children of Israel (Leviticus 25:42; Leviticus 25:55; Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 43:10), and to the prophets generally (2 Kings 9:7; 2 Kings 17:13; Ezra 9:11; Jeremiah 7:25; Jeremiah 26:5; Jeremiah 44:4; Daniel 9:6; Amos 3:7); and in the latter, to Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:16), Eliakim (Isaiah 22:20), Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 27:6; Jeremiah 43:10), Zerubbabel (Haggai 2:23), Abraham (Genesis 26:24), David (2 Samuel 3:18; 2 Samuel 7:5; 2 Samuel 7:8), Moses (Numbers 12:7-8; Malachi 4:4), Isaiah (Isaiah 20:3), and to the Messiah (Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 49:6; Zechariah 3:8). It was used so generally in reference to Moses, in the form it bears in this passage (slightly altered in later times, 1 Chronicles 6:49; 2 Chronicles 24:9; Nehemiah 10:29; Daniel 9:11; Revelation 15:3), that it became his official title, as one invested with a special mission to make know the will of God: and it conferred great honour and authority.
The Lord spake - probably during the period of public mourning, either by a direct revelation to the mind of Joshua, or by means of Urim and Thummim (Numbers 27:21). This first communication gave a pledge that the divine instructions which, according to the provisions of the Theocracy, had been imparted to Moses would be continued to the new leader, though Yahweh might not speak to him "mouth to mouth" (Numbers 12:8).
Unto Joshua the son of Nun, х Yªhowshua` (H3091)]. [The original name was Howsheea` (H1954) (Numbers 13:8; Numbers 13:16); Yeeshuwa` (H3442) in later Hebrew (Nehemiah 8:17) (Septuagint, Ieesous (G2424): cf. Acts 7:45; Hebrews 4:8), which, having been, according to Eastern usage, changed, like those of Abram and Sarai (Genesis 17:5-15), into Jehoshua or Joshua - i:e., 'God's salvation,' or 'whose help is Yahweh' (Gesenius) - was significant of the services he was to render, and typified those of a greater Saviour.]
Moses' minister, х mªshaareet (H8334) Mosheh (H4872), attendant, from shaarat (H8334), to wait upon, to serve, used specially in reference to sacred rites (Ezra 8:17: cf. Numbers 3:6; Numbers 3:31; Numbers 4:9; Numbers 18:2; 1 Samuel 2:11; but sometimes to secular services also (1 Kings 1:15: cf. Genesis 39:4; Genesis 40:4). Septuagint, too hupourgoo Moousee, the underworker to Moses] - his official attendant, who, from being constantly employed in important services, and early initiated into the principles of the government, must have been well trained for undertaking the leadership of Israel.