Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their
fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
Vv. 43-45 form the conclusion to the account of the division of the land in ch. 13-21,
which not only points back to Josh 11:23, but also to ch. 1:2-6, and connects the two
halves of our book together. By the division of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, the
promise which Joshua had received from God after the death of Moses was fulfilled
(Josh 1:2ff.). The Lord had given Israel the whole land which He had sworn to the
fathers (Gen 12:7; 15:18, compared with Josh 1:3-4); and they had now taken
possession of it to dwell therein.
Verse 44. He had also procured them rest round about, as He had sworn to their
fathers, inasmuch as not a man of all their enemies stood against them. The
expression "gave them rest," etc., points back to Deut 12:9-10, and refers to all the
divine promises of the Pentateuch which assured the Israelites of the peaceable
possession of Canaan, such as Ex 33:14; Deut 3:20, etc. No enemy had been able to
withstand them, as the Lord had promised Joshua (Josh 1:5). "The Lord delivered all
their enemies into their hand." It is true the Canaanites were not all exterminated; but
those who were left had become so powerless, that they could neither accomplish nor
attempt anything against Israel, so long as the Israelites adhered faithfully to their
God, or so long as Joshua and the elders who were his contemporaries were alive
(Judg 2:6ff.), because the Lord had overwhelmed them with fear and terror before the
Israelites.
(Note: "If any one should raise a question as to their actual peace, the solution is easy enough. The tribes
of Canaan were so alarmed and broken down with their fear, that in their opinion nothing could serve
their purpose better than to purchase peace from the children of Israel by the most obsequious servility.
Clearly, therefore, the land was subdued and their home at peace, since no one disturbed them, or
attempted anything against them; there were no threats, no snares, no violence, and no conspiracy." -
Calvin. )
Verse 45. Of all the good words which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel not
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