Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
Ch. 1-12.
Preparations for Entering Canaan. Ch. 1:10-2:24.
In consequence of the divine command (Josh 1:2-9), Joshua began without delay to
make the necessary preparations for carrying out the work appointed him; first of all
by issuing instructions to the people to make ready for crossing the river (1:10-11);
secondly , by reminding the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh of their
promise to help the other tribes to conquer Canaan, and calling upon them to fulfil it
(vv. 12-18); and thirdly , by sending two spies to Jericho, to explore the land, and
discover the feelings of its inhabitants (ch. 2).
Joshua 1:10-18
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
Verse 10-11. Preparations for Crossing the Jordan. - Vv. 10-11. For the purpose of
carrying out the commands of the Lord, Joshua first of all directed the officers of the
people ( shoterim: see at Ex 5-6), whose duty it was, as the keepers of the family
registers, to attend not only to the levying of the men who were bound to serve in the
army, but also to the circulation of the commands of the general, to issue orders to the
people in the camp to provide themselves with food, so that they might cross the
Jordan within three days, and take the land that was promised them by God. By zedah
, provision for a journey (Gen 42:25, etc.), we are not to understand manna, for that
had already ceased (see at Josh 5:12), but simply the natural produce of the inhabited
country. The expression "in three days," i.e., as we may see from comparing Gen
40:13,19, with v. 20, on the third day from the publication of the command, "will ye
go over the Jordan," is not to be regarded as a prediction of the time when the
crossing actually took place, but to be taken as the latest time that could be allowed to
the people to prepare for crossing: viz., in this sense, "Prepare you victuals for
crossing over the Jordan within three days," i.e., that you may be able to leave Shittim
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