Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 4:14
On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
Verse 14. The Lord magnified Joshua] See Clarke on Jos 3:7.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
14-17. On that day the Lordmagnified Joshua in the sight of all IsraelIt appeared clearfrom the chief part he acted, that he was the divinely appointedleader; for even the priests did not enter the river or quit theirposition, except at his command; and thenceforward his authority wasas firmly established as that of his predecessor.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of Israel,…. Made him great and honourable in their esteem, by doing what he foretold would be done, dividing the waters of Jordan, drying up the river to make a passage for them through it, as on dry land:
and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life; had a reverend esteem of him, and affection for him, and yielded obedience to him all his days; see Ex 14:31.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
14. On that day the Lord magnified, etc It was not indeed the principal end of the miracle to proclaim Joshua’s pre-eminence in power and authority, but as it greatly concerned the public interest, that the government of Joshua should be firmly established, it is justly set down as an additional instance of the divine favor, that he was, so to speak, adorned with sacred insignia to render him venerable in the eyes of the people, and prevent any one from presuming to despise him. For a promiscuous multitude, not ruled by a head, breaks up and falls away of its own accord. The Lord, therefore, to provide for the safety of his people, distinguished Joshua by a special mark declaratory of his vocation.
From this passage we may learn that God specially recommends to us all those through whose hands he displays his excellent working, and requires us to give them due honor and reverence. When it is said that the people feared Joshua as they had feared Moses, should any one object that the statement is refuted by the many sedition’s and tumults which they stirred up against him, not only wantonly but furiously, it is easy to answer, that it does not apply to the whole period from their departure out of Egypt, but only refers to that when subdued by plagues and softened down, they began to be duly obedient to Moses. For what is now described is a tranquil government, as if they had laid aside their ancient perverseness, more especially when the turbulent parents were dead and a better race had succeeded. Accordingly, we do not read that there was any difficulty in ruling and turning them. I now only briefly advert to what I have already explained. For when Joshua at the outset exhorted them to obedience, they said that they would be obedient as they had been to Moses.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(14) All the days of his life.This ends the section, as appears by comparison with Jos. 3:7. Observe that Joshuas position, as equal to Moses in the respect of the people, dates from the passage of
Jordan, a fact not to be forgotten in considering his Antitype.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. The Lord magnified Joshua This is the fulfilment of the promise in Jos 3:7. See the note.
And they feared him, as they feared Moses “This was not, indeed, the chief design of the miracle, to exalt the power and authority of Joshua. But as it was of the greatest importance to the people generally that the government of Joshua should be firmly established, it is very properly mentioned as the crowning advantage resulting from it, that he was, as it were, invested with sacred insignia, which produced such veneration among the people that no one dared to despise him.” Calvin.
All the days of his life Joshua’s life.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ On that day YHWH magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.’
That day was the making of Joshua in the eyes of the people more than any other day before or after. It filled them with awe. They recognised that here was one who was entrusted with awesome powers by YHWH, just as Moses had been before him, that Joshua was a second Moses. And they never forgot it.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Ver. 14. On that day the Lord magnified Joshua, &c. By the miracle which had just given happy success to that general’s first enterprize, and which acquired to him the same confidence and respect from the Israelites, that Moses had before acquired from the miraculous passage of the Red Sea. Thus the Lord gloriously fulfilled his word, and accomplished his promise made to Joshua in the foregoing chapter, ver. 7.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Reader! is not our Almighty Joshua magnified in the sight of all Israel on that memorable day, when a soul is brought safe over Jordan? Is not Jesus glorified before the throne in the presence of all Israel now in glory, and before all the heavenly host, when a soul is brought home to heaven, or when a soul is recovered by Almighty grace upon earth? Luk 15:10 . I do not presume to say so much; but I would humbly ask: was not this magnifying of Joshua when the ark came up out of the river, a representation of the magnifying of Jesus when he came up out of the grave and ascended to glory? Rom 1:4 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 4:14 On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
Ver. 14. The Lord magnified Joshua. ] See Jos 3:7 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED TEXT): Jos 4:14
14On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; so that they revered him, just as they had revered Moses all the days of his life.
Jos 4:14 the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel This VERB (BDB 152, KB 178, Piel PERFECT) was used in Jos 3:7 to denote this very act.
NASBrevered
NKJVfeared
NRSVawe
TEVhonored
NJBrespected
This is one of the best verses in the Bible to see the meaning of the word fear (BDB 431, KB 432). It is used in the sense of reverence or respect. This helps us to understand what it means when we read that we are to fear God.
The phrase, as they had revered Moses all the days of his life, is a bit of an overstatement when one reviews the murmuring and rebellion of the people against Moses’ leadership in Exodus and Numbers.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
On that day. Compare Jos 3:7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
magnified: Jos 1:16-18, Jos 3:7, 1Co 10:2
they feared him: Exo 14:31, 1Sa 12:18, 1Ki 3:28, 2Ch 30:12, Pro 24:21, Rom 13:4
Reciprocal: Deu 31:3 – and Joshua 2Ki 2:15 – bowed 1Ch 29:25 – magnified Solomon Luk 1:15 – great
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 4:14. On that day the Lord magnified Joshua Both by the fellowship he admitted him to with himself, speaking to him on all occasions, and being ready to be consulted by him, and by the miracle which had just given happy success to that generals first enterprise, and which had acquired to him the same confidence and respect from the Israelites which Moses had before acquired from the miraculous passage of the Red sea: thus did the Lord, in a glorious manner, accomplish the promises made to Joshua in the foregoing chapter, Jos 4:7.