Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 23:10
One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he [it is] that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
10. One man of you ] Comp. Lev 26:8; Jdg 3:31; Jdg 15:15; 2Sa 23:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 10. One man of you shall chase a thousand] Do not remain inactive on the supposition that you must be much more numerous before you can drive out your enemies, for it is the Lord that shall drive out nations great and strong; and under his direction and influence one of you shall chase a thousand.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He it is that fighteth for you; impute not this therefore to your own valour, as you will be apt to do, but to Gods gracious and powerful assistance.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
One man of you shall chase a thousand,…. Here Kimchi and Ben Melech observe, that the future tense is put for the past, and that the sense is, one of them had chased a thousand in their war with the Canaanites; but Abarbinel disapproves of this observation, and thinks it refers to time to come, what they should be able to do if they cleaved unto the Lord; this was fulfilled in Samson, Jud 15:15; such a promise was made, Le 26:8;
for the Lord your God he [it is] that fighteth for you; and no wonder then that a thousand should be put to flight by one man; the Targum interprets it of the Word of the Lord, as in Jos 23:3;
as he hath promised you; see De 1:30.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(10) One man of you shall chase a thousand.See Deu. 28:7.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. One shall chase a thousand An enlargement of the promise in Lev 26:8, and nearly identical with Deu 32:30, signifying that a few shall vanquish a great multitude. See the night attack of Gideon. Jdg 7:22. Also the acts of David’s worthies, one of whom lifted his spear against eight hundred and slew three hundred. 2Sa 23:8; 2Sa 23:18 ; 1Ch 11:11.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ One man of you will chase a thousand, for YHWH your God, he it is who fights for you, as he spoke to you.’
This picturesque phrase cited from Deu 32:30 means simply that only one of them would be needed to fight a battle unit (a ‘thousand’, an eleph), because YHWH would be there with him fighting for him (compare Deu 1:30). It is the language of exaggeration to bring home a point (compare Lev 26:8), saying that when they had YHWH with them every man was worth a battle unit, although Samson for one achieved it (Jdg 15:8; Jdg 15:15; Jdg 16:30. Compare also 1Sa 14:12-17).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
DISCOURSE: 258
GODS INTERPOSITIONS FOR US ARE OBLIGATIONS TO LOVE AND SERVE HIM
Jos 23:10-11. The Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.
MUCH as patriotism and valour are admired, and deservedly as, in many instances, they have been rewarded by men, they are of no value in the sight of God, if they be not accompanied with true piety. Their utility to the state of which we are members is undoubted; but their moral excellence depends on their union with religion. Abstracted from a regard to God, they are a mere compound of pride and selfishness; but, regulated by religion, they are in a high degree amiable and praiseworthy. Many bright examples of patriotism, united with piety, are set before us in the Scriptures; but none shines with greater lustre than that of Joshua: when his whole nation was sinking under desponding fears, he encouraged them by his unshaken fortitude and confidence in God [Note: Num 14:6-9.]; and when he had vanquished all their enemies, and put them into the quiet possession of the promised land, he still improved his influence to confirm their faith, and to establish them in the paths of righteousness. The words before us are part of his dying address to all the elders of Israel. In applying them to the present occasion, we shall shew,
I.
To whom our successes have been owing
God has promised to interpose on behalf of those who wait upon him
[His promises to hear the prayers of individuals are numberless [Note: Mat 7:7.]. And the same are made also to repenting nations [Note: 2Ch 7:14.].]
His interpositions on behalf of our nation have been signally manifest
[We may be led to ascribe them to the valour of our forces, or the skill of our commanders. But it is God who endues them both with skill and courage, and gives the victory to whomsoever he will. Besides, there have been many peculiar circumstances which owed their origin to him alone. And, while these mark his providential care, they compel us to acknowledge that it is he who fighteth for us [Note: Here the particular circumstances may be mentioned, and be illustrated by Psa 44:3.].]
Nor are we without a hope, that his mercies to us have been sent in accomplishment of his promise
[Many have mourned over the troubles of the land, and have made earnest intercession with God on our behalf. And though there is nothing meritorious in their petitions, yet when God sends the mercies for which we have prayed, we have reason to hope that he has sent them in answer to our prayers.]
Whatever may be our opinion respecting this, it becomes us to consider,
II.
The improvement we should make of them
Every mercy from God is an additional obligation to love and serve him
[God has commanded us to love him with all our heart: and he is worthy of our supreme regard on account of the perfections of his nature, and the dispensations of his grace. But he is also to be loved in a peculiar manner for hearing and answering our prayers [Note: Psa 116:1.]. The effect produced on the mind of David, should result from every expression of the divine goodness towards us [Note: Psa 18:1 with the title of the Psalm.].]
But we are very prone to forget all his benefits
[However earnest we may be in a season of affliction, we become remiss and careless when the affliction is removed. We are like metal, which is melted in the furnace, but returns speedily to its original hardness as soon as it is taken from the fire. Like the Jews we forget the Rock that bought us. Even good Hezekiah requited not the Lord according to all that he had done for him [Note: 2Ch 32:25.]. And too many amongst ourselves forget to pay the vows which we have offered in a time of trouble.]
On this account we should take good heed to remember them
[Nothing is more displeasing to God than ingratitude. Nor will he overlook it even in his most highly favoured servants [Note: 2Ch 32:25.]. But shall we thus requite the Lord? Let us rather survey with gratitude the mercies we have received. Let us habitually behold the hand of God in them. And let us anxiously inquire, What shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me?]
This subject may teach us,
1.
Where to look for future successes
[If we look to our fleets and armies we may expect nothing but defeat. We are indeed to use all possible means of defence, but not to trust in any of them [Note: Isa 22:11.]. Our eyes must be directed unto God alone. The battle is not ours but his. He can save by many or by few. Were we ever so superior to our enemies he could bring us down like Sennacherib [Note: Isa 10:8-19.]; or if we were reduced to ever so low an ebb, he could render us victorious [Note: Isa 10:4.]. And it is certain that if we walk in pride, he will abase us; but if we humbly seek his aid, he will support and deliver us.]
2.
Where to look for success in our spiritual warfare
[Whatever external peace we might enjoy, we yet should have a warfare to maintain. There never will be one moments truce with our spiritual enemies. The world, the flesh, and the devil, will incessantly fight against us; and we must conflict with them even to the end. But God fighteth for those who put their trust in him. Let us call upon him, and he will clothe us with armour from the arsenal of heaven [Note: Eph 6:13.]. The Captain of our salvation will go forth with us to the battle. He will shield our head, and strengthen our arm, and make us more than conquerors over all. Let us then love him for the victories we have already gained. Let us take good heed to ourselves that we never rob him of his glory. Let us thankfully ascribe our every success to him [Note: Psa 115:1.]: and begin the song which we shall shortly sing in heaven, Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ [Note: 1Co 15:57.].]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he [it is] that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
Ver. 10. He it is that fighteth for you. ] He who alone is a whole army of men, van and rear, both. Isa 52:12 He who “strengtheneth” and weakeneth “the arm” of either party, Eze 30:24 and rendereth their weapons vain or prosperous. Isa 54:17
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
for. The Hebrew accent (Legarmeh) puts the pause or emphasis on this word, as calling attention to the basis of all blessing and success.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
One man: Lev 26:8, Deu 32:30, Jdg 3:31, Jdg 7:19-22, Jdg 15:15, 1Sa 14:6, 1Sa 14:12-16, 2Sa 23:8
Lord: Jos 10:42, Exo 14:14, Exo 23:27-33, Deu 3:22, Deu 20:4, Psa 35:1, Psa 44:4, Psa 44:5, Psa 46:7, Rom 8:31
Reciprocal: 1Sa 14:13 – fell 1Ch 5:22 – the war was of God Neh 4:20 – our God Psa 44:7 – But Isa 30:17 – thousand