Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 1:17
According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
17. only the Lord thy God ] The promise of the Two Tribes and a Half closes with the same call to trust and confidence in the Most High, which God Himself had already addressed to Joshua.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 17. Only the Lord thy God be with thee] Provided God be with thee, as he was with Moses, we will implicitly obey thee. The words however may mean no more than an earnest prayer for Joshua’s prosperity: May God be with thee, as he was with Moses!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The same obedience which we owed, and those of us who are now alive generally performed, to Moses, we promise unto thee.
Only the Lord thy God be with thee: this is not a limitation of their obedience, as if they would not obey him any further or longer than he was prosperous or successful; but an additional prayer for him. As we have hereby promised thee our obedience, so our prayer shall be, that God would bless and prosper thee, as he did Moses.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
According as we have hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee,…. Not right or wrong, but in all things that were according to the laws and will of God made known to them; and particularly it may refer to the above affair, which was settled between Moses and them, to whom they then hearkened, and now promise to confirm the same, and hearken to whatsoever orders and instructions Joshua should give them relative to it, according to the plan agreed upon:
only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses; which is not mentioned as a condition of their obedience to him, but rather as a reason of it, and as an encouraging motive to it; for, according to Kimchi, the true sense and meaning is,
“for the Lord thy God will be with thee, as he was with Moses;”
so Noldius renders it,
“seeing the Lord thy God is with thee.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17. Only the Lord be with thee By this language they do not avow a qualified and conditional allegiance, but only responsively reiterate with myriads of tongues the brief and stirring exhortation given by God, “Be strong and of a good courage.” It is because they believe that Jehovah is with Joshua that they bind themselves to obey him.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“ In the same way as we have obeyed Moses in all things, so will we obey you. Only Yahweh your God be with you, as He was with Moses.”
This was rather a rosy view of the relationship that they had had with Moses. They had not always been quite so responsive. But in general it was true. It would of course be much easier to maintain this unity and response when they were moving forwards towards a goal than when, having reached the goal, they had all settled down in different places. That was one reason why the gatherings at the central sanctuary would be so vital. It was to renew their central goal. But here the intention was good. They would obey him as they should have obeyed Moses.
But the proviso was that Joshua should prove himself YHWH’s man, and that would be demonstrated by success, the final proof that YHWH was with him. It was not that they doubted that He would be. It was a statement of confidence. They were indicating that really they were committing themselves to YHWH, and to Joshua because he was YHWH’s man. It is ever God Who must be central in our thoughts. Men are but His servants.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jos 1:17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
Ver. 17. Only the Lord thy God be with thee. ] For else we shall stand thee and our brethren but in small stead.
As he was with Moses.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
be with thee. Compare Exo 3:14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
only the Lord: Jos 1:5, 1Sa 20:13, 1Ki 1:37, 1Ch 28:20, Psa 20:1, Psa 20:4, Psa 20:9, Psa 118:25, Psa 118:26, Mat 21:9, 1Ti 2:1, 1Ti 2:2
Reciprocal: Exo 3:18 – and they Jos 3:7 – as I was
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, {k} so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
(k) They not only promise to obey him as long as God is with him: but to help punish all who rebel against him.