Deuteronomy 31:14

“And the Lord said unto Moses, etc.] Either at the same time, or quickly after; rather, perhaps, the same day: behold, thy days approach that thou must die; which does not necessarily imply that he had some days to live, though but few; but that the time of his death drew nigh, his last moments were approaching; the time of his death being, as every man’s is, fixed by the Lord, with whom is the number of his years, months, days, and moments, beyond which he cannot pass, (<181405>Job 14:5); call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge; this looks as if the people had been dismissed after the above exhortations given; and now Joshua was…”

“the Lord said unto Moses, . . .call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation--Joshua had been publicly designated to the office of commander by Moses [Num 27:22-23]; and God was pleased to confirm his appointment by the visible symbols of His presence and approval. As none but the priests were privileged to enter the sanctuary, it is probable that this significant manifestation of the cloudy pillar was made while the leaders stood at the door of the tabernacle.”

“The transaction recorded in these verses may be regarded as the solemn inauguration of Joshua to the office to which he had some time before Numbers 27:22 been called, and his recognition in it by God, which were manifested by his being summoned into the tabernacle with Moses while the Lord appeared in the pillar of cloud (compare Numbers 11:25; Numbers 12:5). Deuteronomy 31:16 The future apostasy of the people is announced in the presence of Joshua that the latter might be fully aware of the danger and strive in his day to avert it. This he faithfully did (compare Joshua 24:31); but we find him in his own last address to Israel repeating Joshua 23:15-16 the self-same prediction and warning.…”

“Give him a charge - Immediately from myself for his greater encouragement, and to gain him more authority with the people. Deuteronomy 31:16”

“31:14 Tabernacle (literally Tent of Meeting): At first, the Tent of Meeting was a provisional place of encounter between God and his people (especially Moses). Later, the term became synonymous with the Tabernacle (see Exod 28:43; 33:7-11; 40:2; Num 11:16, 24, 26; 12:4). See study note on Lev 1:1.”

“that thou must die: Deu 31:2, Deu 34:5; Num 27:13; Jos 23:14; Kg2 1:4; Ecc 9:5; Isa 38:1 I may give: Deu 31:23; Num 27:19, Num 27:20; Act 20:28-31; Ti2 4:1-4 presented: Exo 34:2; Jos 24:1; Sa1 10:19; Job 1:6, Job 2:1; Rom 12:1; Jde 1:24 Deuteronomy 31:15”

“After handing over the office to Joshua, and the law to the priests and elders, Moses was called by the Lord to come to the tabernacle with Joshua, to command him (צוּה), i.e., to appoint him, confirm him in his office. To this end the Lord appeared in the tabernacle ( Deu 31:15), in a pillar of cloud, which remained standing before it, as in Num 12:5 (see the exposition of Num 11:25). But before appointing Joshua, He announced to Moses that after his death the nation would go a whoring after other gods, and would break the covenant, for which it would be visited with severe afflictions, and directed him to write an ode and teach it to the children of Israel, that when the apostasy should…”