Joshua 14:8

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 14:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Jehovah my God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Jehovah my God.
Joshua 14:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Jehovah my God.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Nevertheless, my brethren that went up with me, etc.] Meaning the rest of the spies, excepting Joshua, that went up with him into the land of Canaan to spy it, which they might be properly said to do, since they went up a hill or mountain, in order to go into it, (<041317>Numbers 13:17); made the heart of the people melt; discouraged them, filled them with fears, sunk their spirits, that their hearts flowed, and became as weak as water, having no strength left in them, or hope of possessing the land; being told what stout and gigantic men the inhabitants of it were, and how strongly fortified were their cities: but I wholly followed the Lord my God; and did not join with them in an ill…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“I wholly followed the Lord - Which self - commendation is justifiable, because it was necessary, as being the ground of his petition. Therefore it was not vain glory in him to speak it: no more than it is for those, who have God's spirit witnessing with their spirits, that they are the children of God, humbly and thankfully to tell others, for their encouragement, what God hath done for their souls. Joshua 14:10”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“wholly: Jos 14:14; Num 14:24; Deu 1:36; Rev 14:4 Joshua 14:9”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Whereas the other spies discouraged the people by exaggerated reports concerning the inhabitants of Canaan, he had followed the Lord with perfect fidelity ( Num 13:31-33). He had not been made to waver in his faithfulness to the Lord and His promises either by the evil reports which the other spies had brought of the land, or by the murmuring and threats of the excited crowd (see Num 14:6-10). "My brethren" ( Jos 14:8) are the rest of the spies, of course with the exception of Joshua, to whom Caleb was speaking. (Note: That Joshua was not included was evident from this circumstance alone, and consequently it is a complete perversion on the part of Knobel to argue, that because the expression…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification