Joshua 23:1

“And it came to pass a long time after, etc.] Or “after many days” f519 , that is, years: that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about; the greatest part of the land of Canaan was subdued, the whole divided by lot to the tribes of Israel, and they quietly settled in the respective portions assigned them, the Canaanites that remained giving them no disturbance, in which state of rest and peace they had now been for some years; and this may be reasonably supposed to be the last year of the life of Joshua, (see <062314>Joshua 23:14). that Joshua waxed old [and] stricken in age; and became feeble and decrepit, and greatly declined; for though he was ten years…”

“JOSHUA'S EXHORTATION BEFORE HIS DEATH. (Jos 23:1-2) a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies--about fourteen years after the conquest of Canaan, and seven after the distribution of that country among the tribes.”

“This and the next chapter contain the last addresses of Joshua. These addresses were no doubt among the closing acts of Joshua’s life, but were evidently given on different occasions, and are of different character and scope. In the former Joshua briefly reminds the princes of the recent benefits of God toward them and their people, declares that God had fulfilled all His promises, and exhorts to faithfulness on their side to God that so His mercies may not be withdrawn: in the latter he takes a wider range, rehearses the gracious dealings of God with the nation from its very origin, and upon these as his grounds, he claims for God their sincere and entire service. But he grants them the…”

“A long time - About fourteen years after it. Joshua 23:2”

“23:1-11 Joshua urged Israel’s leaders to be faithful.”

“the Lord: Jos 11:23, Jos 21:44, Jos 22:4; Psa 46:9 waxed old: Jos 13:1; Gen 25:8; Deu 31:2 stricken in age: Heb. come into days Joshua 23:2”

“Exhortation to the Tribes of Israel to Remain Faithful to their Calling. - Jos 23:1, Jos 23:2. The introduction to the discourse which follows is attached in its first part to Jos 22:3-4, and thus also to Jos 21:43-44, whilst in the second part it points back to Jos 13:1. The Lord had given the people rest from all their enemies round about, after the land had been subdued and divided by lot ( Jos 21:43-44). Joshua was already an old man at the termination of the war ( Jos 13:1); but since then he had advanced still further in age, so that he may have noticed the signs of the near approach of death. He therefore called together the representatives of the people, either to Timnath-serah where…”