BibleWord.ai› Bible› Joshua› Chapter 23› Verse 10

Joshua 23:10

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 23:10 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “One man of you shall chase a thousand; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he spake unto you.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

One man of you shall chase a thousand; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he spake unto you.
Joshua 23:10 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
7that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves unto them;
8but cleave unto Jehovah your God, as ye have done unto this day.
9For Jehovah hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath stood before you unto this day.
10One man of you shall chase a thousand; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he spake unto you.
11Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love Jehovah your God.
12Else if ye do at all go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you;
13know for a certainty that Jehovah your God will no more drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap unto you, and a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you.
← Joshua 23:9Joshua 23:11 →
← Full Chapter 23 Joshua Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“One man of you shall chase a thousand, etc.] 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, (<071515>Judges 15:15); such a promise was made, (<032608>Leviticus 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 (<062303>Joshua 23:3); as he hath promised you;…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He fighteth - Impute not this therefore to your own valour, as you will be apt to do, but to God's gracious and powerful assistance. Joshua 23:11”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:10 God fights for you: Just as God had fought for the Israelites in the past (e.g., 10:11-14), he would continue to fight for them in the future.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“One man: Lev 26:8; Deu 32:30; Jdg 3:31, Jdg 7:19-22, Jdg 15:15; Sa1 14:6, Sa1 14:12-16; Sa2 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 Joshua 23:11”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Joshua 23 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification