John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. And Moses called unto Joshua , etc.] Who might be at some distance from him, with the tribe to which he belonged. The Targum of Jonathan adds, “out of the midst of the people:” and said unto him, in the sight of all Israel ; now assembled together, and what follows was said in their hearing, to make him the more respectable to them: be strong and of a good courage ; the same that is said to the people in ( Deuteronomy 31:6), and which was still more necessary in him, who was to be their general, and to go at the head of them, and lead them on to battle; and though Joshua was a man of courage and valour, as well as had military skill, as appears by his fight with Amalek, ( Exodus 17:9-13); yet such an exhortation was not needless, seeing he had so much work to do, and so many enemies to contend with: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them, and thou shalt cause them to inherit it ; the Targum of Jonathan is, “which the Word of the Lord hath sworn to give;” the land of Canaan, thither he must go with them; this was the will and determination of God, and he must go alone without him, Moses, which would be a trial of his courage.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Moses assures Israel of the constant presence of God with them. This i applied by the apostle to all God's spiritual Israel, to encourag their faith and hope; unto us is this gospel preached, as well as unt them; he will never fail thee, nor forsake thee, Heb 13:5. Mose commends Joshua to them for a leader; one whose wisdom, and courage and affection they had long known; one whom God had appointed to be their leader; and therefore would own and bless. Joshua is well please to be admonished by Moses to be strong and of good courage. Those shal speed well, who have God with them; therefore they ought to be of goo courage. Through God let us do valiantly, for through him we shall d victoriously; if we resist the devil, he will flee from us.
Original Hebrew ויקרא7121 משׁה4872 ליהושׁע3091 ויאמר559 אליו413 לעיני5869 כל3605 ישׂראל3478 חזק2388 ואמץ553 כי3588 אתה859 תבוא935 את854 העם5971 הזה2088 אל413 הארץ776 אשׁר834 נשׁבע7650 יהוה3068 לאבתם1 לתת5414 להם ואתה859 תנחילנה5157 אותם׃853
