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Text -- Joshua 4:12 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
4:12 The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed for battle ahead of the Israelites, just as Moses had instructed them.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Gad the tribe of Israel descended from Gad, the son of Jacob,the man; the son of Jacob and Zilpah,the tribe of Gad in Israel,a prophet and long time advisor to King David
 · Israel a citizen of Israel.,a member of the nation of Israel
 · Manasseh the tribe of Manasseh.
 · Moses a son of Amram; the Levite who led Israel out of Egypt and gave them The Law of Moses,a Levite who led Israel out of Egypt and gave them the law
 · Reuben the tribe of Reuben


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Palestine | Manasseh | Jordan | Israel | Gad | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes


Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Maclaren , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

JFB: Jos 4:12-13 - -- There is no precedency to the other tribes indicated here; for there is no reason to suppose that the usual order of march was departed from; but thes...

There is no precedency to the other tribes indicated here; for there is no reason to suppose that the usual order of march was departed from; but these are honorably mentioned to show that, in pursuance of their promise (Jos 1:16-18), they had sent a complement of fighting men to accompany their brethren in the war of invasion.

Clarke: Jos 4:12 - -- The children of Reuben, and - Gad - Concerning the numbers of these tribes that stayed behind to take care of the women, children, and cattle, and w...

The children of Reuben, and - Gad - Concerning the numbers of these tribes that stayed behind to take care of the women, children, and cattle, and which amounted to 70,580 men, see the note on Num 32:17

Clarke: Jos 4:12 - -- Passed over armed - See the note on Jos 1:14.

Passed over armed - See the note on Jos 1:14.

Calvin: Jos 4:12 - -- 12.And the children of Reuben, etc He makes mention of the expedition of the two tribes and half tribe, as they did not set out to engage in warfare ...

12.And the children of Reuben, etc He makes mention of the expedition of the two tribes and half tribe, as they did not set out to engage in warfare on their own private account, but to assist their brethren, by whose valor their own possession had been obtained in seizing the land of Canaan. Moses had laid them under this obligation, and they had bound themselves by oath that they would accompany the rest of the people till all should have obtained a quiet settlement.

They again made the same promise when the camp was about to be moved as we saw in Jos 1:0. But from the narrative here we gather that only a part was selected, for the number amounts only to forty thousand, that is, a third, or about a third of the number ascertained by the census taken shortly before. Now, as they are everywhere said to have performed their promise, it may be probably conjectured that it was not the intention of Moses strictly to insist that all who had assented should leave their wives and children, and do military service in the land of Canaan till it was wholly subdued. And certainly it would have been harsh and cruel to leave an unwarlike multitude unprotected in the midst of many hostile nations. Nor would the remains of the enemy, assisted by neighboring nations, have long failed to take advantage of such an opportunity to avenge themselves by massacring the women and children. It was necessary, therefore, in a country not yet sufficiently pacified, permanently to retain a force sufficient to prevent incursions. Moses was not of so stern a nature as not to consult for the helpless. Nay, his prudence and equity would never have allowed him to leave a territory lately seized by arms unoccupied by a body of troops.

We may add, that such an immense concourse would have impeded rather than assisted the acquisition of the land of Canaan. All which Moses required, therefore, was simply that the Reubenites and Gadites should not, while their brethren were engaged in carrying on the war, remain indolently at home and eat their food at ease without giving any assistance to those to whom they were indebted for having obtained the inheritance. And the good faith of the forty thousand was approved by their not declining the burdens, toils, and perils of warfare, while the remainder of their own tribes were enjoying quiet. They might readily have alleged that they were as well entitled as the others to exemption, but in proceeding with alacrity after the levy was made, to obey the orders given them, without envying the immunity given to their brethren, they show that they were voluntarily and heartily disposed to do their duty. At the same time, it is not doubtful that by accepting the flower of their tribes, the handle for complaint and quarrel was cut off. For it could not justly have been maintained that not even the aged and worn out, or the young and feeble, were to be spared. Some, perhaps, may be inclined to conjecture that the army was raised not by choice but by lot, though it rather seems to me that all who were most robust and best able to bear fatigue were enrolled.

TSK: Jos 4:12 - -- the children : Jos 1:14; Num 32:20-32

the children : Jos 1:14; Num 32:20-32

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Haydock: Jos 4:12 - -- Them. (Chap. i. 14., and Numbers xxxii. 28.) Forty thousand were only chosen. (Haydock)

Them. (Chap. i. 14., and Numbers xxxii. 28.) Forty thousand were only chosen. (Haydock)

Gill: Jos 4:12 - -- And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh,.... Who were settled on the other side Jordan, in the countries t...

And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh,.... Who were settled on the other side Jordan, in the countries taken from Sihon and Og:

passed over armed before the children of Israel; the rest of the tribes:

as Moses spake unto them; or ordered them, and as they promised they would, Num 32:17.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Jos 4:1-24 - --1 Twelve men are appointed to take twelve stones for a memorial out of Jordan.9 Twelve other stones are set up in the midst of Jordan.10 The people pa...

Maclaren: Jos 4:10-24 - --Joshua 4:10-24 This chapter is divided into two sections. The first (from Joshua 4:5, 6 of the chapter belong to the section which deals with the prep...

MHCC: Jos 4:10-19 - --The priests with the ark did not stir till ordered to move. Let none be weary of waiting, while they have the tokens of God's presence with them, even...

Matthew Henry: Jos 4:10-19 - -- The inspired historian seems to be so well pleased with his subject here that he is loth to quit it, and is therefore very particular in his narrati...

Keil-Delitzsch: Jos 4:1-14 - -- Crossing the River . - In the account of the crossing, the main point is their taking twelve stones with them from the bed of the river to the oppo...

Constable: Jos 4:1-24 - --The memorial of the crossing ch. 4 The main point in the story of the crossing recorded in this chapter is the removal of the stones from the river be...

Guzik: Jos 4:1-24 - --Joshua 4 - Memorial Stones A. Crossing the Jordan River is finished and the ark of the covenant comes from the midst of the river. 1. (1-9) After th...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Joshua (Book Introduction) JOSHUA. The title of this book is derived from the pious and valiant leader whose achievements it relates and who is commonly supposed to have been it...

JFB: Joshua (Outline) THE LORD APPOINTS JOSHUA TO SUCCEED MOSES. (Jos. 1:1-18) RAHAB RECEIVES AND CONCEALS THE TWO SPIES. (Jos 2:1-7) THE COVENANT BETWEEN HER AND THEM. (J...

TSK: Joshua (Book Introduction) The Book of Joshua is one of the most important documents in the Old Testament. The rapid conquest of the Promised Land, and the actual settlement of...

TSK: Joshua 4 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Jos 4:1, Twelve men are appointed to take twelve stones for a memorial out of Jordan; Jos 4:9, Twelve other stones are set up in the mids...

Poole: Joshua (Book Introduction) BOOK OF JOSHUA THE ARGUMENT IT is not material to know who was the penman of this book, whether Joshua, as seems most probable from Jos 24:26 , o...

Poole: Joshua 4 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 4 God commands them to carry twelve stones for a memorial out of Jordan; Joshua orders it; the people perform, Jos 4:1-8 . Twelve other sto...

MHCC: Joshua (Book Introduction) Here is the history of Israel's passing into the land of Canaan, conquering and dividing it, under the command of Joshua, and their history until his ...

MHCC: Joshua 4 (Chapter Introduction) (Jos 4:1-9) Stones taken out of Jordan. (Jos 4:10-19) The people pass through Jordan. (Jos 4:20-24) The twelve stones placed in Gilgal.

Matthew Henry: Joshua (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of Joshua I. We have now before us the history of the Jewish nation in this book and those tha...

Matthew Henry: Joshua 4 (Chapter Introduction) This chapter gives a further account of the miraculous passage of Israel through Jordan. I. The provision that was made at that time to preserve t...

Constable: Joshua (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The name of this book in Hebrew, Greek, and English comes from the ...

Constable: Joshua (Outline) Outline I. The conquest of the land chs. 1-12 A. Preparations for entering Canaan chs. 1-2 ...

Constable: Joshua Joshua Bibliography Aharoni, Yohanan. "The Province-List of Judah." Vetus Testamentum 9 (1959):225-46. ...

Haydock: Joshua (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION. THE BOOK OF JOSUE. This book is called Josue , because it contains the history of what passed under him, and, according to the comm...

Gill: Joshua (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA The Jews distinguish the prophets into former and latter; the first of the former prophets is Joshua, or Sepher Joshua, the ...

Gill: Joshua 4 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 4 This chapter relates an order, that is men, should take twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, and carry them to the fi...

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