The Meaning of Joshua 23:1 Explained

Joshua 23:1

KJV: And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

YLT: And it cometh to pass, many days after that Jehovah hath given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua is old, entering into days,

Darby: And it came to pass a long time after that Jehovah had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua had become old, advanced in age,

ASV: And it came to pass after many days, when Jehovah had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass a long  time  after  that the LORD  had given rest  unto Israel  from all their enemies  round about,  that Joshua  waxed old  [and] stricken  in age. 

What does Joshua 23:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Ed
i.e. a witness; so Joshua 24:27 .

Context Summary

Joshua 23:1-16 - Joshua's Farewell Address
Joshua's anxiety for the welfare of his people after his death has New Testament parallels. See Acts 20:29; 2 Peter 1:13-15; and especially John 13:1-38; John 14:1-31; John 15:1-27. As always, he lays stress on what the Lord had done, Joshua 23:3; Joshua 23:5; Joshua 23:9. Not one ray of glory is stolen for himself.
He argues for their steadfastness on three grounds: There are the promises of Joshua 23:5; the threatenings of Joshua 23:11-13; the exhortations of Joshua 23:14-16. Our failure to drive out the foes of our heart is due to our failure to follow the Lord. A lack of whole-hearted surrender lies at the root of all failure. Cleaving to the Lord is the Old Testament way of saying "abide in Christ," John 15:1-27.
In contrast to man's inconstancy and infidelity, notice the sublime testimony to God's faithfulness. "Not one thing hath failed," Joshua 23:14. When at last we review our life, we, too, shall be able to say as much, if only by His grace we are kept faithful and obedient. We cannot keep the old Covenant, but the new stands forever, Jeremiah 31:31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 23

1  Joshua's exhortation before his death
3  by former benefits
5  by promises
11  and by threatenings

What do the individual words in Joshua 23:1 mean?

And it came to pass a time long after after had given rest Yahweh to Israel from all their enemies round about that Joshua was old advanced in age
וַֽיְהִי֙ מִיָּמִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים אַ֠חֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר־ הֵנִ֨יחַ יְהוָ֧ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מִכָּל־ אֹיְבֵיהֶ֖ם מִסָּבִ֑יב וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִֽים

וַֽיְהִי֙  And  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מִיָּמִ֣ים  a  time 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
רַבִּ֔ים  long 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
אַ֠חֲרֵי  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
אֲשֶׁר־  after 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הֵנִ֨יחַ  had  given  rest 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נוּחַ 
Sense: to rest.
יְהוָ֧ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל  to  Israel 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
מִכָּל־  from  all 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֹיְבֵיהֶ֖ם  their  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
מִסָּבִ֑יב  round  about 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.
וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ  that  Joshua 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹושֻׁעַ  
Sense: son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan.
זָקֵ֔ן  was  old 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: old.
בָּ֖א  advanced 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בַּיָּמִֽים  in  age 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.