《Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - Joshua》(R. A. Torrey )
Commentator
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge was, and still is, a Bible reference work first published around 1830, created by the London publisher Samuel Bagster (1772-1851). It is a set of cross-references. That is, it consists entirely of a book-length listing of cross-references, showing only the chapter and verse citations with no accompanying text. About the size of a complete Bible, the TSK is also organized like a Bible, beginning at Genesis and ending at Revelation. Each verse of the Bible is cross-referenced to several others to enable the reader to gain a true sense of each word and phrase as it is used in the Bible.
· 800,000 cross-references, listing verses that illustrate how words and phrases are used elsewhere in the Bible.
· Helps the reader interpret Scripture with Scripture.
· Brief chapter summaries.
· Dates and other notes.
But the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is usually described as being the work of R. A. Torrey. Most editions you can buy these days have Torrey's name on the cover, and sometimes in the title: R. A. Torrey's Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. According to commen knowledge, Torrey did not specifically try to claim authorship of the reference book, but he did become one of its chief promoters, and as his own fame rose, his endorsement of the book mattered to more and more people. Inevitably his name ended up on the cover. But if you read his introduction to the book, often printed inside, you see that he describes having first encountered it "some twenty years ago."
Originally printed in a 700+ page book and now enhanced with two-way cross-referencing, this entire reference is available to you on StudyLight.org.
00 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 the Israelites in it, afford a striking accomplishment of the Divine predictions to Abraham and the succeeding patriarchs; and at the same time bear the most unequivocal and ample testimony to the authenticity of this sacred book. Several of the transactions related in it are confirmed in a very extraordinary manner, by the traditions current among heathen nations, and preserved by ancient profane historians of undoubted character. Thus there are monuments still in existence, which prove that the Carthaginians were a colony of Syrians who escaped from Joshua; as also that the inhabitants of Leptis, in Africa, came originally from the Sidonians, who abandoned their country on account of the calamities with which it was overwhelmed. Procopius relates that the Phoenicians fled before the Hebrews into Africa, and spread themselves abroad as far as the pillars of Hercules; and adds, “In Numidia, where now stands the city Tigisis (Tangiers), they have erected two columns, on which, in Phoenician characters, is the following inscription: “We are the Phoenicians who fled from the face of Jesus (Joshua) the son of Naue” (Nun).
01 Chapter 1
Introduction
1 / The Lord appoints Joshua to succeed Moses.3 / The borders of the promised land.
5 / God promises to assist Joshua.
8 / He gives him instructions.
10 / Joshua prepares the people to pass over Jordan.
12 / He puts the two tribes and half in mind of their promise to Moses.
16 / They promise him fealty.
Verse 1
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
the death
12:6; Deuteronomy 33:1; 34:5; Acts 13:36,37; Romans 1:1; Titus 1:1; James 1:1; Revelation 1:18
Joshua
Exodus 17:9-13; Numbers 13:8,16; Deuteronomy 1:38; 31:3,23; 34:9; Acts 7:45
Jesus
Moses' minister.
Exodus 24:13; Numbers 11:28; 1 Kings 19:16; 2 Kings 3:11; 4:27-29; 5:25-27; Matthew 20:26,27; Luke 16:10
Verse 2
Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Moses
1; Isaiah 42:1; Hebrews 3:5,6; 7:23,24
arise
Numbers 27:16-21; Deuteronomy 3:28; 31:7
Verse 3
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
14:9; Deuteronomy 11:24; Titus 1:2
Verse 4
From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
From the wilderness
That is, their utmost limits should be from the Desert of Arabia Petræa on the south, to Lebanon on the north; and from the Euphrates on the east, to the Great Sea, or the Mediterranean, on the west. The Israelites did not possess the full extent of this grant till the time of David.
Genesis 15:18-21; Exodus 23:31; Numbers 34:2-18; Deuteronomy 1:7; 3:25; 11:24; 1 Chronicles 5:9; 1 Chronicles 18:3
Verse 5
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
There shall
Deuteronomy 7:24; 20:4; Psalms 46:11; Romans 8:31,37
as I was
9,17; 3:7; 6:27; Exodus 3:12; Deuteronomy 31:8,23; Matthew 28:20; Acts 18:9,10; 2 Timothy 4:17
I will not
Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Isaiah 41:10-14; 43:2-5; Hebrews 13:5
Verse 6
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Be strong
7,9; 1 Samuel 4:9; 1 Kings 2:2; 1 Chronicles 22:13; 28:10; 2 Chronicles 32:7,8; Psalms 27:14; Isaiah 35:3,4; Daniel 10:19; Haggai 2:4; Zechariah 8:9; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 6:10; 2 Timothy 2:1
unto this people, etc
or, thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land. divide.
Numbers 34:17-29
which I sware
Genesis 26:3
Verse 7
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
which Moses
1; 11:15; Numbers 27:23; Deuteronomy 31:7
turn not
Deuteronomy 5:32; 12:32; 28:14; Proverbs 4:27; 8:20
that
Deuteronomy 29:9; 1 Kings 2:3; 1 Chronicles 22:13
prosper
or, do wisely.
8; *marg:
Verse 8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
book
Deuteronomy 6:6-9; 11:18,19; 17:18,19; 30:14; 31:11; Psalms 37:30,31; 40:10; Psalms 119:42,43; Isaiah 59:21; Matthew 12:35; Ephesians 4:29
thou shalt
Psalms 1:2,3; 19:14; 119:11,15,97,99; Proverbs 2:1-5; 3:1; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 4:14-16
observe
Deuteronomy 5:29,32,33; 6:1-3; Matthew 7:21,24; 28:20; Luke 11:28; John 13:17; 14:21; James 1:22-25; Revelation 22:14
have good success
or, do wisely.
7; *marg:
Verse 9
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Have
Deuteronomy 31:7,8,28; Judges 6:14; 2 Samuel 13:28; Acts 4:19
Be strong
6,7
be not
Genesis 28:15; Deuteronomy 20:1; Psalms 27:1,2; Jeremiah 1:7,8
for the Lord
Psalms 46:7; Isaiah 43:1,5
Verse 10
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
the officers of the people
The shoterim, or officers, were different from the shophetim, who were the judges among the people. The shoterim have been supposed to be subordinate officers, whose business it was to see the decisions of the shophetim carried into effect. Calmet conjectures, that the shoterim here may have been the heralds of the army.
Verse 11
Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.
three days
3:2; Exodus 19:11; 2 Kings 20:5; Hosea 6:2
ye shall
Deuteronomy 9:1; 11:31
Verse 13
Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
Remember
22:1-4; Numbers 32:20-28; Deuteronomy 3:18
Verse 14
Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;
armed
Heb. marshalled by five.
Exodus 13:18
the mighty
Deuteronomy 20:8; Revelation 17:4
Verse 15
Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD'S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
Until
Numbers 32:17-22; Galatians 5:13; 6:2; Philippians 1:21-26; 2:4
then ye shall
22:4-9; 1 Corinthians 12:26; 13:5
Verse 16
And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
Numbers 32:25; Deuteronomy 5:27; Romans 13:1-5; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-15
Verse 17
According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
only the Lord
5; 1 Samuel 20:13; 1 Kings 1:37; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Psalms 20:1,4,9; 118:25,26; Matthew 21:9; 1 Timothy 2:1,2
Verse 18
Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
that doth rebel
Deuteronomy 17:12; 1 Samuel 11:12; Psalms 2:1-6; Luke 19:27; Hebrews 10:28,29; 12:25
he shall be
Romans 13:1-5
only be
6,7,9; Ezra 10:4; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 6:10
02 Chapter 2
Introduction
1 / Rahab receives and conceals the two spies sent from Shittim.8 / The covenant between her and them.
23 / Their return and relation.
Verse 1
And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
sent
or, had sent. Shittim.
Numbers 25:1; 33:49
to spy secretly
Numbers 13:2,17-21; Judges 18:2,14,17; Matthew 10:16; Ephesians 5:5
even Jericho
5:10; 6:1-24
harlot's house
Though the word zonah generally denotes a prostitute, yet many very learned men are of opinion that it should be here rendered an innkeeper or hostess, from zoon, to furnish or provide food. In this sense it was understood by the Targumist, who renders it, ittetha pundekeetha, "a woman, a tavern-keeper," and so St. Chrysostome, in his second sermon on Repentance, calls her [pandokeutria.] The Greek [porné] by which the LXX. render it, and which is adopted by the Apostles, is derived from [pernaó] to sell, and is also supposed to denote a tavern keeper. Among the ancients, women generally kept houses of entertainment. Herodotus says, "Among the Egyptians, the women carry on all commercial concerns, and keep taverns, while the men continue at home and weave." The same custom prevailed among the Greeks.
6:17,25; Matthew 1:5
Rachab
21:31; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25
lodged
Heb. lay.
Verse 2
And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
told the king
Psalms 127:1; Proverbs 21:30; Isaiah 43:13; Daniel 4:35
Verse 3
And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
Bring
10:23; Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 24:14; Job 21:30; John 19:4; Acts 12:4,6
to search
Genesis 42:9-12,31; 2 Samuel 10:3; 1 Chronicles 19:3
Verse 4
And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
Exodus 1:19; 2 Samuel 16:18,19; 17:19,20; 2 Kings 6:19
Verse 5
And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
of shutting
7; Nehemiah 13:19; Isaiah 60:11; Ezekiel 47:1,2,12; Revelation 21:25
the men went out
Jeremiah 50:20; Romans 3:7,8
Verse 6
But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
to the roof
8; Exodus 1:15-21; Deuteronomy 22:8; 2 Samuel 11:2; Matthew 24:17
hid them
Exodus 2:2; 2 Samuel 17:19; 1 Kings 18:4,13; 2 Kings 11:2; Jeremiah 36:26; Colossians 3:3; Hebrews 11:23
Verse 7
And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.