◄ Joshua 1:4 ►
Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great River Euphrates--all the land of the Hittites--and west as far as the Great Sea.
Study Bible
Your territory shall extend
This phrase signifies the promise of expansion and possession. In Hebrew, the word for "territory" (גְּבוּל, gebul) implies a boundary or border, suggesting a divinely ordained space for the Israelites. The promise of extension is a fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, indicating a divine mandate for growth and blessing.

from the wilderness and Lebanon
The "wilderness" refers to the desert regions south of Canaan, symbolizing the trials and testing the Israelites faced. "Lebanon" is known for its majestic cedar trees and represents the northernmost boundary. Historically, Lebanon was a region of great beauty and resources, indicating the richness of the land God was giving to His people.

to the great river, the Euphrates
The Euphrates is one of the most significant rivers in the ancient Near East, often associated with fertility and life. In Hebrew, "Euphrates" (פְּרָת, Perath) is a symbol of abundance and prosperity. This boundary marks the easternmost extent of the promised land, highlighting the vastness of God's promise.

all the land of the Hittites
The Hittites were a powerful ancient people known for their advanced civilization and military prowess. Mentioning "all the land of the Hittites" underscores the comprehensive nature of the conquest and the overcoming of formidable foes through divine assistance.

and west as far as the Great Sea
The "Great Sea" refers to the Mediterranean Sea, marking the western boundary. This sea was crucial for trade and cultural exchange, symbolizing openness to the world and the potential for influence and interaction with other nations.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joshua
The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading them into the Promised Land.

2. The Wilderness
Refers to the desert areas surrounding the land of Canaan, symbolizing the trials and testing of the Israelites.

3. Lebanon
A region known for its cedar trees, representing the northern boundary of the Promised Land.

4. The Euphrates River
A major river in the ancient Near East, marking the eastern boundary of the land promised to Israel.

5. The Great Sea
Known today as the Mediterranean Sea, it forms the western boundary of the Promised Land.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness to His Promises
The boundaries described in Joshua 1:4 are a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the patriarchs. Believers can trust in God's promises for their lives today.

The Importance of Obedience
Just as Joshua and the Israelites needed to obey God's commands to inherit the land, Christians are called to live in obedience to God's Word to experience His blessings.

Spiritual Inheritance
The physical land promised to Israel can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual inheritance believers have in Christ. We are called to "possess" the spiritual blessings God has given us.

God's Sovereignty Over Nations
The specific boundaries highlight God's control over nations and history. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God is sovereign over the events of the world.

Courage and Strength in Leadership
Joshua's task required courage and strength, qualities that are essential for Christian leaders today as they guide others in faith.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the promise of land in Joshua 1:4 reflect God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham?

2. In what ways can the boundaries of the Promised Land be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual inheritance we have in Christ?

3. How does understanding God's sovereignty over the nations encourage you in your personal walk with Him?

4. What are some areas in your life where you need to step out in obedience to "possess" what God has promised you?

5. How can the qualities of courage and strength, as demonstrated by Joshua, be applied in your current leadership roles or responsibilities?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 15:18
God's covenant with Abraham, promising the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates, which aligns with the boundaries described in Joshua 1:4.

Deuteronomy 11:24
Reiterates the promise of the land's boundaries, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His promises.

Psalm 72:8
A messianic psalm that speaks of a king's dominion from sea to sea, echoing the expansive territory promised to Israel.

1 Kings 4:21
Describes the extent of Solomon's kingdom, which reflects the fulfillment of the territorial promise.
Sermons
A Dauntless SpiritHandbook of IllustrationJoshua 1:1-9
A Good Working BibleHome Messenger.Joshua 1:1-9
A Great PromiseG. Clayton, M. A.Joshua 1:1-9
A Great PromiseHomilistJoshua 1:1-9
A Great -Promise and a Stirring ExhortationA. B. Mackay.Joshua 1:1-9
An Inspiring PresenceJ. Robertson.Joshua 1:1-9
Christian FortitudeD. Featley, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
Courage NecessaryJoshua 1:1-9
Death and its LessonsDean Vaughan.Joshua 1:1-9
Death Enters into God's PlansW. G. Blaikie, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
Death Makes Room for OthersJ. Parker, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
Dignity of God's ServiceJoshua 1:1-9
FootholdH. Macmillan, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
God with the GoodD. Featley, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
God with Us Through LifeA London Clergyman.Joshua 1:1-9
God's Revealed Wilt the Only Safe Rule for All Individual GuidanceR. Shittler.Joshua 1:1-9
God's Strength Made Perfect in Human WeaknessF. B. Meyer, B. A.Joshua 1:1-9
Joshua on the MarchT. De Witt Talmage.Joshua 1:1-9
Joshua the Successor of MosesJ. Waite Joshua 1:1-9
Joshua. Successor, to MosesSermons by the Monday ClubJoshua 1:1-9
Joshua's ObedienceJoshua 1:1-9
MeditationJoshua 1:1-9
Meditation and ObedienceJ. C. Miller, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
Moses and JoshuaC. H. Parkhurst, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
Obedience the Condition of VictorySpurgeon, Charles HaddonJoshua 1:1-9
Onward, Through, and OverJ. J. Wray.Joshua 1:1-9
Ownership and PossessionW. H. P. Faunce.Joshua 1:1-9
PromotionChristian World PulpitJoshua 1:1-9
Something to be Done to Gain PossessionH . Macmillan, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
Strength and CourageW. G. Blaikie, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
Strengthening Medicine for God's ServantsSpurgeon, Charles HaddonJoshua 1:1-9
Taking Possession of Our InheritanceSpurgeon, Charles HaddonJoshua 1:1-9
The Campaign CommencedG. W. Butler, M. A.Joshua 1:1-9
The Charge to the Soldier of the LordA. Maclaren, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
The Christian's LawJ. C. Miller, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
The Commission for the ConquestA. B. Mackay.Joshua 1:1-9
The Commission of JoshuaDavid O. Mears.Joshua 1:1-9
The Death of the Old LawgiverA. B. Mackay.Joshua 1:1-9
The Land of the HittitesW. G. Blaikie, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
The New LeaderA. B. Mackay.Joshua 1:1-9
The Presence of the MasterJoshua 1:1-9
The Prosperous WayJ. C. Miller, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
The Right People for the LandW. G. Blaikie, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
The Sources of Joshua's StrengthF. B. Meyer, . B. A.Joshua 1:1-9
The Strength and Courage Needed .For Common LifeA. Raleigh,D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
Victory AssuredF. B. Meyer, B. A.Joshua 1:1-9
Whom Do I Succeed?J. Parker, D. D.Joshua 1:1-9
People
Gadites, Hittites, Israelites, Joshua, Manasseh, Nun, Reubenites
Places
Euphrates River, Great Sea, Jordan River, Lebanon, Moab
Topics
Border, Coast, Desert, Euphrates, Euphra'tes, Extend, Hittite, Hittites, Lebanon, Mountain, Phrath, River, Setting, Territory, Towards, Waste, West, Wilderness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Joshua 1:4

     5305   empires

Joshua 1:1-4

     5704   inheritance, material

Joshua 1:1-6

     7258   promised land, early history

Joshua 1:1-9

     5548   speech, divine
     7125   elect, the

Library
The New Leaders Commission
'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, 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. 3. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Charge to the Soldier of the Lord
'Only be then strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded thee... that thou mayest prosper wheresoever thou goest. 8. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shall 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.'--JOSHUA i. 7,8. This is the central portion of the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Jewish Dispersion in the West - the Hellenists - Origin of Hellenist Literature in the Greek Translation of the Bible - Character of the Septuagint.
When we turn from the Jewish dispersion' in the East to that in the West, we seem to breathe quite a different atmosphere. Despite their intense nationalism, all unconsciously to themselves, their mental characteristics and tendencies were in the opposite direction from those of their brethren. With those of the East rested the future of Judaism; with them of the West, in a sense, that of the world. The one represented old Israel, stretching forth its hands to where the dawn of a new day was about …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Subjects of Study. Home Education in Israel; Female Education. Elementary Schools, Schoolmasters, and School Arrangements.
If a faithful picture of society in ancient Greece or Rome were to be presented to view, it is not easy to believe that even they who now most oppose the Bible could wish their aims success. For this, at any rate, may be asserted, without fear of gainsaying, that no other religion than that of the Bible has proved competent to control an advanced, or even an advancing, state of civilisation. Every other bound has been successively passed and submerged by the rising tide; how deep only the student …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Finding of Moses
Many long years had passed since the days when Joseph's brothers and their families had settled in the land of Egypt. They were a great nation in numbers now, but the Egyptians still ruled over them, and used them as servants. The Pharaoh who had been so kind to the shepherds from Canaan was dead long ago, and the new kings, or Pharaohs as they were called, hated foreigners, and began to treat the Israelites very harshly. There were too many of them, they said; it was dangerous to have so many strong, …
Amy Steedman—The Babe in the Bulrushes

Five Kings in a Cave
TEXT: "And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them. And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight."--Joshua 10:24-25. The history of the …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

Brave Encouragements
'In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2. Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3. Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? 4. Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Getting Ready to Enter Canaan
GETTING READY TO ENTER CANAAN Can you tell me, please, the first step to take in obtaining the experience of entire sanctification? I have heard much about it, have heard many sermons on it, too; but the way to proceed is not yet plain to me, not so plain as I wish it were. Can't you tell me the first step, the second, third, and all the rest? My heart feels a hunger that seems unappeased, I have a longing that is unsatisfied; surely it is a deeper work I need! And so I plead, "Tell me the way." …
Robert Lee Berry—Adventures in the Land of Canaan

The Routing of Giant Doubt
THE ROUTING OF GIANT DOUBT Doubts! doubts! doubts! Just a company of them around me all the time worse than Job's miserable comforters. What can I do with them? I should like to dismiss them, but it seems I can not. They make me much trouble, but it seems I can not get them to leave me. Especially are the doubts concerning my entire consecration aggravating, and those, too, concerning my entire cleansing. I fear to come out boldly and declare that I believe that Christ fully saves me now. I believe …
Robert Lee Berry—Adventures in the Land of Canaan

Never! Never! Never! Never! Never!
Hence, let us learn, my brethren, the extreme value of searching the Scriptures. There may be a promise in the Word which would exactly fit your case, but you may not know of it, and therefore miss its comfort. You are like prisoners in a dungeon, and there may be one key in the bunch which would unlock the door, and you might be free; but if you will not look for it you may remain a prisoner still, though liberty is near at hand. There may be a potent medicine in the great pharmacopia of Scripture, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

From his Commission to Reside Abroad in 1820 to his Removal to Germany in 1822
In 1822 John Yeardley went to reside in Germany. As his residence abroad constituted one of the most remarkable turns in his life, and exercised a powerful influence on the rest of his career, we shall develop as fully as we are able the motives by which he was induced to leave his native country. By means of his Diary we can trace the early appearance and growth, if not the origin, of the strong Christian sympathy he ever afterwards manifested with seeking souls in the nations on the continent of …
John Yeardley—Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel

Sundry Exhortations.
HEBREWS xiii. Let love of the brethren continue. Forget not to shew love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are evil entreated, as being yourselves also in the body. Let marriage be had in honour among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for Himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox.
[In the Prospectus of our Publication it was stated, that one discourse, at least, would be given in each number. A strict adherence to this arrangement, however, it is found, would exclude from our pages some of the most talented discourses of our early Divines; and it is therefore deemed expedient to depart from it as occasion may require. The following Sermon will occupy two numbers, and we hope, that from its intrinsic value, its historical interest, and the illustrious name of its author, it …
John Knox—The Pulpit Of The Reformation, Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

Moses and his Writings
[Illustration: (drop cap W) Clay letter tablet of Moses' time.] We now begin to understand a little of the very beginning of God's Book--of the times in which it was written, the materials used by its first author, and the different kinds of writing from which he had to choose; but we must go a step farther. How much did Moses know about the history of his forefathers, Abraham and Jacob, and of all the old nations and kings mentioned in Genesis, before God called him to the great work of writing …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

The Great Commission Given.
(Time and Place Same as Last Section.) ^A Matt. XXVIII. 18-20; ^B Mark XVI. 15-18; ^C Luke XXIV. 46, 47. ^a 18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. ^b 15 And he said unto them, Go ye ^a therefore, ^b into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. ^a and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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