Joshua — Chapter 1

Lapide: After Moses' death God speaks to Joshua. \"Josue\" (Yehoshua) = YHWH saves; he succeeded Moses by obedience and faithfulness, not merely by hereditary right. Origen: Joshua as type of Jesus Christ throughout — his name, his mission, his people.

Lapide: \"Moses My servant is dead\" — God announces the old Law yields to the new; Joshua (Jesus) leads where Moses (Law) could not, into the Promised Land. Origen on the mystical sense: the land = celestial homeland obtained by Jesus Christ.

Lapide: \"Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon\" — not merely Canaan literally, but every soul that submits to the feet of Jesus Christ. Origen: anagogically, the place is heaven and celestial glory.

Lapide: \"As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee\" — the Fathers teach it was always the Son, not the Father, who appeared in Old Testament theophanies. The Chaldean paraphrase: \"The Word of God was with Moses, and so shall He be with thee.\"

Lapide: \"Thou shalt divide this land by lot to this people\" — type of Christ who opens heaven for the elect; Joshua divides Canaan as Christ distributes eternal inheritance.

Lapide: \"Be thou very strong\" (meod meod meod) — the triple repetition in the Hebrew signifies the Holy Trinity, according to several Fathers and expositors.

Lapide: \"Meditate upon it day and night\" — Hebrew hagah signifies so fervent a meditation that the words overflow from the heart; not silent reading but vocal and affective rumination.

Lapide: S. Augustinus (Serm. 106 De Temp.): \"Prepare yourselves victuals\" — receive the sacrament of Faith, Hope, and Charity; for it was with these spiritual provisions that one arrives at the sacrament of Baptism and the mystery of the Trinity.