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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comAdam Clarke Commentary - Joshua 23:2 - 23:2
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Joshua called for all Israel - There are four degrees of civil distinction mentioned here:
1. זקנים zekenim, the elders or senate, the Princes of the tribes.
2. ראשים rashim or rashey aboth, the Chiefs or Heads of families.
3. שפטים shophetim, the Judges who interpreted and decided according to the law.
4. שטרים shoterim, the Officers, serjeants, etc., who executed the decisions of the judges.
Whether this assembly was held at Timnath-serah, where Joshua lived, or at Shiloh, where the ark was, or at Shechem, as in Jos 24:1, we cannot tell. Some think that the meaning here, and that mentioned in Jos 24:1, were the same, and if so, Shechem was the place of assembling; but it is more likely that the two chapters treat of two distinct assemblies, whether held at the same place or not.