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Joshua Addresses the Israelites

After the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh said to Joshua son of Nun, the assistant[a] of Moses, saying, “My servant Moses is dead. Get up and cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites.[b] Every place that the soles of your feet will tread, I have given it to you, as I promised[c] to Moses. From the wilderness and the Lebanon,[d] up to the great river, the river Euphrates, all of the land of the Hittites, and up to the great sea in the west,[e] will be your territory. No one will stand before you[f] all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you, and I will not forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you will give the people this land as an inheritance that I swore to their ancestors[g] to give them. Only be strong and very courageous to observe diligently the whole law[h] that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn aside from it, to the right or left, so that you may succeed wherever you go.[i] The scroll of this law will not depart from your mouth; you will meditate on it day and night so that you may observe diligently all that is written[j] in it. For then you will succeed in your ways and prosper. Did I not command you? Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”[k] 10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people: ‘Prepare your provisions;[l] in[m] three days you are to cross the Jordan to go possess the land that Yahweh your God is giving you to possess.’”

12 To the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13 “Remember the word that Moses Yahweh’s servant commanded you, saying, ‘Yahweh your God is giving rest to you, and he is giving[n] you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little children, and your livestock, they will remain in the land that Moses gave to you beyond the Jordan. All of the best fighting men[o] will cross armed in front of your families; they will help you 15 until Yahweh gives rest to your families as well as to you. They will take possession of the land that Yahweh your God is giving to them. Then you will return to your own land and take possession of it, the land that Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan to the east.”[p] 16 And they answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you will send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses, so will we obey you. Only may Yahweh your God be with you, as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your orders[q] and does not obey your words according to what you commanded us will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 1:1 Or “servant”
  2. Joshua 1:2 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  3. Joshua 1:3 Or “spoke”
  4. Joshua 1:4 Literally “this Lebanon”; “Lebanon” in Hebrew means “white mountain”
  5. Joshua 1:4 Literally “the great sea of the setting sun”
  6. Joshua 1:5 Or “in your presence”
  7. Joshua 1:6 Or “fathers”
  8. Joshua 1:7 Literally “to keep and to act according to the whole law”
  9. Joshua 1:7 Literally “in all that you go”
  10. Joshua 1:8 Literally “to keep and to act according to all that is written”
  11. Joshua 1:9 Literally “in all that you go”
  12. Joshua 1:11 Hebrew “provision”
  13. Joshua 1:11 Literally “for in still”
  14. Joshua 1:13 Hebrew “he gave”
  15. Joshua 1:14 Literally “All the mighty warriors of the troop”
  16. Joshua 1:15 Literally “to the sunrise”
  17. Joshua 1:18 Literally “defiles against your mouth”

God’s Orders to Joshua

Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ [a]servant, saying, “Moses (A)My servant is dead; so now arise, (B)cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. (C)Every place on which the sole of your foot steps, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. (D)From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. (E)No one will be able to oppose you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; (F)I will not desert you nor abandon you. (G)Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; [b](H)be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may [c]achieve success wherever you go. (I)This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may [d]be careful to do according to all that is written in it; (J)for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will [e]achieve success. Have I not commanded you? (K)Be strong and courageous! (L)Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua Assumes Command

10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within (M)three days you are going to cross this Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving you, to possess it.’”

12 But (N)to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua [f]said, 13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘(O)The Lord your God is giving you rest, and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross ahead of your brothers in battle formation, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, 15 until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as He is giving you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God is giving them. (P)Then you may return to [g]your own land, and take possession of [h]that which Moses (Q)the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only (R)may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your [i]command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 1:1 Or minister
  2. Joshua 1:7 Lit to observe
  3. Joshua 1:7 Or have insight
  4. Joshua 1:8 Lit observe
  5. Joshua 1:8 Or have insight
  6. Joshua 1:12 Lit said, saying
  7. Joshua 1:15 Lit the land of your possession
  8. Joshua 1:15 Lit it
  9. Joshua 1:18 Lit mouth