Joshua 1
New Catholic Bible
The Conquest of the Promised Land[a]
Chapter 1
Assurance of Divine Aid. 1 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua, the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, saying, 2 [b]“Moses my servant is dead. Rise, therefore, and cross over this Jordan, you and all of this people, to the land that I am giving to them, the people of Israel. 3 Every place that you set your feet down, I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the Desert of Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all of the land of the Hittites, and as far as the great sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to withstand you, all the days of your life. I will treat you just as I treated Moses, for I will never forsake nor abandon you. 6 So be strong and take courage, for you will lead these people to inherit the land that I promised to their forefathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and take courage. Be careful to observe the entire law that my servant Moses gave to you. Do not turn away from it to the right or to the left, so that you might prosper wherever you go. 8 Do not let this book of the law be absent from your mouth; meditate upon it day and night, so that you might carefully observe everything that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful. 9 I have given you a command. Be strong and brave, do not be afraid nor dismayed. I, the Lord, your God, will be with you wherever you go.”
10 The Tribes beyond the Jordan. So Joshua gave a command to the leaders of the people saying, 11 “Pass through the camp and give orders to the people saying, ‘Prepare three days’ worth of provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are going to cross over this Jordan in order to take possession of the land that the Lord, your God, has given to you as an inheritance.’ ” 12 Joshua then said to the Reubenites and the Gadites and to half of the tribe of Manasseh,[c] 13 “Remem-ber what Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord, your God, has given you a place of rest,[d] he is giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock are to remain on the land that Moses gave you on the far side of the Jordan, but all of your brave warriors will pass over armed, marching before your brethren to help them. 15 You shall remain there until the Lord gives rest to your brethren as well, and they too take possession of the land that the Lord, your God, has given them. Then you will come back to the land of your inheritance and take possession of it, the land that Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you on the east of the Jordan, in the direction of the sunrise.” 16 They answered Joshua saying, “We will do whatever you command us to do, and we will go wherever you send us. 17 We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses in everything. May the Lord, your God, be with you just as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your commands and does not obey whatever you command them to do will be put to death. Only be strong and brave.”
Footnotes
- Joshua 1:1 These ancient traditions are brought together in a magnificent comprehensive picture that plays down, without completely suppressing, the difficulties of the guerilla war and of the slow penetration of the tribes as they advance in a loose fashion. The editor does not intend to write a detailed diary of these events; he shows God at work clearing the country for his people who are wholly taken up with fighting. In the miraculous crossing of the Jordan and capture of Jericho and in later wonders during the conquest, Israel will always see the most obvious signs of God’s saving intervention.
It is to be noted, however, that the extermination (the anathema) of Canaanite populations was far from being total; some groups were brought into subjection, others assimilated. Moreover, Israel understands the anathema to be connected with its vocation to the faithful service of the one God: amid the attractions of paganism they must remain vigilant for their independence and keep their faith and worship free of any contamination. According to the authors of this book, fidelity and infidelity always bring in their wake successes and failures in the course of the conquest and throughout history. From this outlook we ought to derive a reminder not to let our faith be contaminated by the new idols of our age. - Joshua 1:2 The opening section establishes Joshua as a capable leader and successor to Moses in conquering the new land of Canaan. The Lord prepares Joshua for victory by demanding obedience to God’s law.
- Joshua 1:12 These are the three tribes that had occupied the territories east of the Jordan after the defeat of Sihon and Og, kings in the Transjordan area (see Num 32).
- Joshua 1:13 A place of rest: these would be welcome words for a people who relied on God’s promise made to their ancestors.
Joshua 1
Legacy Standard Bible
Yahweh’s Commands to Joshua
1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of [a]Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ [b]attendant, saying, 2 “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. 3 (C)Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 (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. 5 (E)No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; (F)I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 (G)Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous to [c](H)be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn aside from it to the right or to the left, so that you may [d]be prosperous wherever you go. 8 (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 [e]be careful to do according to all that is written in it; (J)for then you will make your way successful, and then you will [f]be prosperous. 9 Have I not commanded you? (K)Be strong and courageous! (L)Do not be in dread or be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua’s Command to the Officers
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 to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which Yahweh your God is giving you, to possess it.’”
12 (N)To the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua [g]said, 13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, saying, ‘(O)Yahweh your God gives you rest and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them 15 until Yahweh gives your brothers rest as He gives you, and they also possess the land which Yahweh your God is giving them. (P)Then you shall return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses (Q)the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan to the east toward the sunrise.”
16 And 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 listened to Moses in all things, so we will listen to you; only (R)may Yahweh your God be with you as He was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your [h]command and does not listen to your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”
Footnotes
- Joshua 1:1 The personal covenant name of God, a form of I AM WHO I AM, cf. Ex 3:14-15
- Joshua 1:1 Or minister
- Joshua 1:7 Lit observe
- Joshua 1:7 Or act wisely
- Joshua 1:8 Lit observe
- Joshua 1:8 Or act wisely
- Joshua 1:12 Lit said, saying
- Joshua 1:18 Lit mouth
Joshua 1
King James Version
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,
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, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
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.
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.
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 withersoever thou goest.
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.
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.
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
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.
12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
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.
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;
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.
16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
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.
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.
Joshua 1
New King James Version
God’s Commission to Joshua
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ (A)assistant, saying: 2 (B)“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 (C)Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 (D)From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 (E)No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; (F)as I was with Moses, so (G)I will be with you. (H)I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 (I)Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall [a]divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law (J)which Moses My servant commanded you; (K)do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may [b]prosper wherever you go. 8 (L)This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but (M)you[c] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 (N)Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; (O)do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
The Order to Cross the Jordan
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for (P)within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’ ”
12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying, 13 “Remember (Q)the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall [d]pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them, 15 until the Lord has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving them. (R)Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”
16 So they answered Joshua, saying, “All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God (S)be with you, as He was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”
Footnotes
- Joshua 1:6 give as a possession
- Joshua 1:7 have success or act wisely
- Joshua 1:8 you shall be constantly in
- Joshua 1:14 cross over ahead of
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
