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Yahweh’s Commands to Joshua

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, “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 treads, 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 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. (G)Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 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. (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. 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

  1. Joshua 1:1 The personal covenant name of God, a form of I AM WHO I AM, cf. Ex 3:14-15
  2. Joshua 1:1 Or minister
  3. Joshua 1:7 Lit observe
  4. Joshua 1:7 Or act wisely
  5. Joshua 1:8 Lit observe
  6. Joshua 1:8 Or act wisely
  7. Joshua 1:12 Lit said, saying
  8. Joshua 1:18 Lit mouth

God’s Commission to Joshua

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’s assistant, saying, “My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites.(A) Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses.(B) From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory.(C) No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.(D) Be strong and courageous, for you shall lead this people to possess the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go.(E) This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.(F) I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”(G)

Preparations for the Invasion

10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “Pass through the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for in three days you are to cross over this Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God gives you to possess.’ ”(H)

12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said,(I) 13 “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’(J) 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. But all the warriors among you shall cross over armed before your kindred and shall help them, 15 until the Lord gives rest to your kindred as well as to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land and take possession of it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan to the east.”(K)

16 They answered Joshua, “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 may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses!(L) 18 Whoever rebels against your orders and disobeys your words, whatever you command, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”