Joshua 1:1-9

Expanded Bible

God’s Command to Joshua

1 After Moses, the servant of the ·Lord [or Yahweh; ^C“Lord” (capital letters) represents the divine name YHWH, usually pronounced “Yahweh”], died, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ ·assistant [aide; servant]. ² The Lord said, “My servant Moses is dead. Now you and all these people ·go across [get ready to cross; ^Larise and cross] the Jordan River into the land I am giving to the ·Israelites [^Lsons/^Tchildren of Israel]. ³ I promised Moses I would give you this land [Deut. 11:24], so I will give you every place ·you go [^Lthe sole of your foot walks/treads] in the land. ⁴ All the land from the ·desert in the south [^Ldesert; wilderness] to ·Lebanon in the north [^LLebanon] will be yours. All the land from the great river, the ·Euphrates, in the east [^LEuphrates], to the ·Mediterranean [^LGreat] Sea ·in the west [^Ltoward the going down of the sun] will be yours, too, ·including [or which is all] the land of the Hittites [^CPalestine was known as “Hatti-land” (or “Hittite country”) by the Egyptians and Babylonians]. ⁵ No one will be able to ·defeat [resist; stand against] you all your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not ·leave [fail] you or ·forget [desert; forsake] you.

⁶ “Joshua, be strong and ·brave [courageous; resolute]! You must lead these people ·so they can take [to possess/inherit] the land that I promised their fathers I would give them. ⁷ Be strong and ·brave [courageous; resolute]. Be ·sure [careful] to obey all the ·teachings [law] my servant Moses ·gave [commanded] you. If you ·follow them exactly [^Ldo not turn from it to the right or to the left], you will be successful in everything you do. ⁸ ·Always remember [^LDo not let depart from your mouth] what is written in the Book of the ·Teachings [Law]. ·Study [Meditate on] it day and night to be ·sure [careful; diligent] to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be ·wise [prudent; successful] and ·successful [prosperous] ·in everything [or along life’s path; along the way]. ⁹ ·Remember that I [^LHave I not…?] commanded you to be strong and ·brave [courageous; resolute]. Don’t be afraid or ·discouraged [dismayed], because the Lord your God will be with you ·everywhere you go [or in all you do].”