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 ^(A)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 ^(B)to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua ^[a]said, ¹³ “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘^(C)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. ^(D)Then you may return to ^[b]your own land, and take possession of ^[c]that which Moses ^(E)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 ^(F)may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses. ¹⁸ Anyone who rebels against your ^[d]command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”