Joshua Takes Moses’s Place

31 Then Moses continued to speak these[a] words to all Israel, saying, “I am now 120 years old;(A) I can no longer act as your leader.[b] The Lord has told me, ‘You will not cross the Jordan.’(B) The Lord your God is the one who will cross ahead of you.(C) He will destroy these nations before you, and you will drive them out. Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, as the Lord has said.(D) The Lord will deal with them as he did Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and their land when he destroyed them.(E) The Lord will deliver them over to you, and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous;(F) don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you;(G) he will not leave you or abandon you.”(H)

Moses then summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with[c] this people into the land the Lord swore to give to their ancestors.(I) You will enable them to take possession of it. The Lord is the one who will go before you.(J) He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.(K) Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

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Footnotes

  1. 31:1 Some Hb mss, DSS, LXX, Syr, Vg read all these
  2. 31:2 Lit no longer go out or come in
  3. 31:7 Some Hb mss, Sam, Syr, Vg read you will bring

Moses announces his death

31 Then Moses said[a] these words to all Israel, telling them:

I’m 120 years old today. I can’t move around well anymore. Plus, the Lord told me “You won’t cross the Jordan River.” But the Lord your God, he’s the one who will cross over before you! He’s the one who will destroy these nations before you so you can displace them. Joshua too will cross over before you just like the Lord indicated. The Lord will do to these enemies the same thing he did to the Amorite kings Sihon and Og, and to their land, when he destroyed them. The Lord will lay them out before you, and you will do to them exactly what the command I’ve given you dictates. Be strong! Be fearless! Don’t be afraid and don’t be scared by your enemies, because the Lord your God is the one who marches with you. He won’t let you down, and he won’t abandon you.

Then Moses called Joshua and, with all Israel watching, said to him: “Be strong and fearless because you are the one who will lead[b] this people to the land the Lord swore to their ancestors to give to them; you are the one who will divide up the land for them. But the Lord is the one who is marching before you! He is the one who will be with you! He won’t let you down. He won’t abandon you. So don’t be afraid or scared!”

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 31:1 LXX, DSS (1QDeutb) When Moses had finished speaking
  2. Deuteronomy 31:7 Sam, Vulg, Syr; MT, Tg accompany