God Speaks to Joshua
Study note
Moses had just died on Mount Nebo after leading Israel for forty years. Joshua, son of Nun, had served as Moses' assistant for most of that time. He had been one of only two spies (along with Caleb) who trusted God enough to say Israel could take the Promised Land. Now God spoke to Joshua directly and gave him the job of leading the entire nation. God told Joshua three times to be strong and courageous, showing how important that command was for the task ahead.
1 After the Lord's servant Moses died, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had served as Moses' assistant. 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 The Lord said, "Moses my servant is dead. It is time for you to get up and lead all these people across the Jordan River into the land I am handing over to the people of Israel." 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 your foot touches will belong to you, just as I told Moses." Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 "Your territory will stretch from the southern desert to the Lebanon mountains in the north. It will reach from the great Euphrates River in the east all the way to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. It will include all the Hittite territory." 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 "Nobody will successfully stand against you for your entire life. I will be with you the same way I was with Moses. I promise to never leave you or walk away from you." 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 full of courage, because you are the one who will lead these people to claim the land I swore to give their ancestors." 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 "Be strong and extremely courageous. Make sure to follow all the laws my servant Moses gave you. Stay on course -- do not drift to the right or the left. Then you will succeed wherever you go." 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 whithersoever thou goest.
8 "Never stop talking about this Book of the Law. Reflect on it day and night so you will be careful to practice everything written in it. That is the key to succeeding in everything you do." 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 I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed: for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." 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.
Joshua Orders the People to Prepare
Study note
Joshua wasted no time. He commanded the officers to tell the people to pack food because they would cross the Jordan River in three days. He also reminded the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh of their promise. Moses had already given these tribes land on the east side of the Jordan, but they had agreed to send their fighting men across to help the other tribes conquer Canaan before settling down in their own territory.
10 Joshua then gave orders to the people's officers. Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 He told them, "Walk through the camp and tell everyone to prepare their supplies. Three days from now, you will cross the Jordan River to go in and take the land the Lord your God is handing over to you." 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 Joshua also had a message for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
13 He reminded them, "Think about what Moses the Lord's servant told you. The Lord your God is giving you a place to settle. He has already given you this land on the east side of the Jordan." 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, children, and livestock can stay in the territory Moses gave you on this side. But every one of your fighting men must cross over ahead of the other Israelites, armed and ready to help them." 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 "Keep helping them until the Lord gives your fellow Israelites peace, just as he has given you peace. Once they have taken over the land the Lord your God is giving them, you can go back to your own land. Moses gave you your land east of the Jordan." 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.
The People Pledge Loyalty to Joshua
Study note
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh responded with total loyalty. They promised to obey Joshua just as they had obeyed Moses. They even said that anyone who disobeyed Joshua's commands should be put to death. Their final words echoed God's own command: be strong and courageous.
16 They answered Joshua, "We will do whatever you tell us, and we will go anywhere you send us." And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
17 "We will follow you the same way we followed Moses in everything. We pray that the Lord your God will be with you the way he was with Moses." 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 "If anyone defies your orders or ignores what you say, that person will be put to death. Stay strong and courageous!" 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.