Joshua 1

God’s Commission to Joshua

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ *Ex. 24:13; Num. 13:16; 14:6, 29, 30, 37, 38; Deut. 1:38; Acts 7:45assistant, saying: 2 *Num. 12:7; Deut. 34:5"Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 *Deut. 11:24; Josh. 11:23Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 *Gen. 15:18; Ex. 23:31; Num. 34:3–12From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 *Deut. 7:24No man shall beableto stand before you all the days of your life; *Ex. 3:12as I was with Moses, so*Deut. 31:8, 23I will be with you. *Deut. 31:6, 7; Heb. 13:5I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 *Deut. 31:7, 23Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law *Num. 27:23; Deut. 31:7; Josh. 11:15which Moses My servant commanded you; *Deut. 5:32do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 *Deut. 17:18, 19; 31:24, 26; Josh. 8:34This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but *Deut. 29:9; Ps. 1:1–3you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 *Deut. 31:7Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; *Ps. 27:1do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

The Order to Cross the Jordan

10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 "Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for *Deut. 9:1; Josh. 3:17within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’ "

12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying, 13 "Remember *Num. 32:20–28the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them, 15 until the Lord has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving them. *Josh. 22:1–4Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise."

16 So they answered Joshua, saying, "All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God *1 Sam. 20:13; 1 Kin. 1:37be with you, as He was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage."