The Book of Joshua

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- Chapter 1 -

(Deuteronomy 11:8–17)

After Moses the servant of Yahweh, died, Yahweh said this to Nun’s son Joshua, who had been Moses’ servant leader:

“You know that my servant Moses is now dead. So now get ready to cross over the Jordan River, you and all these people. Enter the land that I will soon give to the people of Israel.

Everywhere you walk in this land, I will give to you, as I promised Moses.

That land will extend from the wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the northwest, to the Euphrates River, and to the Mediterranean Sea on the west. It will include all the land where the Hittites live.

No group will be able to defeat you as long as you live. I will help you as I helped Moses. I promise that I will not abandon you and I will never leave you.

Be strong and brave, because you will lead these people so they can take this land as their own, the land that I promised to give to their ancestors.

Just be strong and very brave. Be sure to obey all the laws that my servant Moses taught you; carry out each one of them. If you do so, you will be successful wherever you go.

Talk with each other about the book of the law that Moses taught you. Think about those laws during the day and during the night. Follow the laws and do what they tell you to do, and they teach you to live so you may gain wealth and be successful.

Do not forget that I have commanded you to be strong and brave. Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged. I, Yahweh your God, will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua Takes Charge

Then Joshua commanded the leaders of the people of Israel,

“Go throughout the camp and give these orders to the people: ‘Prepare all the food that you will take with you. In three days you will go across the Jordan River in front of you, and you will go in and capture the land that Yahweh, your God, is about to give to you.’”

Then Joshua spoke to the families of the descendants of Reuben and Gad, and to the half of the tribe of Manasseh that was going to settle on the east side of the Jordan River:

“Keep in mind the orders that Moses the servant of Yahweh, gave you. Moses said, ’Yahweh, your God, has promised to give you a place where you can settle down permanently, this place will be the land where you will live.

Your wives, your little children, and your livestock may stay here in this land on the east side of the Jordan River, but all your soldiers and your fellow tribesmen must cross the river, ahead of your other fellow Israelites, in order to help them.

You must help them in battle until Yahweh has enabled your fellow Israelites to permanently settle in the land there, the land that they will capture, the land that Yahweh your God is giving to them. Then each of you will come back to the land that you will settle in, and you will live there, I mean the land that Moses, Yahweh’s servant, gave you here on the east side of the Jordan River.”

The people answered Joshua, “We will obey every order you have given us, and we will go wherever you tell us to go.

We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. We pray that Yahweh will be with you as he was with Moses.

We will put to death anyone who rebels and refuses to follow your orders. Just remember, Joshua, to be strong and brave!”

(Deuteronomy 11:8–17)

Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD,(a) the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,

“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel.

I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses.

From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to 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 border.

No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.

“Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God

(b)

is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua Takes Charge

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

“Pass through the middle of the camp, and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare food; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess.’”

Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying,

“Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land.

Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall live in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them

until the LORD has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which the LORD your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’”

They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses.

Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him shall himself be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

Footnotes

(a)1:1 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.

(b)1:9 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).