Joshua 1
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:
11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’ ”
12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of the other Israelites. You are to help them
15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”
16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.
18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, is to be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”
Joshua 1
The Lord Commissions Joshua
1 After Moses the Lord’s servant died, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Get ready!t Cross the Jordan River!t Lead these people into the land which I am ready to hand over to them.s3 I am handing over to you every place you set foot, as I promised Moses.t4 Your territory will extend from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north. It will extend all the way to the great River Euphrates in the east (including all of Syria)t and all the way to the Mediterranean Seat in the west.t5 No one will be able to resist yout all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone.6 Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them.t7 Make sure you aret very strong and brave! Carefully obeyt all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep!t Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successfult in all you do.t8 This law scroll must not leave your lips!ts You must memorize itt day and night so you can carefully obeyt all that is written in it. Then you will prospert and be successful.t
9 I repeat,t be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic,t for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.”t
Joshua Prepares for the Invasion
10 Joshua instructedt the leaders of the people:
11 “Go through the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your supplies, for within three days you will cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to you.’”t
12 Joshua told the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh:13 “Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you.ts The Lord your God is giving you a place to settle and is handing this land over to you.ts14 Your wives, children and cattle may stay in the land that Moses assigned to you east of the Jordan River. But all you warriors must cross over armed for battle ahead of your brothers.t You must help them
15 until the Lord gives your brothers a place like yours to settle and they conquer the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to them. Then you may go back to your allotted land and occupy the land Moses the Lord’s servant assigned you east of the Jordan.”t
16 They told Joshua, “We will do everything you say. We will go wherever you send us.17 Just as we obeyedt Moses, so we will obey you. Butt may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses!
18 Any man who rebels against what you say and does not obey all your commands will be executed.t Butt be strong and brave!”