Deuteronomy 34

The Death of Moses

1 Then Moses ascended from the deserts of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the summit of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho.ss The Lord showed him the whole land – Gilead to Dan,2 and all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the distantt sea,3 the Negev, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of the date palm trees, as far as Zoar.

4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’t I have let you see it,t but you will not cross over there.”
5 So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab as the Lord had said.6 Hes buried him in the land of Moab near Beth Peor, but no one knows his exact burial place to this very day.7 Moses was 120 years old when he died, but his eye was not dullt nor had his vitalityt departed.

8 The Israelites mourned for Moses in the deserts of Moab for thirty days; then the days of mourning for Moses ended.

The Epitaph of Moses

9 Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had placed his hands on him;s and the Israelites listened to him and did just what the Lord had commanded Moses.10 No prophet ever again arose in Israel like Moses, who knew the Lord face to face.s11 He didt all the signs and wonders the Lord had sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, all his servants, and the whole land,

12 and he displayed great powert and awesome might in view of all Israel.t

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!”

Joshua 2

Joshua Sends Spies into the Land

1 Joshua son of Nun sent two spies out from Shittim secretly and instructed them:t “Find out what you can about the land, especially Jericho.”ts They stopped at the house of a prostitute named Rahab and spent the night there.t2 The king of Jericho received this report: “Note well!t Israelite men have come here tonightt to spy on the land.”3 So the king of Jericho sent this order to Rahab:t “Turn overt the men who came to yout – the ones who came to your houset – for they have come to spy on the whole land!”4 But the woman hid the two ment and replied, “Yes, these men were clients of mine,t but I didn’t know where they came from.5 When it was time to shut the city gate for the night, the men left.t I don’t know where they were heading. Chase after them quickly, for you have time to catch them!”6 (Now she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them in the stalks of flax she had spread outt on the roof.)

7 Meanwhilet the king’s men tried to find them on the road to the Jordan Rivert near the fords.t The city gate was shut as soon as they set out in pursuit of them.t
8 Now before the spiest went to sleep, Rahabt went upt to the roof.9 She said to the men, “I know the Lord is handing this land over to you.t We are absolutely terrified of you,t and all who live in the land are cringing beforet you.t10 For we heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt and how you annihilated the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, on the other side of the Jordan.t11 When we heard the news we lost our courage and no one could even breathe for fear of you.t For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below!12 So now, promise me this with an oath sworn in the Lord’s name.ts Because I have shown allegiance to you, show allegiance to my family.t Give me a solemn pledget13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and rescue ust from death.”

14 The men said to her, “If yout die, may we die too!t If you do not report what we’ve been up to,t then, when the Lord hands the land over to us, we will show unswerving allegiancet to you.”t
15 Then Rahabt let them down by a ropes through the window. (Hert house was built as part of the city wall; she lived in the wall.)s16 She told them, “Headt to the hill country, so the ones chasing you don’t find you.t Hide from them there for three days, long enough for those chasing yout to return. Then you can be on your way.”17 The men said to her, “We are not bound by this oath you made us swear unless the following conditions are met:t18 When we invade the landt, tie this red ropet in the window through which you let us down, and gather together in your house your father, mother, brothers, and all who live in your father’s house.t19 Anyone who leaves your house will be responsible for his own death – we are innocent in that case!t But if anyone with you in the house is harmed, we will be responsible.t20 If you should report what we’ve been up to,t we are not bound by this oath you made us swear.”21 She said, “I agree to these conditions.”t She sent them on their wayt and then tied the red rope in the window.22 They wentt to the hill country and stayed there for three days, long enough for those chasing themt to return. Their pursuerst looked all along the way but did not find them.t23 Then the two men returned – they came down from the hills, crossed the river,t came to Joshua son of Nun, and reported to him all they had discovered.

24 They told Joshua, “Surely the Lord is handing over all the land to us!t All who live in the land are cringing before us!”t