God Commissions Joshua
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore get up and go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to the Israelites.
3 I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon 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. 5 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.
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to do everything according to the entire law which Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do everything according to all that is written in it, for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua Takes Charge
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the midst 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 is giving you to possess.’ ”
12 Joshua spoke to the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying, 13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of God commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God gives you rest and will give you this land.’
14 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 15 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 is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of God gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’ ”
16 They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 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. 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment and does not listen to your words in all that you command him shall himself be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”