Joshua 1

After the death of Moses, the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant: “Moses my servant is dead. Now rise and cross this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land I am giving them, the people of Israel. I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I told Moses. Your territory will extend from the wilderness and this Lebanon to the great river, the Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites—and to the Great Sea toward the setting sun. 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 not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you will give this people as an inheritance the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, taking care to carry out all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may succeed wherever you go. This book of the law must not depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, so that you take care to do everything written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: “Pass through the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, because in three days you will cross this Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’” Joshua said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh: “Remember the word Moses, the servant of the LORD, commanded you: ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and has given you this land.’ Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock will remain in the land Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. But all of you mighty warriors must cross over armed ahead of your brothers and help them, until the LORD gives your brothers rest as he has given you, and they too possess the land the LORD your God is giving them. Then you may return to the land of your inheritance and possess it, the land Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.” They answered Joshua, “We will do everything you have commanded us, and we will go wherever you send us. Just as we obeyed Moses in everything, so we will obey you. Only let the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in everything you command him must be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

Rights and attribution