Joshua 1

God's promises of land and presence Joshua 1:3–5

³Verse 3. I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. ⁴Verse 4. 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. ⁵Verse 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.

Call to strength and courage Joshua 1:6–9

⁶Verse 6. “Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷Verse 7. 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. ⁸Verse 8. 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.

⁹Verse 9. Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”

Preparation for crossing the Jordan Joshua 1:10–11

¹⁰Verse 10. Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, ¹¹Verse 11. “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 Yahweh your God gives you to possess it.’”

Instructions to the eastern tribes Joshua 1:12–15

¹²Verse 12. Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying, ¹³Verse 13. “Remember the word which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, saying, ‘Yahweh your God gives you rest, and will give you this land. ¹⁴Verse 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 ¹⁵Verse 15. until Yahweh has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which Yahweh your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’”

The people's pledge of loyalty Joshua 1:16–17

¹⁶Verse 16. They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. ¹⁷Verse 17. Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may Yahweh your God be with you, as he was with Moses.

Consequences of rebellion Joshua 1:18

¹⁸Verse 18. 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.”