Joshua Takes the Lead

After Moses died, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had served Moses. God told Joshua to get up and lead all the people across the Jordan into the land he was giving Israel. He said he had given them that land, from the wilderness and Lebanon as far as the great river Euphrates, and to the Great Sea in the west. No one would be able to stand against Joshua, because God would be with him as he had been with Moses.

God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, because he would lead the people to inherit the land God had sworn to their fathers. Joshua was to carefully obey the law Moses had commanded. He was not to turn aside from it. He was to keep speaking about it and thinking on it day and night, so he would do what was written in it.

God told Joshua again not to be afraid or dismayed, because the LORD his God would be with him wherever he went. Then Joshua gave his first orders. He told the officers to go through the camp and tell the people to prepare food, because within three days they would cross the Jordan and go in to possess the land the LORD was giving them.

Joshua also spoke to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He reminded them of what Moses had commanded. Their wives, children, and livestock could stay in the land already given to them beyond the Jordan, but their armed fighting men were to go ahead of their brothers and help them until the other tribes also received their land and rest from the LORD.

They answered Joshua that they would do all he commanded and go wherever he sent them. They said they would listen to him just as they had listened to Moses, and they expressed the hope that the LORD would be with Joshua as he had been with Moses. They also said that anyone who rebelled against Joshua's command and refused to listen would be put to death. In the end, they urged Joshua to be strong and courageous.