Joshua 1

1 ¹After Moses our Father's servant died, our Father told Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant:

²"Moses my servant is dead. Now get up, cross the Jordan, you and all these people, into the land I am giving them, the children of Israel. ³Every place where you set foot I have given to you, just as I promised Moses. ⁴Your territory will run from the wilderness and this Lebanon to the great river Euphrates—all the Hittite land—and to the Great Sea toward the sunset. ⁵No one will stand against you all your life. As I was with Moses, I will be with you; I will not leave or abandon you.

⁶"Be strong and courageous, for you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. ⁷Only be strong and very courageous, careful to obey all the law Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it right or left, so you may succeed wherever you go. ⁸Never let this Book of the Law leave your lips; think on it day and night, to carefully do all written in it. Then your way will thrive and you will succeed. ⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be discouraged, for I, your Father, am with you wherever you go."

Joshua Rallies the People to Cross

¹⁰Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: ¹¹Go through the camp and command the people: 'Prepare provisions, for in three days you cross the Jordan to enter and take the land your Father is giving you to possess.'

¹²To the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said: ¹³Remember what Moses, our Father's servant, commanded you: 'Your Father is giving you rest and will give you this land.' ¹⁴Your wives, children, and livestock stay in the land Moses gave you east of the Jordan; but all you warriors cross over armed ahead of your brothers to help them, ¹⁵until our Father gives your brothers rest, as he gave you, and they too take the land he is giving them. Then return to your own land and take it—the land Moses, our Father's servant, gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.

¹⁶They answered Joshua, "All you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. ¹⁷As we obeyed Moses in everything, we will obey you. Only may your Father be with you, as he was with Moses. ¹⁸Anyone who rebels against your command and disobeys your words, whatever you command, must be put to death. Only be strong and courageous."