1Now after the death of Moses the servant of
the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto
Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
2Moses my servant is dead; now therefore
arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this
people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to
the children of Israel.
3Every place that the sole of your foot shall
tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said
unto Moses.
4From the wilderness and this Lebanon even
unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the
land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward
the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5There shall not any man be able to stand
before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with
Moses, so I
will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake
thee.
6Be strong and of a good courage: for unto
this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the
land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7Only be thou strong and very courageous,
that thou mayest observe to do according to all the
law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not
from it to the
right hand or to the
left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou
goest.
8This book of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and
night, that thou mayest observe to do according to
all that is written therein: for then thou shalt
make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have
good success.
9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of
a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou
dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with
thee whithersoever thou goest.
10Then Joshua commanded the officers of the
people, saying,
11Pass through the host, and command the
people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within
three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in
to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth
you to possess it.
12And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites,
and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua,
saying,
13Remember the word which Moses the servant
of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God
hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
14Your wives, your little ones, and your
cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave
you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before
your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour,
and help them;
15Until the LORD have given your brethren
rest, as he
hath given you, and they also have possessed
the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then
ye shall return unto the land of your possession,
and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD'S servant gave
you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
16And they answered Joshua, saying, All that
thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever
thou sendest us, we will go.
17According as we hearkened unto Moses in all
things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD
thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
18Whosoever he
be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and
will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou
commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be
strong and of a good courage.