1 Now 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,
2 Moses
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.
3 Every
place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as
I said unto Moses.
4 From
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.
5 There
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.
6 Be
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.
7 Only
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.
8 This
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.
9 Have
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.
10 Then
Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 Pass
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.
12 And
to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake
Joshua, saying,
13 Remember
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.
14 Your
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;
15 Until
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.
16 And
they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and
whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
17 According
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.
18 Whosoever 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.
