Reflections on Joshua 1

Joshua 01 (Contemporary English Version)

1. Moses, the LORD's servant, was dead. So the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had been the assistant of Moses. The LORD said:
   
2. My servant Moses is dead. Now you must lead Israel across the Jordan River into the land I'm giving to all of you.
   
3. Wherever you go, I'll give you that land, as I promised Moses.
   
4. It will reach from the Southern Desert to the Lebanon Mountains in the north, and to the northeast as far as the great Euphrates River. It will include the land of the Hittites, and the land from here at the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea on the west.
   
5. Joshua, I will always be with you and help you as I helped Moses, and no one will ever be able to defeat you.
   
6. Long ago I promised the ancestors of Israel that I would give this land to their descendants. So be strong and brave! Be careful to do everything my servant Moses taught you. Never stop reading The Book of the Law he gave you. Day and night you must think about what it says. If you obey it completely, you and Israel will be able to take this land.
   
7. (SEE 1:6)
   
8. (SEE 1:6)
   
9. I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the LORD your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.
   
10. Joshua ordered the tribal leaders
    
11. to go through the camp and tell everyone: In a few days we will cross the Jordan River to take the land that the LORD our God is giving us. So fix as much food as you'll need for the march into the land.
    
12. Joshua told the men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh:
    
13. The LORD's servant Moses said that the LORD our God has given you land here on the east side of the Jordan River, where you could live in peace. Your wives and children and your animals can stay here in the land Moses gave you. But all of you that can serve in our army must pick up your weapons and lead the men of the other tribes across the Jordan River. They are your relatives, so you must help them
    
14. (SEE 1:13)
    
15. conquer the land that the LORD is giving them. The LORD will give peace to them as he has given peace to you, and then you can come back and settle here in the land that Moses promised you.
    
16. The men answered: We'll cross the Jordan River and help our relatives. We'll fight anywhere you send us.
    
17. If the LORD our God will help you as he helped Moses, and if you are strong and brave, we will obey you as we obeyed Moses. We'll even put to death anyone who rebels against you or refuses to obey you.
    
18. (SEE 1:17)
    

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    The closing verses of Deuteronomy tell of Moses' death and the transfer of leadership to Joshua. Along with this transfer of leadership went the transfer of God's hand upon Joshua as it had been with Moses: "Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him." (Deuteronomy 34:9) For this reason the Israelites also transfered their loyalty to Joshua willing to obey him.
    
    Now, we read in the opening verses of Joshua that the Lord spoke to Joshua telling him it was time to cross the Jordan and possess the land He was giving the Israelites. Along with this the Lord assured Joshua that He would never leave him or forsake him. Following, the Lord gave Joshua some specific instructions. He was to:
    
    
    • Be strong and courageous
      
    • Carefully observe the whole instruction Moses had commanded him
      
    • Continually meditate on the book of instruction
      
    • Carefully observe everything written in it
    Next, Joshua prepared the people to cross into Canaan. This involved gathering provisions since the manna would stop as soon as they crossed the Jordan into Canaan. It also involved reaffirming the commitment of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh to cross the Jordan with their fighting men and assist the other tribes in taking possession of the land even though their inheritance east of the Jordan had already been won. Their families could go ahead and settle the land that was theirs east of the Jordan, but their fighting men must assist in taking possession of the land west of the Jordan until the job was completed. As with Moses, these tribes enthusiastically affirmed their commitment with Joshua to be faithful to these instructions. Not only did they voice their willingness to obey Joshua, but stated that "Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death." (1:18) Did this mean they would enforce this judgment on those who rebel against Joshua's orders? This is certainly implied.