Joshua 1: 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD,
the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant
is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River
into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. 3 I will
give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4
Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river,
the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west.
5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your
life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor
forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these
people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my
servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that
you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the
Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be
careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and
successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do
not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you
wherever you go." 10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:
11 "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies
ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take
possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'"
12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh,
Joshua said, 13 "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the
LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this
land.' 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in
the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men,
fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your
brothers 15 until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you,
and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is
giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses
the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise."
16 Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will
do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed
Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was
with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey
your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong
and courageous!"