Joshua 1

King James Version

Full text for Joshua Chapter 1

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,

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.

10¶ Then 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.

16¶ And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

After Moses' death, the LORD commissions Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land, assuring him of divine presence and victory. God commands Joshua to be strong, courageous, and to diligently obey the Law for prosperity. Joshua then instructs the people to prepare for the crossing and reminds the Transjordan tribes of their pledge to assist in the conquest. The people respond with full allegiance, promising obedience and pledging to execute any who rebel.

Medium Summary

Following the death of Moses, the LORD speaks to Joshua, commissioning him to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River into the land promised to their fathers. God assures Joshua of His unwavering presence, promising that no adversary will stand against him, just as He was with Moses. The LORD repeatedly exhorts Joshua to be strong and courageous, emphasizing the necessity of strict obedience to the Law of Moses and constant meditation upon it for success. Subsequently, Joshua commands the officers to prepare the people for the three-day journey to possess the land. He also reminds the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh of their prior commitment to send their armed men to aid their brethren in conquering the land west of Jordan before returning to their own inheritance. The people respond by pledging complete obedience to Joshua, affirming their loyalty and declaring that any who rebel against his commands shall be put to death.

Long Summary

Upon the death of Moses, the servant of the LORD, God directly addresses Joshua, Moses' minister, commissioning him to succeed Moses as leader of Israel. The LORD instructs Joshua to lead the entire nation across the Jordan River into the land He is giving to the children of Israel, specifying its vast boundaries from the wilderness to the Euphrates and the Great Sea. God promises Joshua absolute victory, declaring that no man shall be able to stand before him throughout his life, and assures him of His unfailing presence, just as He was with Moses. A central theme of God's charge is the repeated exhortation for Joshua to "be strong and of a good courage," for he is tasked with dividing the promised inheritance among the people. Furthermore, God stresses the vital importance of observing and doing according to all the Law commanded by Moses, warning against deviation to the right or left. The LORD emphasizes that constant meditation on the "book of the law" day and night is crucial for making his way prosperous and achieving good success. Reaffirming His command, God tells Joshua not to be afraid or dismayed, for the LORD their God will be with him wherever he goes. Following this divine commission, Joshua immediately commands the officers to instruct the people to prepare provisions, for within three days they are to cross the Jordan and possess the land. He then addresses the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, reminding them of their solemn pledge made to Moses. Their agreement was that their wives, children, and cattle would remain in their allotted land east of Jordan, while their mighty men of valour would pass over armed before their brethren to assist in the conquest. This aid was to continue until the LORD had given all the tribes rest and they had possessed their inheritance, after which the Transjordan tribes could return to their own possession. In response, the people collectively pledge their unwavering allegiance to Joshua, promising to do all he commands and go wherever he sends them, just as they hearkened unto Moses. They express their hope that the LORD their God will be with Joshua as He was with Moses. Finally, they declare that any individual who rebels against Joshua's command or disobeys his words shall be put to death, concluding with a final encouragement for Joshua to be strong and of a good courage.

Core Concepts

  • Divine CommissionGod directly appoints Joshua as Moses' successor, entrusting him with the leadership of Israel to enter and conquer the promised land. This highlights God's active involvement in the leadership transition and the fulfillment of His covenant promises.
  • Promise of Presence and VictoryThe LORD assures Joshua that He will be with him, just as He was with Moses, guaranteeing that no enemy will be able to stand against him. This promise serves as a foundation for Joshua's courage and the nation's success.
  • Obedience to the LawA core command from God to Joshua is the strict adherence to the Law of Moses, emphasizing that success and prosperity are contingent upon diligent observance and meditation on its precepts.
  • Strength and CourageRepeatedly, God exhorts Joshua to "be strong and of a good courage," acknowledging the immense task ahead. This divine encouragement is crucial for Joshua to overcome fear and lead the people confidently.
  • Transjordan Tribes' PledgeJoshua reminds the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh of their commitment to assist their brethren in conquering the land west of the Jordan before returning to their own inheritance. This demonstrates the unity and shared responsibility among the tribes.
  • People's AllegianceThe Israelites respond to Joshua with a strong declaration of loyalty, promising complete obedience and even pledging to execute any who rebel against his authority. This signifies the people's acceptance of Joshua's leadership and their readiness for the conquest.