Joshua 1 · WEB

Be Strong and Courageous

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Now after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' servant, saying,

²"Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel.

³I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses.

⁴From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.

⁵No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.

⁶Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

⁷Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Don't turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

⁸This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

⁹Haven't I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid. Don't be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go."

¹⁰Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

¹¹"Pass through the middle of the camp, and command the people, saying, 'Prepare food; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which Yahweh your God gives you to possess.' "

¹²Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying,

¹³"Remember the word which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, saying, 'Yahweh your God gives you rest, and will give you this land.

¹⁴Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall live in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them

¹⁵until Yahweh has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which Yahweh your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.' "

¹⁶They answered Joshua, saying, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

¹⁷Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may Yahweh your God be with you, as he was with Moses.

¹⁸Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn't listen to your words in all that you command him, he shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous."

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Summary

After Moses' death, God commissions Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, promising His continual presence and success if Joshua meditates on God's law and obeys it completely. God repeats the charge to be strong and courageous three times, emphasizing that the mission requires both courage and faithful obedience. Joshua relays the command to the people and reminds the eastern tribes of their obligation to help their brothers conquer the land. The people respond with wholehearted commitment to follow Joshua as they followed Moses.

Themes

Divine commissioning and the transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua
The centrality of God's word as the foundation for success and faithfulness
Courage rooted not in human strength but in God's promised presence
Unity of the tribes — the eastern tribes commit to helping their brothers

Key verses

Josh 1:5 — “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.”
Josh 1:8 — “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.”
Josh 1:9 — “Haven't I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid. Don't be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”

Context & background

Joshua 1 opens at the plains of Moab (modern Jordan), on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, which today forms the border between the modern Kingdom of Jordan and the Israeli-controlled West Bank. Moses has just died on Mount Nebo (in modern Jordan), and Joshua — whose name is the Hebrew equivalent of "Jesus," meaning "Yahweh saves" — now assumes command. The land promised includes all of Canaan, corresponding roughly to modern Israel, the West Bank, Lebanon, and parts of Syria and Jordan. The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan (modern Jordan), but were obligated to assist in the western conquest.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 — Moses charges Joshua with the same words: be strong and courageous
Deuteronomy 34:5-9 — Death of Moses and the commissioning of Joshua described
Hebrews 13:5 — "I will in no way fail you, neither will I in any way forsake you" quoted as a promise to New Testament believers
Numbers 32:20-22 — The eastern tribes' obligation to cross over armed is established here
Psalm 1:2-3 — Meditating on God's law day and night produces fruitfulness, echoing Josh 1:8

Be Strong and Courageous

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