Joshua Installed as Leader

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord,a the Lord said to Joshuab son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan Riverc into the landd I am about to give to theme—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot,f as I promised Moses.g 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon,h and from the great river, the Euphratesi—all the Hittitej country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.k 5 No one will be able to stand against youl all the days of your life. As I was withm Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsaken you. 6 Be strongo and courageous,p because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestorsq to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obeyr all the laws my servant Mosest gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,u that you may be successful wherever you go.v 8 Keep this Book of the Laww always on your lips;x meditatey on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.z 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;a do not be discouraged,b for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”c

10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:d 11 “Go through the campe and tell the people, ‘Get your provisionsf ready. Three daysg from now you will cross the Jordanh here to go in and take possessioni 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,j Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you restk by giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives,l your children and your livestock may stay in the landm that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle,n must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites.o You are to help them 15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land 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.”p

16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.q 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you.r Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obeys it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!t”