The Commissioning of Joshua

31:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The day of your death is near. Summon Joshua and present yourselves in the tent11 of meeting12 so that I can commission him.”13 So Moses and Joshua presented themselves in the tent of meeting. 31:15 The Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud that14 stood above the door of the tent. 31:16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “You are about to die,15 and then these people will begin to prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which they16 are going. They17 will reject18 me and break my covenant that I have made with them.19 31:17 At that time20 my anger will erupt against them21 and I will abandon them and hide my face from them until they are devoured. Many disasters and distresses will overcome22 them23 so that they24 will say at that time, ‘Have not these disasters25 overcome us26 because our27 God is not among us28?’ 31:18 But I will certainly29 hide myself at that time because of all the wickedness they30 will have done by turning to other gods. 31:19 Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites. Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites! 31:20 For after I have brought them31 to the land I promised to their32 ancestors—one flowing with milk and honey—and they33 eat their fill34 and become fat, then they35 will turn to other gods and worship them; they will reject me and break my covenant. 31:21 Then when36 many disasters and distresses overcome them37 this song will testify against them,38 for their39 descendants will not forget it.40 I know the41 intentions they have in mind42 today, even before I bring them43 to the land I have promised.” 31:22 So on that day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites, 31:23 and the Lord44 commissioned Joshua son of Nun, “Be strong and courageous, for you will take the Israelites to the land I have promised them, and I will be with you.”45