written. The royal character of Joshua becomes clear mainly in the content of Joshua’s charge. The Lord commands Joshua to meditate on the book of the law, an ideal the king is expected to meet, according to Deuteronomy 17:19 (Josh. 1:8). The eastern tribes pledge their absolute loyalty, like an oath made by subjects to their monarch (Josh. 1:16–18). Furthermore, the singular “you” in verse 5 (“No one shall be able to stand against you”) suggests that the military hopes of the entire people rest