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Joshua 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,

Joshua 1:1 KJV

Moses 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.

Joshua 1:2 KJV

Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

Joshua 1:3 KJV

From 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.

Joshua 1:4 KJV

There 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.

Joshua 1:5 KJV

Be 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.

Joshua 1:6 KJV

Only 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.

Joshua 1:7 KJV

This 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.

Joshua 1:8 KJV

Have 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.

Joshua 1:9 KJV

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

Joshua 1:10 KJV

Pass 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.

Joshua 1:11 KJV

And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,

Joshua 1:12 KJV

Remember 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.

Joshua 1:13 KJV

Your 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;

Joshua 1:14 KJV

Until 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.

Joshua 1:15 KJV

And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.

Joshua 1:16 KJV

According 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.

Joshua 1:17 KJV

Whosoever 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.

Joshua 1:18 KJV

End of Joshua 1

Continue reading Joshua 2

What is Joshua 1 about?

Joshua 1 opens just after the death of Moses. God speaks to Joshua, Moses' assistant, and commissions him to lead Israel across the Jordan River into the land God promised to their ancestors. Three times God tells him to "be strong and of a good courage." He promises, "as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." God tells Joshua to keep the book of the law in his mouth and meditate on it day and night (verse 8). Verse 9 is the most famous: "be not afraid... for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." The people pledge to follow Joshua.

What does Joshua 1 mean?

Joshua 1:9

God spoke these words to Joshua just after the death of Moses. Joshua now had to lead the whole nation of Israel across the Jordan River into a land full of fortified cities and powerful enemies. Three times in this chapter God tells him to be strong and courageous. The command does not rest on Joshua's own ability. It rests on a promise: "the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Courage here is not the absence of fear but the choice to move forward because God is present. The verse speaks to anyone facing a new and daunting task, reminding them they do not go alone.

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