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, 2 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. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot
shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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 withersoever thou goest. 8 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. 9 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.
10
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 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. 12 And
to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh,
spake Joshua, saying, 13 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. 14 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; 15 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. 16 And
they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and
whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. 17 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. 18 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.