Joshua 1
1
The Lord Commissions Joshua
1 After Moses the Lord’s servant died, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Get ready!#tn Heb “Get up!” Cross the Jordan River!#tn Heb “this Jordan”; the word “River” has been supplied in the translation for clarity (likewise in v. 11). Lead these people into the land which I am ready to hand over to them.#tc Heb “Cross over this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land that I am giving to them, to the children of Israel.” The final phrase, “to the children of Israel,” is probably a later scribal addition specifying the identity of “these people/them.” 3 I am handing over to you every place you set foot, as I promised Moses.#tn Heb “Every place on which the sole of your foot walks, to you I have given it, as I said to Moses.” The second person pronouns in vv. 3-4 are plural, indicating that all the people are addressed here. The verbal form נְתַתִּיו (nÿtattiv, “I have given it”) is probably a perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of the action. Another option is to translate, “I have already assigned it.” In this case the verb would probably refer to the Lord’s decree to Abraham that he would give this land to his descendants. 4 Your territory will extend from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north. It will extend all the way to the great River Euphrates in the east (including all of Syria)#tn Heb “all the land of the Hittites.” The expression “the land of the Hittites” does not refer to Anatolia (modern Turkey), where the ancient Hittite kingdom of the second millennium b.c. was located, but rather to Syria, the “Hatti land” mentioned in inscriptions of the first millennium b.c. (see HALOT 1:363). The phrase is omitted in the LXX and may be a scribal addition. and all the way to the Mediterranean Sea#tn Heb “the Great Sea,” the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea. in the west.#tn Heb “From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, even to the great sea [at] the place where the sun sets, your territory will be.” 5 No one will be able to resist you#tn Heb “A man will not stand before you.” The second person pronouns in this verse are singular, indicating Joshua is the addressee. all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone. 6 Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them.#tn Heb “For you will cause these people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give to them.” The pronoun “them” at the end of the verse refers to either the people or to the fathers. 7 Make sure you are#tn Or “Only be.” very strong and brave! Carefully obey#tn Heb “so you can be careful to do.” The use of the infinitive לִשְׁמֹר (lishmor, “to keep”) after the imperatives suggests that strength and bravery will be necessary for obedience. Another option is to take the form לִשְׁמֹר as a vocative lamed (ל) with imperative (see Isa 38:20 for an example of this construction), which could be translated, “Indeed, be careful!” all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep!#tn Heb “commanded you.” Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful#tn Heb “be wise,” but the word can mean “be successful” by metonymy. in all you do.#tn Heb “in all which you go.” 8 This law scroll must not leave your lips!#tn Heb “mouth.”sn This law scroll must not leave your lips. The ancient practice of reading aloud to oneself as an aid to memorization is in view here. You must memorize it#tn Heb “read it in undertones,” or “recite it quietly” (see HALOT 1:237). day and night so you can carefully obey#tn Heb “be careful to do.” all that is written in it. Then you will prosper#tn Heb “you will make your way prosperous.” and be successful.#tn Heb “and be wise,” but the word can mean “be successful” by metonymy. 9 I repeat,#tn Heb “Have I not commanded you?” The rhetorical question emphasizes the importance of the following command by reminding the listener that it is being repeated. be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic,#tn Or perhaps, “don’t get discouraged!” for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.”#tn Heb “in all which you go.”
Joshua Prepares for the Invasion
10 Joshua instructed#tn Or “commanded.” the leaders of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your supplies, for within three days you will cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to you.’”#tn Heb “to enter to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving to you to possess it.”
12 Joshua told the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh: 13 “Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you.#tn Heb “remember the word which Moses, the Lord’s servant, commanded you.”sn This command can be found in Deut 3:18-20. In vv. 13-15 Joshua paraphrases the command, as the third person reference to Moses in v. 14 indicates. The Lord your God is giving you a place to settle and is handing this land over to you.#tn Heb “is providing rest for you and is giving to you this land.”sn “This land” refers to the trans-Jordanian lands allotted to these tribes. 14 Your wives, children and cattle may stay in the land that Moses assigned to you east of the Jordan River. But all you warriors must cross over armed for battle ahead of your brothers.#tn Heb “But you must cross over armed for battle before your brothers, all [you] mighty men of strength.” You must help them 15 until the Lord gives your brothers a place like yours to settle and they conquer the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to them. Then you may go back to your allotted land and occupy the land Moses the Lord’s servant assigned you east of the Jordan.”#tn Heb “Then you may return to the land of your possession and possess it, that which Moses, the Lord’s servant, gave to you beyond the Jordan toward the rising of the sun.”
16 They told Joshua, “We will do everything you say. We will go wherever you send us. 17 Just as we obeyed#tn Heb “listened to.” Moses, so we will obey you. But#tn Or “Only.” Here and in v. 18 this word qualifies what precedes (see also v. 7). may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses! 18 Any man who rebels against what you say and does not obey all your commands will be executed.#tn Heb “any man who rebels against your mouth and does not listen to your words, to all which you command us, will be put to death.” But#tn Or “Only.” Here and in v. 17 this word qualifies what precedes (see also v. 7). be strong and brave!”
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Joshua 1
1
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD,#1:1 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “Lord” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name. the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel. 3I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. 4From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. 5No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.
6“Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8This scroll of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. 9Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God#1:9 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim). is with you wherever you go.”
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11“Pass through the middle of the camp, and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare food; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess.’”
12 Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying, 13“Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land. 14Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall live in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them 15until the LORD has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which the LORD your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’”
16 They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses. 18Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him shall himself be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”
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