God Instructs Joshua (Deuteronomy 11:8–17)
1 UST After Moses the servant of Yahweh died, Yahweh spoke to Joshua son of Nun. He had been Moses’ helper. Yahweh said, BSB BSB: Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying,
2 UST “{ You know that} my servant Moses has died. So now get ready to cross over the Jordan River, you and all these people. Enter the land that I will soon give to all of you Israelites. BSB BSB: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel.
3 UST I will certainly give you every place where you walk in that land, just as I promised Moses. BSB BSB: I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses.
4 UST That land will extend from the wilderness{ in the south} to the Lebanon mountains{ in the northwest}, to the Euphrates River{ in the northeast}, and to the Great Sea{ in the west} where the sun goes down. It will include all the land where the Hittites live. BSB BSB: Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—and west as far as the Great Sea.
5 UST No people group will be able to defeat you as long as you live. I will help you as I helped Moses. I promise that I will not abandon you and I will never leave you. BSB BSB: No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 UST Be strong and brave, because you are the one who will lead these people so that they can possess this land that I promised to give to their ancestors. BSB BSB: Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them.
7 UST Just be strong and very brave so that you can be sure to obey all the laws that my servant Moses gave to you.{ Obey those laws} so that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not stop obeying any of them. BSB BSB: Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
8 UST Make sure to read continually the laws that God gave Moses. Constantly think about those laws so that you will carefully obey each one. If you do that, then you will be successful in the things you do. BSB BSB: This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
9 UST Do not forget that I have commanded you to be strong and brave. Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged, because I, Yahweh your God, will be with you wherever you go.” BSB BSB: Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua Takes Charge 10 UST So Joshua commanded the leaders of the people of Israel, BSB BSB: Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people:
11 UST “Go throughout the camp and give these orders to the people:‘Prepare all the food that you will take with you, because the day after tomorrow we will cross the Jordan River. We are going across in order to conquer the land that Yahweh, our God, has promised to give us.’” BSB BSB: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you will cross the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”
12 UST Then Joshua spoke to the people of the tribes that were the descendants of Reuben and Gad. He also spoke to the people of half of the tribe of Manasseh.{ All those people were going to settle on the east side of the Jordan River.} Joshua said, BSB BSB: But to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,
13 UST “Keep in mind the orders that Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you. Moses said,‘Yahweh your God will give you this land so that you can live here peacefully.’ BSB BSB: “Remember what Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you when he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest, and He will give you this land.’
14 UST Your wives, your little children, and your cows, sheep, and goats may stay here in this land that Moses gave you on the east side of the Jordan River. But all the men of fighting age{, twenty years old or older,} must cross the Jordan River. They must go ahead of the people of the other tribes. Your soldiers must take all their weapons so that they can help their fellow Israelites. BSB BSB: Your wives, your young children, and your livestock may remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But all your mighty men of valor must be armed for battle to cross over ahead of your brothers and help them,
15 UST You must help your fellow Israelites to fight against the inhabitants of the land until Yahweh has enabled them to defeat the inhabitants and settle in the land permanently and live peacefully there. That is what Yahweh has done for you in the land he has given you. Yahweh our God will do the same thing for them. After you help them, then your soldiers may return to live in this land that Yahweh’ s servant Moses gave to you here on the east side of the Jordan River.” BSB BSB: until the LORD gives them rest as He has done for you, and your brothers also possess the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you may return to the land of your inheritance and take possession of that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the east side of the Jordan.”
16 UST The people answered Joshua,“We will do everything you have told us to do, and we will go wherever you tell us to go. BSB BSB: So they answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go.
17 UST As we obeyed all that Moses told us to do, so we will obey all that you tell us to do. We pray that Yahweh your God will help you just as he helped Moses. BSB BSB: Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. And may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses.
18 UST We will execute anyone who refuses to obey what you say and does not do everything that you command. But{ we want you, Joshua}, to be strong and brave!” BSB BSB: Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words, all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.