Joshua Chapter 1 in Simple English

Read Joshua Chapter 1

1After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, who had served Moses. He said,

2"Moses my servant is dead. So now get up and cross over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land I am giving to them, to the children of Israel."

3"Every place where the sole of your foot steps, I have given to you, just as I said to Moses."

4"Your land will reach from the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea where the sun goes down."

5"No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you or leave you."

6"Be strong and very brave. You will divide among this people the land I promised their fathers I would give them."

7"Only be strong and very brave. Be careful to obey all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left. Then you will do well wherever you go."

8"This book of the law must not leave your mouth. Think about it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then your way will go well, and you will have good success."

9"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and very brave. Do not be afraid, and do not lose heart. The LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

10Then Joshua gave orders to the officers of the people. He said,

11"Go through the camp and command the people. Tell them, 'Get food ready, because in three days you will cross over this Jordan. You will go in and take the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.'"

12To the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,

13"Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you. He said, 'The LORD your God has given you rest, and has given you this land.'"

14"Your wives, your little ones and your cattle will stay in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you must cross over ahead of your brothers, armed for battle, all your mighty and brave men, and help them."

15"Do this until the LORD has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they too have taken the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you may return to the land that belongs to you and enjoy it, the land Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on this side of the Jordan, toward the sunrise."

16They answered Joshua, "We will do everything you command us, and we will go wherever you send us."

17"Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so we will listen to you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses."

18"Anyone who rebels against your command and will not listen to your words, whatever you command him, will be put to death. Only be strong and very brave."

Explanation

Joshua 1

In short

Moses has died, and God appoints Joshua as the new leader of Israel. God promises Joshua that he will conquer the land across the Jordan River, and commands him to be strong and obey God's law. Joshua then prepares the people to cross over and take possession of the promised land.

Context

This chapter opens the book of Joshua, immediately after Moses' death. Moses led Israel out of Egypt and for forty years in the wilderness, but he died before entering the promised land. God now turns to Joshua, who was Moses' assistant, to lead the nation into Canaan. Joshua receives God's commission and then acts on it by organizing the people for their crossing.

What the text says

God speaks directly to Joshua in verses 1-9. The Lord tells him Moses is dead and commands him to lead all Israel across the Jordan into the land God is giving them (verses 1-2). God promises that wherever they set foot, that land is theirs, stretching from the wilderness to Lebanon, from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean (verses 3-4). No enemy will be able to stand against Joshua because God will be with him as he was with Moses (verse 5). God repeats the command to "be strong and of a good courage" three times (verses 6, 7, 9), adding that Joshua must obey the law Moses gave him and meditate on it day and night to prosper (verses 7-8).

Joshua then acts. He commands the officers to tell the people to prepare food, for in three days they will cross the Jordan (verses 10-11). He reminds the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh that they promised Moses they would cross armed to help their brothers conquer the land, while their families stay east of the Jordan, until everyone has received their inheritance (verses 12-15). These tribes answer that they will obey Joshua as they obeyed Moses, and they will put to death anyone who rebels against him (verses 16-18).

Takeaways

God's promise of land and presence is passed from Moses to Joshua, establishing a new leadership.
Obedience to God's law, not just courage in battle, is central to Joshua's success.
The eastern tribes publicly commit to help the others conquer the land before settling in their own territory.

Joshua 1 - Simple English