Open English Translation JOS Chapter 1

1 After the death of Yahweh’s servant Mosheh (Moses), Yahweh spoke to Mosheh’s servant Yehoshua (Joshua) (the son of Nun), saying, 2 “Now that my servant Mosheh is dead, you and all these people should pack up and cross over this River Yordan to go to the land that I am about to give to them—to Yisra’el’s descendants. 3 I’ll give you all every place that the soles of your feet tread on, just like I told Mosheh.[ref] 4 Your territory will extend from the wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, and from the large Euphrates River in the east, and right to the Mediterranean sea in the west, including all of the Hittites’ land. 5 No man will be able to challenge your leadership as long as you live—I’ll be with you just as I was with Mosheh—I won’t fail you or abandon you.[ref] 6 Be strong and be courageous, for you yourself will lead these people to inherit the land that I promised their ancestors that I’d give to them.[ref] 7 Just be strong and very courageous—making sure that you obey everything that my servant Mosheh instructed you. Don’t turn turn away to the right or to the left from it, so that you’ll be wise in every situation that you end up in. 8 That book of the law must always be on your lips and you should meditate on it day and night, so that you’ll be careful to follow everything that’s written in it, because then you’ll make your ways prosperous and then you’ll be wise. 9 Didn’t I order you to be strong and courageous? Don’t tremble or be discouraged because your God Yahweh will be with you wherever you go.”

10 Then Yehoshua instructed the leaders of the people, 11 “Go right through the camp and tell the people: Get everything ready that you’ll all need because in three days we’ll be ready to cross over this river and enter the land that your God Yahweh is about to give to you, and to take control of it.”

12 To the descendants of Reuben and Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manashsheh, Yehoshua said,[ref] 13 “Remember what Yahweh’s servant Mosheh informed you: Your God Yahweh is about give this land to you and to enable you all to settle down. 14 Your women and children and your livestock will stay here in the land that Mosheh allocated to you on this eastern side of the Yordan River. But your soldiers must dress for battle and cross over ahead of your brothers and help them 15 until Yahweh enables your brothers to take over the land that your God Yahweh is about to give them so they can settle like you all have. Then you’ll all be able to return to this land which Yahweh’s servant Moses gave you on this eastern side of the Yordan and take full control of it.”

16 “We’ll do everything you’ve told us to,” the people answered, “and we’ll go wherever you send us. 17 We’ll listen to you just like we listened to everything Mosheh said. May your God Yahweh be with you, just like he was with Mosheh. 18 We’ll put anyone to death who rebels against your words or refuses to follow your instructions. Just stay strong and courageous.”