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Joshua 1

Joshua book home•Chapter 1 of 24•18 verses

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Joshua 1 Overview

After Moses’ death, the LORD commissions Joshua to lead Israel across Jordan into the promised land. Joshua is told repeatedly to be strong and courageous, but his courage is tied to God’s presence and careful obedience to the written law. Joshua then orders the nation to prepare for the crossing, and the eastern tribes reaffirm their commitment to fight beside their brethren.

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Before you read Joshua 1

Coming from

Deuteronomy 34 closed with Moses’ death, Israel’s mourning, Joshua’s preparation, and the statement that no prophet like Moses had arisen in Israel.

In this chapter

God formally transfers leadership to Joshua, confirms the land promise, centers Joshua’s success on obedience to the law, and moves Israel from preparation to action.

Leads into

Chapter 2 sends two spies into Jericho, where Rahab protects them and confesses that the LORD has given Israel the land.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Joshua does not replace Moses by becoming another Moses; he receives a distinct commission to complete the entry and conquest Moses could not lead. The borders named in the opening promise describe the broad inheritance God had pledged to Israel. 'Good success' in this chapter is not a blank check for personal prosperity; it concerns Joshua faithfully carrying out God’s covenant mission through continual attention to the Book of the Law.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Leadership after Moses depends on the same God and the same revealed word, not on Joshua’s personality alone.

Truth 2

Biblical courage is joined to obedience: Joshua is told to be strong precisely so he will do according to the law.

Truth 3

God’s presence is the ground of Joshua’s confidence as he faces an impossible human task.

Truth 4

The eastern tribes’ inheritance does not release them from responsibility to help the rest of Israel.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Deuteronomy 31:1–8 and 34:9 prepare directly for Joshua’s commission.

Connection 2

Numbers 32 records the promise made by Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh to cross armed before their brethren.

Connection 3

Hebrews 4:8 uses the name 'Jesus' in the KJV when referring to Joshua and explains that Joshua’s land-rest did not exhaust God’s larger promise of rest.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not turn Joshua 1:8 into a formula guaranteeing wealth to anyone who repeats Bible verses; the promise concerns Joshua’s covenant mission and obedience.

Keep this clear 2

The KJV’s 'Jesus' in Hebrews 4:8 refers to Joshua; the Greek name is the same form used for Jesus, but the context distinguishes them.

Keep this clear 3

The command to conquer Canaan belongs to Israel’s unique historical commission and is not a standing mandate for Christian territorial conquest.

Read Joshua 1 watching for…

The repeated command to be strong and courageous.

How often success is tied to the Book of the Law.

The promise of God’s presence with Joshua.

Joshua’s immediate practical orders after receiving the commission.

The eastern tribes’ promise to fight before returning to their own land.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-9The LORD commissions Joshua to lead Israel and be strong 10-15Joshua orders the officers to prepare the people to cross Jordan 16-18The eastern tribes promise to follow Joshua as they followed Moses

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,

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.

Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

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.

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.

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.

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 whithersoever thou goest.

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.

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.

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

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.

And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,

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.

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;

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.

And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.

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.

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.

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Joshua 1:13

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