Joshua 1

God commandeth Josua to lead the people unto the Land of Canaan , verse 1, & c. whose borders are mentioned ,4. God confirmeth Josua by speciall promises ,5. and exhorteth him to diligent consideration of his Law .7. Josua commandeth the people to prepare themselves for the journey and passage over Jordan, 10. and exhorteth the Reubenites , Gadites, and the half Tribe of Manaseh to march, because of the promise which they had made unto Moseh , 12. which they are ready to do, 16. All the Tribes promise to obey Josua, 17.

1. Now it came to pass after the death of Moseh the servant of the LORD , that the LORD spake unto Josua the son of Nun, Moseh his servant, saying :

2. My servant Moseh is dead : therefore arise now , go over this Jordan, [This is the greatest River of the land of Canaan : It runneth along the promised Land , and endeth in the dead Sea , or Lake called Lacus Asphaltites ; and about this River did John the Baptist first administer the Baptisme, mark 1.5. and our Saviour Jesus Christ was also baptized in it , Matth.3.13.] thou and all this people , unto the Land , which I gave unto them , the children of Israel . [i.e. promised long ago to give , but now put in full and actual possession .]

3. Every place whereon the sole of your foot shall tread , have I given unto you ; according as I spake unto Moseh.

4. From the wilderness [viz. the wildernesse Sin, Exodus 16.] and this Lebanon , [this is the tallest and greatest mountain in Syria , beginning from about Zidon and reaching till near Damascus] even unto the great river, the river Phrath, [this was the border towards the East] all the land of the Hethites , and even unto the great Sea, ( toward the ) going down of the Sun shall be your border.

5. No man shall be able to subsist before thy face all the dayes of thy life , according as I have been with Moses , will I be with thee ; I will not fail thee, nor will forsake thee.

6. Be strong and couragious ; for thou shalt cause this people hereditarily to possessethat land which I have sworn unto their fathers to give them.

7. Onely be strong and very couragious , that thou mayest observe to do according to all the Law which Moseh my servant commanded thee ; turn not from it to the right hand nor to the left, that thou mayest deal understandingly where ever thou shalt go.

8. Let not the Book of this Law depart out of thy mouth [i.e. let thy heart be so filled with the word and knowledge of God , that thy mouth may overflow therewith, see Matth.12.34] but meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written in it, for them shalt thou make thy wayes prosperous , and then shalt thou deal understandingly.

9. Have not I commanded it thee ? be strong and couragious , be not affrighted , neither be dismayed : for the LORD thy god is with thee where ever thou goest .

10. Then Josua commanded the Officers of the people, saying :

11. Pass thorow the midst of the Camp , and command the people saying, Prepare victuall for your selves : for within three dayes ye shall passe over this Jordan, that you may go in to inherit the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit .

12. And Josua spake unto the Reubenites and Gadites, and the half Tribe of Manasseh , saying :

13. Remember the word which Moseh the servant of the LORD commanded you , saying : the LORD your God giveth you rest , and he giveth you this land ; [viz. where they were at this time, on this side Jordan ; see Num.32.33.]

14. Your wives , your little children , and your cattell remain in the Land , which Moseh gave you on this side Jordan , but ye shall goe before the face of your brethren armed , [See Exodus 13. on v.18.] all the mightie men of valour , [intimating , that all those who out of these Tribes were to goe forth upon this service , were to be choice men , stout and valiant souldiers well armed] and shall help them.

15. Untill the LORD give your brethren rest , as ( he hath given) you, and that they likewise hereditarily possess the Land which the LORD your God giveth them : then ye shall return unto the land of your inheritance , and shall hereditary possess it , which Moseh the servant of the LORD gave you on this side of Jordan, toward the Sun-rising .

16. Then answered they Josua , [viz. all the Tribes , or the Officers in their name , submitting themselves thus unto the government of Josua] saying ; whatsoever thou hast commanded us we will do, and where ever thou shalt send us we will go ,

17. As in all things we have heakened unto Moseh, so will we hearken unto thee : onely the LORD thy God be with thee as he was with Moseh. [This is a wish or desire , whereby these Tribes wiith prosperitie unto Josua , in the administration of the Office which he had taken upon him , looking upon that which God had promised him, verse 5. But others conceive it to be a stipulation or condition , promising to obey him , in case the LORD should be with him , as he was with Moseh .]

18. Every men that shall rebell against thy mouth , [i.e. command] and shall not hearken to thy words in all things , which thou shalt command him , the same shal be put to death ; onely be strong and couragious.