Joshua 1:1-18

And after Moses, YAHWEH’s servant, died, YAHWEH spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ faithful assistant, and said, “My servant Moses is dead. Now get up! Prepare to cross the Jordan River, you and all the people. Lead them into the land that I am giving to the Israelites. Every part of the land where you march I will give you, as I promised Moses. Your borders will extend from the southern desert to the northern mountains of Lebanon, and from the great river Euphrates in the east, to the Mediterranean in the west—including all the land of the Hittites. Joshua, no one will be able to defeat you for the rest of your life! I will be with you as I was with Moses, and I will never fail nor abandon you. You must be strong and brave. You will lead the people to acquire and apportion the land that I promised their ancestors I would give them. You must remain very strong and courageous! Be faithful to obey all the teaching that my servant Moses commanded you to follow. Do not deviate from him to the right or to the left, so that you will have overwhelming success in everything you undertake. Recite this scroll of the law constantly. Contemplate it day and night and be careful to follow every word it contains; then you will enjoy incredible prosperity and success. I repeat, be strong and brave! Do not yield to fear nor be discouraged, for I am YAHWEH your God, and I will be with you wherever you go!” Joshua ordered the leaders of the people: “Go through the camp and instruct the people, ‘Pack your bags; for within three days you will cross the Jordan to conquer and occupy the land that YAHWEH your God is giving you to possess.’ ” Then Joshua addressed the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh: “Remember the words that YAHWEH’s servant Moses commanded you: ‘YAHWEH your God is giving you this land on the east side of the Jordan as your homeland.’ Therefore, your wives, your little ones, and your livestock may remain here, but all your valiant warriors must cross over with us armed. They will take the lead and help their brothers until they take possession of the land that YAHWEH your God is giving them as their homeland. Afterward, you will be free to return to your own land and possess the land that Moses, YAHWEH’s servant, gave you here on the east side of the Jordan.” They answered Joshua: “We will do everything you have told us and will go wherever you send us. We always obeyed Moses, and we will always obey you. May YAHWEH your God stand beside you as he stood with Moses. And anyone who questions your authority or disobeys whatever you command shall be put to death. So, Joshua, be strong and brave!”