Gud befaller Josua att erövra Kanaan

När Herrens tjänare Mose var död, sade Herren till Josua, Nuns son, Moses tjänare: "Min tjänare Mose är död. Stå nu upp och gå över Jordan, du och allt detta folk, in i det land som jag skall ge åt Israels barn. Varje plats där ni sätter er fot har jag givit er, som jag lovade Mose. Från öknen till Libanon och ända till den stora floden Eufrat, över hela hetiternas land och till Stora havet västerut, skall ert område sträcka sig. Ingen skall kunna stå dig emot i alla dina livsdagar. Så som jag har varit med Mose, så skall jag också vara med dig. Jag skall inte lämna dig eller överge dig. Var stark och frimodig, ty du skall som arv åt detta folk fördela landet som jag med ed har lovat deras fäder att ge dem. Ja, var stark och mycket frimodig så att du håller fast vid och följer all den undervisning som min tjänare Mose har givit dig. Vik inte av från den vare sig till höger eller till vänster, så skall du ha framgång vart du än går. Låt inte denna lagbok vara skild från din mun. Tänk på den både dag och natt, så att du håller fast vid och följer allt som är skrivet i den. Då skall du lyckas i det du företar dig, och då skall du ha framgång. Har jag inte befallt dig att vara stark och frimodig? Var då inte förskräckt eller förfärad, ty Herren, din Gud, är med dig vart än du går."

Josua ger befallningar till folket

10 Josua befallde folkets tillsyningsmän och sade: 11 "Gå igenom lägret och säg till folket: Gör i ordning färdkost åt er. Ty om tre dagar skall ni gå över Jordan för att komma in i och inta det land som Herren, er Gud, har gett er till besittning."

12 Men till rubeniterna, gaditerna och ena hälften av Manasse stam sade Josua: 13 "Kom ihåg det som Herrens tjänare Mose befallde er, när han sade: Herren, er Gud, skall låta er komma till ro och ge er detta land. 14 Era hustrur, era små barn och er boskap skall stanna kvar i det land som Mose har gett er här på andra sidan Jordan. Men ni själva, alla tappra stridsmän, skall dra i väg beväpnade i spetsen för era bröder och hjälpa dem, 15 tills Herren har låtit era bröder komma till ro liksom ni, och de också har tagit i besittning det land som Herren, er Gud, ger dem. Sedan kan ni vända tillbaka till det land som skall vara er besittning. Ni skall då ta i besittning det land som Herrens tjänare Mose har gett er här på andra sidan Jordan, på östra sidan."

16 De svarade Josua: "Allt som du har befallt oss skall vi göra, och vart du än sänder oss skall vi gå. 17 Som vi har lytt Mose i allt, skall vi också lyda dig. Må endast Herren, din Gud, vara med dig, så som han var med Mose. 18 Var och en som trotsar dina befallningar och inte lyder dina ord, vad du än befaller honom, han skall dödas. Var stark och frimodig."

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 withersoever 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.

10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

11 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.

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

13 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.

14 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;

15 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.

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

17 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.

18 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.

God Commissions Joshua

After the death of Moses the (A)servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' (B)assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. (C)Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. (D)From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. (E)No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just (F)as I was with Moses, so (G)I will be with you. (H)I will not leave you or forsake you. (I)Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and (J)very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law (K)that Moses my servant commanded you. (L)Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success[a] wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but (M)you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? (N)Be strong and courageous. (O)Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua Assumes Command

10 And Joshua commanded the (P)officers of the people, 11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for (Q)within three days (R)you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’”

12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13 “Remember the word that (S)Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, 15 (T)until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. (U)Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God (V)be with you, as he was with Moses! 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. (W)Only be strong and courageous.”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 1:7 Or may act wisely