1Efter at Moses var død, sagde Herren til hans medhjælper Josva, Nuns søn:2„Min tjener Moses er død. Nu er det dig, som skal føre israelitterne over Jordanfloden og ind i det land, jeg vil give dem.3Hvad jeg sagde til Moses, siger jeg til dig: De områder, I erobrer i landet, skal tilhøre jer,4fra Negevs ørken i syd til Libanons bjerge mod nord, ja, helt op til den store flod, Eufratfloden, og ud til Middelhavet mod vest, hele det land, hittitterne nu bor i.5Ingen vil kunne holde stand imod dig, så længe du lever, for jeg vil være med dig, som jeg var med Moses. Jeg vil ikke svigte dig eller forlade dig.6Stå fast og vær modig, for du skal lede mit folk i erobringen af hele det land, jeg har lovet jeres forfædre.7Ret dig omhyggeligt efter de forordninger, Moses gav dig. Hold fast ved dem, så vil tingene lykkes for dig.8Mind hele tiden folket om disse love—og selv skal du tænke på dem døgnet rundt, så du handler efter dem, for så vil det gå dig godt, og du vil lykkes.9Jeg siger det igen: Stå fast og vær modig! Vær ikke bange eller frygtsom! Husk, at jeg er Herren, din Gud, og jeg vil hjælpe dig med alt, hvad du skal gøre.”
Josva befaler folket at gøre sig klar
10Så sagde Josva til folkets ledere:11„Gå rundt i lejren og sig til folket: Gør jer klar, for om tre dage går vi over Jordanfloden for at tage det land i besiddelse, som Gud har lovet os.”12Til lederne for Rubens, Gads og Manasses halve stamme sagde han:13„Husk, hvad Guds tjener Moses sagde til jer: Herren, jeres Gud, har givet jer landet øst for Jordanfloden.14Jeres koner, børn og kvæg har lov at blive her på østsiden, men alle våbenføre mænd skal gå over Jordanfloden i spidsen for de andre stammer og hjælpe dem med at indtage deres områder på den anden side.15I skal kæmpe sammen med dem, indtil de har erobret det land, Herren har givet dem. Derefter må I vende tilbage og bosætte jer øst for Jordanfloden, hvor Moses tildelte jer land.”16„Alt, hvad du siger, vil vi gøre,” svarede de. „Og hvor som helst, du sender os, vil vi gå.17Vi vil adlyde dig, som vi adlød Moses. Må Herren din Gud være med dig, som han var med Moses.18Enhver, der ikke vil adlyde dig, skal dø. Stå fast og vær modig.”
1After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, (2.Mos 14,31; 2.Mos 24,13; 4.Mos 12,7; 5.Mos 1,38; 5.Mos 34,5; Josva 1,13; Josva 1,15)2“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.3Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. (5.Mos 11,24; Josva 14,9)4From 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. (1.Mos 15,18; 2.Mos 23,31; 4.Mos 34,3)5No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. (1.Mos 28,15; 2.Mos 3,12; 5.Mos 7,24; 5.Mos 31,6; 5.Mos 31,8; 5.Mos 31,23; Josva 1,9; Josva 1,17; Josva 3,7; Josva 6,27; 1.Krøn 28,20; Heb 13,5)6Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. (5.Mos 31,6; Josva 1,7; Josva 1,9; Josva 1,18)7Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success[1] wherever you go. (5.Mos 5,32; 5.Mos 28,14; Josva 11,15; Josva 23,6)8This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but 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. (Salm 1,2; Salm 119,15)9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (5.Mos 1,29; 5.Mos 7,21; 5.Mos 20,3; 5.Mos 31,6; 5.Mos 31,8; Josva 1,6; Josva 1,18)
Joshua Assumes Command
10And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, (5.Mos 16,18)11“Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days 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.’” (5.Mos 9,1; 5.Mos 11,31; Josva 3,2)12And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said,13“Remember the word that 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.’ (4.Mos 32,20)14Your 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,15until 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. 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.” (5.Mos 3,20; Josva 22,4)16And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.17Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses! (Josva 1,5)18Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.” (Josva 1,6; Josva 1,9)