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the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant: 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now prepare to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them—to the Israelites. 3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the wilderness and Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—and over to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you.”
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you will lead this people to take possession of the land that I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth, but you are to meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to observe everything that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and you will be successful. 9 Have I not commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for in three days you will cross over the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess’.”
12 But 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 when he said: ‘The Lord your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land’. 14 Your wives, your children, and your livestock may remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan, but all the fighting men among you must cross over ahead of your brothers, fully armed, and help them 15 until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as He has given you, and they also have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you can return to your own land, and take possession of what Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”
16 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 be with you, as He was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your orders and does not obey your words in everything you command him, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”