Joshua 1-3 - Israel Crosses the Jordan

Yahweh’s Commands to Joshua

Jos 1:1-2 LSB - [1] Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' attendant, saying, [2] "Moses My servant is dead; so now arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.

Heb 3:1-6 LSB - [1] Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession--Jesus, [2] who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. [3] For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, in so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. [4] For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. [5] Now MOSES WAS FAITHFUL IN ALL HIS HOUSE AS A SERVANT, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later, [6] but Christ [was faithful] as a Son over His house--whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope.

Jos 1:5-7 LSB - [5] "No man will [be able to] stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. [6] "Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. [7] "Only be strong and very courageous to be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn aside from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be prosperous wherever you go.

Yahweh was really concerned about Joshua. He reminded Joshua over and over showing how much He cared for him. Be strong and courageous!

Jos 1:8 LSB - [8] "This 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 successful, and then you will be prosperous.

Psa 37:30-31 LSB - [30] PE The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice. [31] The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip.

Psa 1:2 LSB - [2] But his delight is in the law of Yahweh, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Psa 19:14 LSB - [14] Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Yahweh, my rock and my Redeemer.

Col 3:16 LSB - [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms [and] hymns [and] spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God.

 

Joshua’s Command to the Officers

Jos 1:18 LSB - [18] "Anyone who rebels against your command and does not listen to your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous."

"Be strong and courageous." The Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh repeated what Yahweh had told Joshua earlier. 

 

Rahab Hides the Spies

Jos 2:1 LSB - [1] Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, see the land, especially Jericho." So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab and lodged there.

Jos 2:10-13 LSB - [10] "For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. [11] "Indeed we heard [it], and our hearts melted, and a [courageous] spirit no longer rose up in [any] man because of you; for Yahweh your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. [12] "So now, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have shown lovingkindness to you, that you also will show lovingkindness to my father's household and give me a pledge of truth, [13] and preserve my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters alive, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."

Heb 11:31 LSB - [31] By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after welcoming the spies in peace.

Jas 2:25 LSB - [25] And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

 

The Oath to Rahab

Jos 2:24 LSB - [24] And they said to Joshua, "Surely Yahweh has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us."

Israel Crosses the Jordan

Jos 3:14-17 LSB - [14] So it happened that when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, [15] and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), [16] the waters which were flowing down from above stood [and] rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. [17] And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground until all the nation had completed crossing the Jordan.