Joshua 1:10-18--Joshua Assumes Command

Joshua 1:10-18
English Standard Version

Joshua Assumes Command
10 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 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.’”

12 And 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.’ 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 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. 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 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. Only be strong and courageous.”

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The Israelites are on the east side of the Jordan River still mourning the loss of Moses when Moses commands the officers of the people (probably referring to the 70 elders) to pass through the camp and command the people to make ready to break camp and cross over the Jordan River.  They were to pack everything up because when the LORD told them it was time to move, they needed to move, and while Joshua didn't know the exact date it would happen, he told the people to expect the command to come within the next three days (a very short timeframe for the millions of people to prepare to break camp).  They are getting ready to cross over and take possession of the Promised Land!

Now, remember that there were two and a half tribes that wanted to claim their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River and did not want to cross over and fight with the others, but the LORD and Moses made them swear that the men would cross over and fight with their brothers, and then and only then could they come back to their women, children and animals that they were leaving on the east side of the river to live in that apportionment which they had chosen for themselves.  God had made a better choice for them, but they rejected His better choice for their own selfish choice.  Jesus seems to draw a parallel to this in the New Testament saying that those who seek their reward in this life will have their reward in full and should expect no eternal reward (See Matthew 6 where Jesus makes this statement three times in verses 2, 5, and 16, but the whole passage teaches of earthly rewards verses the rewards that are being saved up for us in heaven--Our greater Promised Land).

The two and a half eastern tribes renewed their covenant that they had made with Moses with Joshua and swore that they would fight alongside their brethren before resting in their possession to the east.  They also sword to obey Joshua as they had obeyed Moses (they meant this as a positive statement as they had selective memory about their rebellion and wanting to kill Moses, but they will be more true to this statement than they know as they will definitely treat Joshua just like they treated Moses).  They swore that whoever disobeyed Joshua's commandment should be put to death--for Joshua is not only their leader, but their military commander, and they are now at war, and Joshua is also the one speaking to them for the LORD.  To disobey Joshua's command was to disobey the very command of the LORD.

Then interestingly enough, the people repeat to Joshua the charge that the LORD has made to him--"Only be strong and courageous."  How encouraging it must have been to Joshua to hear these words from the people--especially from these two and a half tribes in particular who seemed to be the most likely to swear allegiance only to themselves and not to God or the man God had chosen to lead all the people, yet God put His words in their mouths, for He knew that Joshua needed to hear this message once again, and he will continue to need to hear it throughout the book of Joshua.