Tyndale Open Study NotesJoshua 1

Moses died on Mount Nebo, which is east of the Jordan River (Deuteronomy 34:1–5).

God confirmed Joshua as Israel's leader and the man to succeed Moses. God promised Abraham that those descended from him would possess the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:7; 15:7; 17:8). God repeated this promise to Moses (Exodus 3:6–8; 13:3–5; Deuteronomy 1:6–8; 6:10–19). Now, God was ready to fulfill this promise through Joshua.

Joshua led the army of Israel's first people who settled in the land God promised to give Israel. Joshua had victories against two Canaanite groups. First, he won battles in the south and then in the north. This allowed access to the hill country for settlement by the Israelites.

The death of Moses did not end God’s presence with or guidance of Israel.

• The most southern region where ancient Israel settled was the Negev, near Beersheba (15:28). Israel's most northern tribes settled in parts of the Lebanon mountains, making them neighbors of the Sidonians.

• The Hittites were one of the subgroups that made up Canaan’s population (see study note on 3:10).

God promised Joshua that he would never fail or abandon him, just as he had promised Moses (compare Deuteronomy 31:6–8).

For emphasis, God told Joshua three times that he would need to be strong and courageous in order to be successful against the Canaanites. There were a lot more Canaanites than Israelites at the time.

The people also needed to obey all the instructions Moses had given them so they could:

• settle the land,

• establish farms with successful production, and

• build homes, villages, and cities.

The land belongs to God, as does the whole earth (Psalm 24:1). God brought Israel into Canaan as tenants, not as owners (Leviticus 25:23).

You shall: God chose Joshua to lead and fulfill the promise he had given to their ancestors (see Exodus 6:8).

• This Book of the Law (Hebrew torah, meaning "instruction") probably refers to the book of Deuteronomy (see Deuteronomy 4:44; 29:21; 30:10; 31:9–12). It includes Israel’s foundational law codes and God’s moral and spiritual instruction.

• God commanded Joshua to think about and speak God’s instruction day and night. This command means that Joshua was to focus on it continually (compare Deuteronomy 6:6–7; 17:18–20).

• As the Israelites entered Canaan, they prepared to fight the worshipers of the gods of the land of Canaan. They feared these gods might help the people who lived in Canaan to win. To encourage Joshua, God used his personal name, the LORD (Hebrew Yahweh; see study note on Exodus 3:15). This was to remind him that the LORD was more powerful than any false gods the Canaanites might ask to help them.

• your God is with you: God's constant presence enabled Joshua to follow God's instructions.

commanded: Joshua now began leading God’s people.

Because of fear and lack of trust in God, the earlier generation refused to enter the promised land from the south 40 years earlier (see Numbers 13–14). Now, a new generation was ready to enter from the east, by crossing the Jordan River.

Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had requested and received from Moses the conquered land east of the Jordan (Numbers 32:33).

God wanted the people of Israel to experience the spiritual, cultural, and emotional rest of a right relationship with him and each other, not just the physical rest of living in a secure and abundant land (see Hebrews 4:1–11).

The warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had promised to cross the Jordan River with the rest of Israel to help conquer the land (Numbers 32:16–19). Joshua reminded them of their duty.

Israel often did not obey Moses. However, the tribes living east of the Jordan River crossed with the rest of Israel. They did not return to their land and homes until Joshua dismissed them (22:6).

To disobey God’s chosen ruler was to commit treason against God himself (that is, to act against God as king).