Joshua Commissioned
Deuteronomy 31:1-8
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Deu.31.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הדברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- אל: NEG
- כל: DET
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deut.1.1 (verbal): Opening formula — “These are the words which Moses spoke unto all Israel” — same diction and frame of Moses addressing all Israel.
- Deut.5.1 (thematic): Moses summons and speaks to the entire assembly to deliver the law; parallels the act of public address and legal instruction.
- Deut.31.24 (structural): Record of Moses finishing writing the words of the law in a book — complements Deut 31:1’s announcement by showing the law’s formal composition and preservation.
- Deut.32.44 (verbal): Moses comes and 'speaks all the words of this song' in the hearing of the people — similar phrasing and the motif of Moses publicly delivering a composed text to Israel.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.
- Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.
Deu.31.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מאה: NUM,f,sg,abs
- ועשרים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לא: PART_NEG
- אוכל: VERB,qal,part,1,m,sg
- עוד: ADV
- לצאת: VERB,qal,inf
- ולבוא: CONJ+VERB,qal,inf
- ויהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- תעבר: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms
- את: PRT,acc
- הירדן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 20:12 (verbal): God tells Moses (after the Meribah incident) that because he did not trust/ honor God he will not bring the congregation into the land—same reason and closely related wording to Deut 31:2's report that Moses may not cross the Jordan.
- Numbers 27:12-14 (quotation): God again instructs Moses on Mount Pisgah that he shall not enter the promised land but may view it—an explicit earlier declaration of the prohibition referenced in Deut 31:2.
- Deutermin 34:1-5 (thematic): Narrative fulfillment: Moses, aged 120, ascends Mount Nebo, views the land from afar and dies without entering Canaan—this completes the statement in Deut 31:2 that he will not cross the Jordan.
- Joshua 1:1-2 (allusion): God commissions Joshua to cross the Jordan and possess the land now that Moses will not lead them across—this passage presupposes and responds to Moses' inability to enter stated in Deut 31:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to them, "I am one hundred and twenty years old today; I can no longer go out and come in. Moreover the LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross over this Jordan.'"
- And he said to them, "I am one hundred and twenty years old today; I can no longer go out and come in. And the LORD said to me, 'You shall not cross over this Jordan.'"
Deu.31.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- עבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפניך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- ישמיד: VERB,hif,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הגוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- מלפניך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,m
- וירשתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- יהושע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- עבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפניך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- כאשר: CONJ
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 31:7–8 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same chapter: Moses commissions Joshua and repeats that the LORD goes before him and will not leave him, echoing the promise of divine leading and presence.
- Joshua 1:2–3 (thematic): God's commissioning of Joshua to cross the Jordan and possess the land echoes Deut 31:3's promise that God will go before Israel and give them the nations.
- Exodus 23:27–30 (thematic): God promises to send terror/hornets and to drive out the inhabitants before Israel so they may take the land—parallel to Deut 31:3's assurance that God will destroy the nations before them.
- Exodus 33:14 (allusion): “My presence will go with you” parallels the idea in Deut 31:3 that the LORD Himself goes before Israel, emphasizing divine accompaniment and leadership.
- Joshua 3:7 (allusion): God tells Joshua he will begin to exalt him in the eyes of Israel so they will know He is with him—reflecting Deut 31:3's link between God's leading and Israel's successful possession of the land.
Alternative generated candidates
- The LORD your God himself goes over before you; he will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself will go over before you, as the LORD has spoken.
- The LORD your God himself goes before you; he will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. It is Joshua who goes before you, just as the LORD has spoken.
Deu.31.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועשה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- כאשר: CONJ
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לסיחון: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ולעוג: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מלכי: NOUN,pl,m,cons
- האמרי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ולארצם: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss3,m,pl
- אשר: PRON,rel
- השמיד: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Numbers 21:21-35 (verbal): Narrates Israel’s victories over Sihon (vv.21–31) and Og (vv.33–35), the same defeats Deut 31:4 invokes as precedent for Israel’s fate against other nations.
- Deut.2:31-37 (verbal): Earlier Deuteronomic account of the conquest of Sihon and the seizure of his land — Deut 31:4 alludes back to this specific episode.
- Deut.3:1-11 (verbal): Deuteronomy’s account of the defeat of Og king of Bashan and the destruction of his territory, which Deut 31:4 cites as a model for divine action.
- Joshua 12:2-4 (structural): Summary list of kings defeated by Israel, including Sihon and Og; functions as a later canonical summary parallel to Deut 31:4’s claim about God’s prior acts.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, kings of the Amorites, and to their land, whom he destroyed.
- And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, kings of the Amorites, and to their land, whom he destroyed.
Deu.31.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונתנם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לפניכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- ועשיתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ככל: PREP
- המצוה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- צויתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 1:5 (verbal): God’s promise to Joshua—'I will not leave you nor forsake you'—echoes the assurance that the LORD will go before/for his people, matching the core verbal promise of divine presence and support.
- Deut 31:6 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same chapter: Moses’ exhortation to 'be strong and courageous' and the assurance that the LORD goes with them reinforces the same promise of God’s abiding presence and non‑abandonment.
- Isaiah 41:10 (thematic): The command 'Do not fear... I am with you' parallels Deut’s assurance of God’s presence and comfort in the face of enemies and change—same theological encouragement against fear.
- Hebrews 13:5 (quotation): The New Testament citation 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' explicitly quotes and applies the Old Testament promise of God’s continuing presence, drawing on Deut/Josh tradition.
- Matthew 28:20 (allusion): Jesus’ closing promise 'I am with you always' alludes to the OT theme of God’s abiding presence with his people, applying that assurance to the church’s mission.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD will give them up before you, and you shall do to them according to all the commandment that I have commanded you.
- The LORD will give them into your hand, and you shall do to them in accordance with every commandment that I have commanded you.
Deu.31.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- חזקו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- ואמצו: CONJ+VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- תיראו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- תערצו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- מפניהם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- ההלך: VERB,qal,ptc,ms,sg
- עמך: NOUN,m,sg,suff-2m
- לא: PART_NEG
- ירפך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- יעזבך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg+PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Joshua 1:9 (verbal): Nearly identical injunction—'Be strong and courageous... for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go,' echoing God's presence and command not to fear.
- Deuteronomy 31:8 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same speech: affirms that the LORD goes before Israel and 'will not fail you or forsake you,' commanding fearlessness.
- Hebrews 13:5 (quotation): New Testament citation of the promise 'I will never leave you nor forsake you,' used to encourage contentment and trust in God's abiding presence.
- Isaiah 41:10 (thematic): Prophetic reassurance—'Fear not, for I am with you... I will uphold you'—shares the themes of divine presence, encouragement, and absence of fear.
- Psalm 118:6 (thematic): Confessional trust—'The LORD is on my side; I will not fear'—expresses the same confidence in God's presence that removes fear.
Alternative generated candidates
- Be strong and courageous; do not fear and do not be dismayed at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.
- Be strong and courageous; do not fear and do not be dismayed before them; for the LORD your God walks with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.
Deu.31.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ליהושע: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- לעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cons
- כל: DET
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חזק: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ואמץ: VERB,hif,perf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- תבוא: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נשבע: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לאבתם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- לתת: VERB,qal,inf
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ואתה: CONJ+PRON,2,m,sg
- תנחילנה: VERB,hiphil,impf,2,m,sg
- אותם: PRON,3,m,pl,obj
Parallels
- Joshua 1:6-9 (quotation): Direct repetition of the command "חזק ואמץ" (be strong and courageous) and the promise/commission to lead the people into the land; language and assurances closely parallel Deut 31:7–8.
- Numbers 27:18-23 (structural): Narrative precedent for the transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua—Moses lays hands on Joshua and commissions him to lead the people into the land, the same institutional act alluded to in Deut 31:7.
- Deuteronomy 31:6 (verbal): Immediate verbal parallel in Moses’ address: the same exhortation not to fear and to be strong and courageous (חזק ואמץ) with assurance of the LORD’s presence—Deut 31:6–7 form a single commissioning unit.
- 1 Chronicles 28:20 (allusion): David’s charge to Solomon uses the same motif and language of strength and courage in commissioning a successor to accomplish a divinely appointed task, echoing Moses’ charge to Joshua.
- Deuteronomy 34:9 (structural): Follow-up to the commissioning: Joshua is filled with wisdom because Moses laid his hands on him—this outcome matches Deut 31:7’s transfer of responsibility and the establishment of Joshua as leader to bring the people into the promised land.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous; for you shall bring this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance."
- Moses summoned Joshua and said to him before all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance."
Deu.31.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- ההלך: VERB,qal,ptc,ms,sg
- לפניך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עמך: NOUN,m,sg,suff-2m
- לא: PART_NEG
- ירפך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- יעזבך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,prsuf:2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- תירא: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- תחת: PREP
Parallels
- Joshua 1:5 (verbal): Repeats the promise of God's continual presence and not leaving or forsaking Israel—'I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee' echoes Deut.31:8's assurance that the LORD goes before you.
- Joshua 1:9 (verbal): Combines the command 'be strong and courageous' with the assurance 'for the LORD thy God is with thee', paralleling Deut.31:8's 'do not fear or be dismayed' because God goes before you.
- Hebrews 13:5 (quotation): New Testament citation of the divine promise 'I will never leave you nor forsake you,' directly echoing the pledge of God's unfailing presence in Deut.31:8.
- Isaiah 41:10 (thematic): Similar language of comfort—'Fear not, for I am with you... I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you'—reflects the same theme of God's supportive presence and command not to fear.
- Psalm 23:4 (thematic): Expresses the same consolation in the face of danger—'I will fear no evil; for thou art with me'—emphasizing God's presence that removes fear, paralleling Deut.31:8's reassurance.
Alternative generated candidates
- It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed."
- And the LORD is the one who goes before you; he will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.
Now Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. And he said to them, "I am one hundred and twenty years old today; I can no longer go out or come in. And the LORD said to me, 'You shall not cross this Jordan.'"
The LORD your God himself will go before you; he will destroy these nations from before you, and Joshua will go before you, as the LORD has spoken.
The LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and to their land, whom he destroyed.
The LORD will deliver them into your hand, and you shall deal with them according to all the commands that I have given you.
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for the LORD your God himself is the one who goes with you; he will not fail you and he will not abandon you.
Moses summoned Joshua and said to him before all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance." And the LORD—he who goes before you—he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.