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Joshua 1

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Tanakh · chapter reading guide

Joshua Chapter 1

Joshua Chapter 1 presents 18 verses in a searchable Hebrew text unit. This original reading guide identifies observable themes and a practical path through the chapter without adding an unverified interpretation.

Rashi's commentary

Verse 1
And it was after the death of Moshe — It links with the Torah that has just finished with the passing away of Moshe and there is the coupling.
Verse 2
Moshe, my servant, died — And our Rabbis explain (תמורה טז א) upon three thousand halachot which came about during the days of mourning for Moshe, Yehoshua came and asked and Hakadosh Baruch Hu said to him, Moshe my servant has died and the Torah in his name I called out and he said to him, go and lead them into war
Verse 3
Every place which your legs shall lead you:
Verse 4
From the desert of Lebanon — This is the desert of Kadesh, the desert of Tzin which to the side of Edom and was the southwestern border and the way there led to the Land. As it is said (Bamidbar 20:16) "We are in Kadesh" from which we know in the south-west. As it is said (Ibid. 34:3) "Your southern border will be in the desert of Tzin by the side of Edom
...Until the great river, the Euphrates — This is the limit from south to North
All of the Hittite land — With the same principle
And until the great sea towards the setting sun — From the west to the east.
Verse 6
Be strong and courageous — In the way of the land, therefore it says later: because you will allot inheritances.
Verse 7
Only be strong and very courageous — In Torah, as it is said: To guard and to carry out the whole Torah
Have success — Succeed
Verse 8
This book of the Torah — The Torah which was in front of them.
And you shall meditate on it — And you shall study it, [for] all meditation in the torah is in the heart, like it is said, "And let the meditation of my heart be before you (Psalms 19:15)", [and also] "May your heart meditate [on] fear (Isaiah 33:18)."
Verse 9
As I commanded you, be strong and courageous — In war, as it is said: Don't be scared or dismayed. And he had been asked to do so previously, in the days of Moshe (Devarim 31:23) "And he compelled Yehoshua Bin Nun etc"
Verse 10
And Joshua commanded — On the day that the period of crying in mourning for Moses ceased.
Verse 11
Prepare for yourself equipment- He told them to fix all the things that were needed on the path, and their vessels for warfare. For if you say [that 'equipment'] is referring to food and drink, [you are wrong because] they were given enough [food] by the manna in their vessels until the 15th of Nisan. As it says, "(Joshua 5:12) And the manna ceased the next day." (This according to Rabbi [Judah the Prince]).
In three days' time- At the end of three days — During the next three days you will be here and after that, you shall cross (the Jordan River).
Verse 15
The sun to the East — The Eastern side of the Jordan

Edition: Sefaria Community Translation. License: CC0. Sefaria.

Malbim's commentary

Verse 1
Questions — [1] Why is Moshe described by the name of "the servant of Hashem", and Yehoshua as the servant of Moshe, here, more than elsewhere?

Edition: Sefaria Community Translation. License: CC0. Sefaria.

Original text

Verse 1

וַֽיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵ֛י מ֥וֹת מֹשֶׁ֖ה עֶ֣בֶד יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֔וּן מְשָׁרֵ֥ת מֹשֶׁ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃

After the death of Moses the servant of G OD , G OD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ attendant:

Verse 2

מֹשֶׁ֥ה עַבְדִּ֖י מֵ֑ת וְעַתָּה֩ ק֨וּם עֲבֹ֜ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַזֶּ֗ה אַתָּה֙ וְכׇל־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

“My servant Moses is dead. Prepare to cross the Jordan, together with all this people, into the land that I am giving to the Israelites.

Verse 3

כׇּל־מָק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּדְרֹ֧ךְ כַּֽף־רַגְלְכֶ֛ם בּ֖וֹ לָכֶ֣ם נְתַתִּ֑יו כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי אֶל־מֹשֶֽׁה׃

Every spot on which your foot treads I give to you, as I promised Moses.

Verse 4

מֵהַמִּדְבָּר֩ וְהַלְּבָנ֨וֹן הַזֶּ֜ה וְֽעַד־הַנָּהָ֧ר הַגָּד֣וֹל נְהַר־פְּרָ֗ת כֹּ֚ל אֶ֣רֶץ הַֽחִתִּ֔ים וְעַד־הַיָּ֥ם הַגָּד֖וֹל מְב֣וֹא הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ יִֽהְיֶ֖ה גְּבוּלְכֶֽם׃

Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and the Lebanon to the Great River, the River Euphrates [on the east]—the whole Hittite country—and up to the Mediterranean Sea on the west.

Verse 5

לֹא־יִתְיַצֵּ֥ב אִישׁ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּ֑יךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיִ֤יתִי עִם־מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א אַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א אֶעֶזְבֶֽךָּ׃

No one shall be able to resist you as long as you live. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

Verse 6

חֲזַ֖ק וֶאֱמָ֑ץ כִּ֣י אַתָּ֗ה תַּנְחִיל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶת־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי לַאֲבוֹתָ֖ם לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶֽם׃

“Be strong and resolute, for you shall apportion to this people the land that I swore to their fathers to assign to them.

Verse 7

רַק֩ חֲזַ֨ק וֶאֱמַ֜ץ מְאֹ֗ד לִשְׁמֹ֤ר לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ כְּכׇל־הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר צִוְּךָ֙ מֹשֶׁ֣ה עַבְדִּ֔י אַל־תָּס֥וּר מִמֶּ֖נּוּ יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול לְמַ֣עַן תַּשְׂכִּ֔יל בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תֵּלֵֽךְ׃

But you must be very strong and resolute to observe faithfully all the Teaching that My servant Moses enjoined upon you. Do not deviate from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

Verse 8

לֹֽא־יָמ֡וּשׁ סֵ֩פֶר֩ הַתּוֹרָ֨ה הַזֶּ֜ה מִפִּ֗יךָ וְהָגִ֤יתָ בּוֹ֙ יוֹמָ֣ם וָלַ֔יְלָה לְמַ֙עַן֙ תִּשְׁמֹ֣ר לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת כְּכׇל־הַכָּת֖וּב בּ֑וֹ כִּי־אָ֛ז תַּצְלִ֥יחַ אֶת־דְּרָכֶ֖ךָ וְאָ֥ז תַּשְׂכִּֽיל׃

Let not this Book of the Teaching cease from your lips, but recite it day and night, so that you may observe faithfully all that is written in it. Only then will you prosper in your undertakings and only then will you be successful.

Verse 9

הֲל֤וֹא צִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙ חֲזַ֣ק וֶאֱמָ֔ץ אַֽל־תַּעֲרֹ֖ץ וְאַל־תֵּחָ֑ת כִּ֤י עִמְּךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תֵּלֵֽךְ׃ {פ}

“I charge you: Be strong and resolute; do not be terrified or dismayed, for the E TERNAL your God is with you wherever you go.”

Verse 10

וַיְצַ֣ו יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ אֶת־שֹׁטְרֵ֥י הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

Joshua thereupon gave orders to the officials of the people:

Verse 11

עִבְר֣וּ׀ בְּקֶ֣רֶב הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֗ה וְצַוּ֤וּ אֶת־הָעָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הָכִ֥ינוּ לָכֶ֖ם צֵידָ֑ה כִּ֞י בְּע֣וֹד׀ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֗ים אַתֶּם֙ עֹֽבְרִים֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַזֶּ֔ה לָבוֹא֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ {פ}

“Go through the camp and charge the people thus: Get provisions ready, for in three days’ time you are to cross the Jordan, in order to enter and possess the land that the E TERNAL your God is giving you as a possession.”

Verse 12

וְלָרֽאוּבֵנִי֙ וְלַגָּדִ֔י וְלַחֲצִ֖י שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹֽר׃

Then Joshua said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

Verse 13

זָכוֹר֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֛ם מֹשֶׁ֥ה עֶבֶד־יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ מֵנִ֣יחַ לָכֶ֔ם וְנָתַ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת׃

“Remember what Moses the servant of G OD enjoined upon you, when he said, ‘The E TERNAL your God is granting you a haven and assigning this territory to you’:

Verse 14

נְשֵׁיכֶ֣ם טַפְּכֶם֮ וּמִקְנֵיכֶם֒ יֵשְׁב֕וּ בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֥ן לָכֶ֛ם מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּעֵ֣בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְאַתֶּם֩ תַּעַבְר֨וּ חֲמֻשִׁ֜ים לִפְנֵ֣י אֲחֵיכֶ֗ם כֹּ֚ל גִּבּוֹרֵ֣י הַחַ֔יִל וַעֲזַרְתֶּ֖ם אוֹתָֽם׃

Let your wives, children, and livestock remain in the land that Moses assigned to you on this side of the Jordan; but every one of your fighting men shall go across armed in the van of your kindred. And you shall assist them

Verse 15

עַ֠ד אֲשֶׁר־יָנִ֨יחַ יְהֹוָ֥ה׀לַאֲחֵיכֶם֮ כָּכֶם֒ וְיָרְשׁ֣וּ גַם־הֵ֔מָּה אֶת־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם נֹתֵ֣ן לָהֶ֑ם וְשַׁבְתֶּ֞ם לְאֶ֤רֶץ יְרֻשַּׁתְכֶם֙ וִירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם אוֹתָ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀ נָתַ֣ן לָכֶ֗ם מֹשֶׁה֙ עֶ֣בֶד יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּעֵ֥בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן מִזְרַ֥ח הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

until G OD has given your kindred a haven, such as you have, and they too have gained possession of the land that the E TERNAL your God has assigned to them. Then you may return to the land on the east side of the Jordan, which Moses the servant of G OD assigned to you as your possession, and you may possess it.”

Verse 16

וַֽיַּעֲנ֔וּ אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוִּיתָ֙נוּ֙ נַעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְאֶֽל־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּשְׁלָחֵ֖נוּ נֵלֵֽךְ׃

They answered Joshua, “We will do everything you have commanded us and we will go wherever you send us.

Verse 17

כְּכֹ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַ֙עְנוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה כֵּ֖ן נִשְׁמַ֣ע אֵלֶ֑יךָ רַ֠ק יִֽהְיֶ֞ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־מֹשֶֽׁה׃

We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses; let but the E TERNAL your God be with you as with Moses!

Verse 18

כׇּל־אִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יַמְרֶ֣ה אֶת־פִּ֗יךָ וְלֹֽא־יִשְׁמַ֧ע אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֛יךָ לְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־תְּצַוֶּ֖נּוּ יוּמָ֑ת רַ֖ק חֲזַ֥ק וֶאֱמָֽץ׃ {פ}

Anyone who flouts your commands and does not obey every order you give him shall be put to death. Only be strong and resolute!”

English translation: THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition · CC-BY-NC

Joshua 1

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