God Commissions Joshua
The LORD summons Moses and Joshua to the Tent of Meeting so Joshua may be commissioned. There He appears in the pillar of cloud at the tent's entrance.
T14hen the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the time of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, so that I may commission him.” 15So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting. Then the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.
The LORD tells Moses that after his death the people will turn to foreign gods, forsake the covenant, and provoke divine anger. He says He will hide His face from them as troubles overtake them.
16And the LORD said to Moses, “You will soon rest with your fathers, and these people will rise up and prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake Me and break the covenant I have made with them. 17On that day My anger will burn against them, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them, so that they will be consumed, and many troubles and afflictions will befall them. 18And on that day I will surely hide My face because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods.
God commands Moses to write and teach a song that will remain as a witness when Israel prospers, turns to other gods, and later suffers affliction. Moses writes the song that same day and teaches it to Israel.
19Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites; have them recite it, so that it may be a witness for Me against them. 20When I have brought them into the land that I swore to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and prosper. Then they will turn to other gods and worship them, and they will reject Me and break My covenant. 21And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. For I know their inclination, even before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.” 22So that very day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites.
The LORD commissions Joshua son of Nun to be strong and courageous, promising that he will bring Israel into the sworn land and that God will be with him.
23Then the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with you.”