Joshua to Succeed Moses
Moses closes his speaking, names his age and limit, and tells Israel that he will not cross the Jordan. The LORD Himself will go before them, and Joshua will go ahead as promised.
W1hen Moses had finished speaking these words to all Israel, 2he said to them, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old; I am no longer able to come and go, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ 3The LORD your God Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua will cross ahead of you, as the LORD has said.
Moses ties the coming conquest to what the LORD has already done to Sihon and Og. On that basis he calls Israel to strength and steadiness, because God goes with them and will not leave them.
4And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, when He destroyed them along with their land. 5The LORD will deliver them over to you, and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you. 6Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
In front of all Israel, Moses speaks directly to Joshua and gives him the same charge to be strong and courageous. Joshua is to lead the people into their inheritance, with the LORD going before him and staying with him.
7Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with 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. 8The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”