Joshua 1:2 Study Bible: Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you, and all this people, to the land which I give to them, even to the children of Israel.

◄ Joshua 1:2 ►

"Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel.

Study Bible

Moses My servant is dead.
This phrase marks a significant transition in Israel's history. Moses, the great leader and prophet, had led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness for 40 years. His death signifies the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter. Moses is often seen as a type of Christ, a mediator between God and His people. His death also fulfills God's word in Deuteronomy 34:5-7, where Moses dies in Moab and is buried by God. This transition emphasizes the continuity of God's plan despite human mortality.

Now therefore arise,
This command to "arise" signifies a call to action and leadership. Joshua is being commissioned to take up the mantle of leadership after Moses. The word "arise" implies readiness and preparation for the task ahead. It is a call to move forward with courage and faith, reflecting the divine mandate given to Joshua. This echoes God's call to other leaders in the Bible, such as Gideon in Judges 6:14 and the apostles in the New Testament.

you and all these people,
Joshua's leadership is not solitary; it involves the entire community of Israel. This phrase underscores the collective journey and responsibility of the Israelites. The people are to follow Joshua as they followed Moses, highlighting the importance of unity and obedience to God's appointed leader. It also reflects the covenant relationship between God and His people, where blessings and responsibilities are shared among the community.

and cross over the Jordan
The Jordan River represents a significant geographical and spiritual boundary. Crossing it symbolizes entering into the promises of God and leaving behind the wilderness experience. The Jordan is a type of baptism, representing death to the old life and entry into a new life of promise, as seen in the New Testament with Jesus' baptism in the Jordan (Matthew 3:13-17). This crossing is a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham regarding the land (Genesis 15:18).

into the land that I am giving
This phrase emphasizes God's sovereignty and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. The land is a gift from God, not earned by the Israelites' efforts. It is a continuation of the Abrahamic Covenant, where God promised to give the land to Abraham's descendants (Genesis 12:7). The land represents not just a physical territory but also spiritual rest and blessing, foreshadowing the eternal inheritance believers have in Christ (Hebrews 4:8-10).

to the children of Israel.
The term "children of Israel" refers to the descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel. It highlights the covenant relationship established with the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This phrase reinforces the identity of the Israelites as God's chosen people, set apart for His purposes. It also serves as a reminder of their history and the promises made to their forefathers, which are now being realized through Joshua's leadership.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Moses
The servant of God who led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness. His death marks a transition in leadership.

2. Joshua
The appointed leader to succeed Moses, tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land.

3. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are to inherit the Promised Land.

4. The Jordan River
A significant geographical boundary that the Israelites must cross to enter the Promised Land.

5. The Promised Land
The land of Canaan, promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, a symbol of God's faithfulness and provision.

Teaching Points

Leadership Transition
God’s work continues beyond individual leaders. Just as Joshua was called to succeed Moses, we must be ready to step into roles God prepares for us.

Obedience to God’s Command
Joshua’s call to "arise" and lead the people across the Jordan emphasizes the importance of immediate and faithful obedience to God’s directives.

Faith in God’s Promises
The command to cross the Jordan into the land God is giving them underscores the necessity of trusting in God’s promises, even when facing daunting challenges.

God’s Faithfulness
The transition from Moses to Joshua and the entry into the Promised Land is a testament to God’s unwavering faithfulness to His covenant with Israel.

Courage in Uncertainty
Joshua’s leadership required courage and strength, qualities that are essential for us when facing new and uncertain situations in our own lives.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the transition from Moses to Joshua illustrate the continuity of God’s plan despite changes in leadership?

2. In what ways can we "arise" and respond to God’s call in our own lives, similar to Joshua’s call to lead the Israelites?

3. How does the crossing of the Jordan River symbolize a step of faith, and what "Jordan Rivers" might we need to cross in our spiritual journey?

4. How can we draw strength and courage from God’s promises when facing challenges, as Joshua did?

5. What lessons can we learn from Joshua’s obedience and faith that can be applied to fulfilling the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Deuteronomy 34
Describes the death of Moses and the transition of leadership to Joshua, providing context for Joshua 1:2.

Exodus 3
God’s call to Moses at the burning bush, paralleling Joshua’s call to leadership.

Hebrews 11
Highlights the faith of Moses and the Israelites, connecting their journey to the broader account of faith in God's promises.

Matthew 28:18-20
The Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to go and make disciples, similar to God’s command to Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land.

Sermons

Consolation for Bereaved Workers	E. De Pressense	Joshua 1:1, 2
A Dauntless Spirit	Handbook of Illustration	Joshua 1:1-9
A Good Working Bible	Home Messenger.	Joshua 1:1-9
A Great Promise	G. Clayton, M. A.	Joshua 1:1-9
A Great Promise	Homilist	Joshua 1:1-9
A Great -Promise and a Stirring Exhortation	A. B. Mackay.	Joshua 1:1-9
An Inspiring Presence	J. Robertson.	Joshua 1:1-9
Christian Fortitude	D. Featley, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
Courage Necessary		Joshua 1:1-9
Death and its Lessons	Dean Vaughan.	Joshua 1:1-9
Death Enters into God's Plans	W. G. Blaikie, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
Death Makes Room for Others	J. Parker, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
Dignity of God's Service		Joshua 1:1-9
Foothold	H. Macmillan, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
God with the Good	D. Featley, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
God with Us Through Life	A London Clergyman.	Joshua 1:1-9
God's Revealed Wilt the Only Safe Rule for All Individual Guidance	R. Shittler.	Joshua 1:1-9
God's Strength Made Perfect in Human Weakness	F. B. Meyer, B. A.	Joshua 1:1-9
Joshua on the March	T. De Witt Talmage.	Joshua 1:1-9
Joshua the Successor of Moses	J. Waite	Joshua 1:1-9
Joshua. Successor, to Moses	Sermons by the Monday Club	Joshua 1:1-9
Joshua's Obedience		Joshua 1:1-9
Meditation		Joshua 1:1-9
Meditation and Obedience	J. C. Miller, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
Moses and Joshua	C. H. Parkhurst, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
Obedience the Condition of Victory	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Joshua 1:1-9
Onward, Through, and Over	J. J. Wray.	Joshua 1:1-9
Ownership and Possession	W. H. P. Faunce.	Joshua 1:1-9
Promotion	Christian World Pulpit	Joshua 1:1-9
Something to be Done to Gain Possession	H . Macmillan, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
Strength and Courage	W. G. Blaikie, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
Strengthening Medicine for God's Servants	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Joshua 1:1-9
Taking Possession of Our Inheritance	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Joshua 1:1-9
The Campaign Commenced	G. W. Butler, M. A.	Joshua 1:1-9
The Charge to the Soldier of the Lord	A. Maclaren, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
The Christian's Law	J. C. Miller, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
The Commission for the Conquest	A. B. Mackay.	Joshua 1:1-9
The Commission of Joshua	David O. Mears.	Joshua 1:1-9
The Death of the Old Lawgiver	A. B. Mackay.	Joshua 1:1-9
The Land of the Hittites	W. G. Blaikie, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
The New Leader	A. B. Mackay.	Joshua 1:1-9
The Presence of the Master		Joshua 1:1-9
The Prosperous Way	J. C. Miller, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
The Right People for the Land	W. G. Blaikie, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
The Sources of Joshua's Strength	F. B. Meyer, . B. A.	Joshua 1:1-9
The Strength and Courage Needed .For Common Life	A. Raleigh,D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
Victory Assured	F. B. Meyer, B. A.	Joshua 1:1-9
Whom Do I Succeed?	J. Parker, D. D.	Joshua 1:1-9
God's Gift to the Church	S.R. Aldridge	Joshua 1:2, 3

People

Gadites, Hittites, Israelites, Joshua, Manasseh, Nun, Reubenites

Places

Euphrates River, Great Sea, Jordan River, Lebanon, Moab

Topics

Arise, Cross, Dead, Giving, Israelites, Jordan, Pass, Ready, Rise, River, Servant, Sons

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Joshua 1:2

4207 land, divine gift
4260 rivers and streams

Joshua 1:1-2

     5103   Moses, significance
     7160   servants of the Lord
     8344   servanthood, in believers

Joshua 1:1-4

5704 inheritance, material

Joshua 1:1-6

7258 promised land, early history

Joshua 1:1-9

5548 speech, divine
7125 elect, the

Library

The New Leaders Commission
'Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, 2. Moses My servant is dead: now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Charge to the Soldier of the Lord
'Only be then strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded thee... that thou mayest prosper wheresoever thou goest. 8. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shall meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.'--JOSHUA i. 7,8. This is the central portion of the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Jewish Dispersion in the West - the Hellenists - Origin of Hellenist Literature in the Greek Translation of the Bible - Character of the Septuagint.
When we turn from the Jewish dispersion' in the East to that in the West, we seem to breathe quite a different atmosphere. Despite their intense nationalism, all unconsciously to themselves, their mental characteristics and tendencies were in the opposite direction from those of their brethren. With those of the East rested the future of Judaism; with them of the West, in a sense, that of the world. The one represented old Israel, stretching forth its hands to where the dawn of a new day was about …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Subjects of Study. Home Education in Israel; Female Education. Elementary Schools, Schoolmasters, and School Arrangements.
If a faithful picture of society in ancient Greece or Rome were to be presented to view, it is not easy to believe that even they who now most oppose the Bible could wish their aims success. For this, at any rate, may be asserted, without fear of gainsaying, that no other religion than that of the Bible has proved competent to control an advanced, or even an advancing, state of civilisation. Every other bound has been successively passed and submerged by the rising tide; how deep only the student …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Finding of Moses
Many long years had passed since the days when Joseph's brothers and their families had settled in the land of Egypt. They were a great nation in numbers now, but the Egyptians still ruled over them, and used them as servants. The Pharaoh who had been so kind to the shepherds from Canaan was dead long ago, and the new kings, or Pharaohs as they were called, hated foreigners, and began to treat the Israelites very harshly. There were too many of them, they said; it was dangerous to have so many strong, …
Amy Steedman—The Babe in the Bulrushes

Five Kings in a Cave
TEXT: "And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them. And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight."--Joshua 10:24-25. The history of the …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

Brave Encouragements
'In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2. Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3. Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? 4. Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Getting Ready to Enter Canaan
GETTING READY TO ENTER CANAAN Can you tell me, please, the first step to take in obtaining the experience of entire sanctification? I have heard much about it, have heard many sermons on it, too; but the way to proceed is not yet plain to me, not so plain as I wish it were. Can't you tell me the first step, the second, third, and all the rest? My heart feels a hunger that seems unappeased, I have a longing that is unsatisfied; surely it is a deeper work I need! And so I plead, "Tell me the way." …
Robert Lee Berry—Adventures in the Land of Canaan

The Routing of Giant Doubt
THE ROUTING OF GIANT DOUBT Doubts! doubts! doubts! Just a company of them around me all the time worse than Job's miserable comforters. What can I do with them? I should like to dismiss them, but it seems I can not. They make me much trouble, but it seems I can not get them to leave me. Especially are the doubts concerning my entire consecration aggravating, and those, too, concerning my entire cleansing. I fear to come out boldly and declare that I believe that Christ fully saves me now. I believe …
Robert Lee Berry—Adventures in the Land of Canaan

Never! Never! Never! Never! Never!
Hence, let us learn, my brethren, the extreme value of searching the Scriptures. There may be a promise in the Word which would exactly fit your case, but you may not know of it, and therefore miss its comfort. You are like prisoners in a dungeon, and there may be one key in the bunch which would unlock the door, and you might be free; but if you will not look for it you may remain a prisoner still, though liberty is near at hand. There may be a potent medicine in the great pharmacopia of Scripture, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

From his Commission to Reside Abroad in 1820 to his Removal to Germany in 1822
In 1822 John Yeardley went to reside in Germany. As his residence abroad constituted one of the most remarkable turns in his life, and exercised a powerful influence on the rest of his career, we shall develop as fully as we are able the motives by which he was induced to leave his native country. By means of his Diary we can trace the early appearance and growth, if not the origin, of the strong Christian sympathy he ever afterwards manifested with seeking souls in the nations on the continent of …
John Yeardley—Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel

Sundry Exhortations.
HEBREWS xiii. Let love of the brethren continue. Forget not to shew love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are evil entreated, as being yourselves also in the body. Let marriage be had in honour among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for Himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox.
[In the Prospectus of our Publication it was stated, that one discourse, at least, would be given in each number. A strict adherence to this arrangement, however, it is found, would exclude from our pages some of the most talented discourses of our early Divines; and it is therefore deemed expedient to depart from it as occasion may require. The following Sermon will occupy two numbers, and we hope, that from its intrinsic value, its historical interest, and the illustrious name of its author, it …
John Knox—The Pulpit Of The Reformation, Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

Moses and his Writings
[Illustration: (drop cap W) Clay letter tablet of Moses' time.] We now begin to understand a little of the very beginning of God's Book--of the times in which it was written, the materials used by its first author, and the different kinds of writing from which he had to choose; but we must go a step farther. How much did Moses know about the history of his forefathers, Abraham and Jacob, and of all the old nations and kings mentioned in Genesis, before God called him to the great work of writing …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

The Great Commission Given.
(Time and Place Same as Last Section.) ^A Matt. XXVIII. 18-20; ^B Mark XVI. 15-18; ^C Luke XXIV. 46, 47. ^a 18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. ^b 15 And he said unto them, Go ye ^a therefore, ^b into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. ^a and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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