THE DEATH OF MOSES THE EPITAPH OF MOSES DEUTERONOMY 34:1-12

Transcription

1 1 THE DEATH OF MOSES THE EPITAPH OF MOSES DEUTERONOMY 34:1-12

2 2 Text: Deuteronomy 34:1-12, THE DEATH OF MOSES THE EPITAPH OF MOSES 1. Then Moses ascended from the deserts of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the summit of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. The Lord showed him the whole land Gilead to Dan, 2. and all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the distant sea, 3. the Negev, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of the date palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4. Then the Lord said to him, This is the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, I will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it, but you will not cross over there. 5. So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab as the Lord had said. 6. He buried him in the land of Moab near Beth Peor, but no one knows his exact burial place to this very day. 7. Moses was 120 years old when he died, but his eye was not dull nor had his vitality departed. 8. The Israelites mourned for Moses in the deserts of Moab for thirty days; then the days of mourning for Moses ended. 9. Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had placed his hands on him; and the Israelites

3 3 listened to him and did just what the Lord had commanded Moses. 10. No prophet ever again arose in Israel like Moses, who knew the Lord face to face. 11. He did all the signs and wonders the Lord had sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, all his servants, and the whole land, 12. and he displayed great power and awesome might in view of all Israel. (NET) Introduction: I. Joshua is thought to have been the author of Deuteronomy 34 since Moses could not have described his own death. (See Hamilton.) A. Deuteronomy 34 both ends the Pentateuch (Torah) and marks the transition from the nation s founder to his successors, from books of law to the books of history. (See Hamilton.) B. Coffman, quoting Clarke, cited Joshua, Ezra or the seventy elders as possible authors of Joshua 34. Coffman quoted Clarke as saying that what now is the last chapter of Deuteronomy was originally the first chapter of Joshua. 1. Clarke wrote that Deuteronomy 33 should be considered the last chapter of this book. 2. Clarke also regarded Deuteronomy as having originally been the first chapter of Joshua.

4 4 II. Hamilton outlined Deuteronomy 34 as follows: A. Moses departure (verses 1-4),... B. Moses death and burial (verses 5-8),... C. The succession of Joshua (verse 9), and... D. A summary comment on Moses career (verses 10-12). III. Hall viewed Deuteronomy 34:1-12 as containing three sections; viz.,... A. Moses death (verses 1-8),... B. Joshua, Moses successor (verse 9), and... C. a succinct epitaph extolling Moses stature (verses 9-12). IV. Coffman saw Deuteronomy as having two divisions; viz.,... A. the death and burial of Moses (verses 1-8), and... B. the succession of Joshua and a final evaluation of Moses great life (verses 9-12). Commentary: The Death of Moses Deuteronomy 34:1, Then Moses ascended from the deserts of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the summit of Pisgah,

5 5 which is opposite Jericho. The Lord showed him the whole land Gilead to Dan, (NET) I. Then Moses ascended from the deserts of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the summit of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. A. The Moabites were descended from Moab, a son of Lot by an incestuous relationship with his older daughter. (Genesis 19:37, The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the ancestor of the Moabites of today. (NET)) The land of Moab was situated along the eastern border of the southern half of the Dead Sea, on the plateau between the Dead Sea and the Arabian desert. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) B. Mount Nebo is a mountain of the Abarim range in Moab opposite Jericho. (Numbers 33:47, They traveled from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim before Nebo. (NET)) (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) 1. Coffman wrote that Pisgah and Nebo appear here as synonymous names of a single place. C. Pisgah refers to the entire ridge of the Abarim mountains, which extends from the Moabite plateau toward the Dead Sea. Nebo is the highest peak of this Pisgah ridge. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) D. Jericho is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. Jericho is situated about eight (8) miles northwest of the site where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, some five

6 6 (5) miles west of the Jordan. Jericho is located 800 feet below sea level and has a tropical climate and at times very hot. Only a few inches of rain falls at Jericho each year, but the city is a wonderful oasis, known as the city of Palms,, and flourishes with date palms, banana trees, balsams, sycamores, and henna. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) 1. Judges 3:13, Eglon formed alliances with the Ammonites and Amalekites. He came and defeated Israel, and they seized the City of Date Palm Trees. (NET) 2. Song of Solomon 1:14, My beloved is like a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En- Gedi. (NET) 3. Luke 19:4, So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way. (NET) E. As Smith well wrote, In obedience to the command of the Lord, Moses climbed Nebo to the very top of the peak called Pisgah. 1. The Pulpit Commentary reads, After blessing the people, Moses, in obedience to the Divine command, ascended Mount Nebo, the highest peak of the Pisgah range, and thence surveyed the whole land of Canaan, from north to south, and from east to west, as well as the district on the east of the Jordan, not included in Canaan proper.

7 7 F. Hall noted that Deuteronomy 34:1-3 is a natural sequel to Deuteronomy 32:48-52, Then the Lord said to Moses that same day, Go up to this Abarim hill country, to Mount Nebo (which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho) and look at the land of Canaan that I am giving to the Israelites as a possession. You will die on the mountain that you ascend and join your deceased ancestors, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and joined his deceased ancestors, for both of you rebelled against me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the desert of Zin when you did not show me proper respect among the Israelites. You will see the land before you, but you will not enter the land that I am giving to the Israelites. (NET) II. The Lord showed him the whole land Gilead to Dan,... A. Gilead refers to a mountain range east of the Jordan River three thousand (3,000) feet above sea level extending about sixty (60) miles from near the south end of the sea of Galilee to the north end of the Dead Sea. Gliead is about twenty (20) miles wide. The term Gilead came to be applied to the entire region of Israelite Transjordan. Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary). 1. Hall added that Gilead was south of Bashan, the modern Golan Heights. Gilead was the territory assigned to the tribe Gad.

8 8 B. Dan was the fifth (5 th ) son of Jacob and the first (1 st) born to Rachel s handmaid Bilhah. Dan is a city in the northern territory assigned to the tribe of Dan. This city was located farther north than any other village in Israel during much of the Old Testament period which led to the phrase from Dan to Beersheba being used to describe the entire territory of the Israelites from north to south. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) 1. Dan was in the northernmost part of the land, located in the foothills of Mount Hermon one hundred (100) miles to the north and clearly visible from the top of Pisgah. (See Hall.) C. From the top of Pisgah, with undimmed eyes at age one hundred twenty (120), Moses was able to view the land God had promised the Israelites and toward which Moses for forty years had led the people. (See Smith.) D. The purchases of land actually took possession of it by seeing or surveying it. 1. Thus it appears that God in this passage invited Moses to take possession of the entire land of Canaan on behalf of the children of Israel. This must be hailed as the very climax of Moses great life, Coffman wrote. Deuteronomy 34:2, and all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the distant sea, (NET)

9 9 I. and all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the distant* sea,... A. *NET Footnote: Or western; Hebrew latter (referring to the Mediterranean Sea). 1. Deuteronomy 11:24, Every place you set your foot will be yours; your border will extend from the desert to Lebanon and from the River (that is, the Euphrates) as far as the Mediterranean Sea. (NET) 2. Hall noted that from Pisgah Moses would not have been able to see the Mediterranean Sea. B. Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh and Judah as used here refer to the territories assigned to these respective tribes in the Promised Land. 1. Naphtali was in upper Galilee and west of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee), Hall wrote. 2. Ephraim and Manesseh represented the central hill country that became the northern kingdom. Moses would have seen Mount Gilboa, Ebal and Gerizim, Hall wrote. Deuteronomy 34:3, the Negev, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of the date palm trees, as far as Zoar. (NET)

10 10 I. The Negev,* and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of the date palm trees, as far as Zoar. A. *NET Footnote: Or the south ( Negev has become a technical term for the southern desert region). 1. The Negev was the southern boundary of the Promised Land, Hall advised. B. Zoar was an ancient city apparently situated on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea and also known as Bela. It was one of five (5) city-states in the area, each with its own king. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) C. Moses could not have seen every parcel of the Promised Land, but what he saw was representative of the entire land reserved for Israel. (See Hall.) 1. Judges 20:1, All the Israelites from Dan to Beer Sheba and from the land of Gilead left their homes and assembled together before the Lord at Mizpah. (NET) 2. 1 Samuel 3:20, All Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba realized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. (NET) 3. 2 Samuel 3:10, namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba! (NET)

11 Samuel 17:11, My advice therefore is this: Let all Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba in number like the sand by the sea! be mustered to you, and you lead them personally into battle. (NET) 5. 1 Kings 4:2, These were his officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest. (NET) Deuteronomy 34:4, Then the Lord said to him, This is the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, I will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it, but you will not cross over there. (NET) I. Then the Lord said to him, This is the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, I will give it to your descendants. A. This verse emphasizes that God kept his promise!... and that he was and is concerned about the best possible life for all of his creatures. (Fretheim via Hamilton) 1. Genesis 13:14-17, After Lot had departed, the Lord said to Abram, Look from the place where you stand to the north, south, east, and west. I will give all the land that you see to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone is able to count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted. Get up and walk throughout the land, for I will give it to you. (NET)

12 Genesis 12:1, 7, Now the Lord said to Abram, Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father s household to the land that I will show you. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, To your descendants I will give this land. So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. (NET) 3. Genesis 18:18, After all, Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations on the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using his name. (NET) 4. Genesis 28:13, and the Lord stood at its top. He said, I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the ground you are lying on. (NET) 5. Deuteronomy 1:8, 21, 25, Look! I have already given the land to you. Go, occupy the territory that I, the Lord, promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants. Look, he has placed the land in front of you! Go up, take possession of it, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, said to do. Do not be afraid or discouraged! Then they took some of the produce of the land and carried it back down to us. They also brought a report to us, saying, The land that the Lord our God is about to give us is good. (NET)

13 Exodus 33:1, The Lord said to Moses, Go up from here, you and the people whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, I will give it to your descendants. (NET) II. I have let you see it, but you will not cross over there. A. Moses, the servant of God, has served his purpose. Another now must assume leadership of the people. 1. The cowardly slaves were now all dead. The desert hardened Israelites under the stalwart military man of faith, Joshua, was ready to invade Palestine. B. Moses was forbidden by the Lord to enter the Promised Land. 1. Deuteronomy 1:37, As for me, the Lord was also angry with me on your account. He said, You also will not be able to go there. (NET) 2. Deuteronomy 3:23-29, Moreover, at that time I pleaded with the Lord, O, Lord God, you have begun to show me your greatness and strength. (What god in heaven or earth can rival your works and mighty deeds?) Let me please cross over to see the good land on the other side of the Jordan River this good hill country and the Lebanon! But the Lord was angry at me because of you and would not listen to me. Instead, he

14 14 said to me, Enough of that! Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and take a good look to the west, north, south, and east, for you will not be allowed to cross the Jordan. Commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, because he will lead these people over and will enable them to inherit the land you will see. So we settled down in the valley opposite Beth Peor. (NET) 3. Deuteronomy 31:2, 14, 16, 27-29, He said to them, Today I am a hundred and twenty years old. I am no longer able to get about, and the Lord has said to me, You will not cross the Jordan. Then the Lord said to Moses, The day of your death is near. Summon Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting so that I can commission him. So Moses and Joshua presented themselves in the tent of meeting. Then the Lord said to Moses, You are about to die, and then these people will begin to prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which they are going. They will reject me and break my covenant that I have made with them. for I know about your rebellion and stubbornness. Indeed, even while I have been living among you to this very day, you have rebelled against the Lord; you will be even more rebellious after my death! Gather to me all your tribal elders and officials so I can speak to them directly about these things and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.

15 15 For I know that after I die you will totally corrupt yourselves and turn away from the path I have commanded you to walk. Disaster will confront you in the days to come because you will act wickedly before the Lord, inciting him to anger because of your actions. (NET) 4. Deuteronomy 32:28-52, They are a nation devoid of wisdom, and there is no understanding among them. I wish that they were wise and could understand this, and that they could comprehend what will happen to them. How can one man chase a thousand of them, and two pursue ten thousand; unless their Rock had delivered them up, and the Lord had handed them over? For our enemies rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede. For their vine is from the stock of Sodom, and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes contain venom, their clusters of grapes are bitter. Their wine is snakes poison, the deadly venom of cobras. Is this not stored up with me? says the Lord, Is it not sealed up in my storehouses? I will get revenge and pay them back at the time their foot slips; for the day of their disaster is near, and the impending judgment is rushing upon them! The Lord will judge his people, and will change his plans concerning his servants; when he sees that their power has disappeared, and that no one is left, whether confined or set free. He will say, Where are their gods, the rock in whom they sought security, who ate the best of their

16 16 sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise and help you; let them be your refuge! See now that I, indeed I, am he! says the Lord, and there is no other god besides me. I kill and give life, I smash and I heal, and none can resist my power. For I raise up my hand to heaven, and say, As surely as I live forever, I will sharpen my lightning-like sword, and my hand will grasp hold of the weapon of judgment; I will execute vengeance on my foes, and repay those who hate me! I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword will devour flesh the blood of the slaughtered and captured, the chief of the enemy s leaders! Cry out, O nations, with his people, for he will avenge his servants blood; he will take vengeance against his enemies, and make atonement for his land and people. Then Moses went with Joshua son of Nun and recited all the words of this song to the people. When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel he said to them, Keep in mind all the words I am solemnly proclaiming to you today; you must command your children to observe carefully all the words of this law. For this is no idle word for you it is your life! By this word you will live a long time in the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess. Then the Lord said to Moses that same day, Go up to this Abarim hill country, to Mount Nebo (which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho) and look at the land of Canaan that I am giving to the

17 17 Israelites as a possession. You will die on the mountain that you ascend and join your deceased ancestors, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and joined his deceased ancestors, for both of you rebelled against me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the desert of Zin when you did not show me proper respect among the Israelites. You will see the land before you, but you will not enter the land that I am giving to the Israelites. (NET) C. Hall wrote, The purpose of these last words (in Deuteronomy 34) was to commend Moses and his place in God s plan, not detract from his character. Joshua 34:5, So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab as the Lord had said. (NET) I. So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab as the Lord had said. A.... and so it must be for us all! 1. It is appointed unto man once to die. 2. Notice also that there was just one person in attendance at Moses funeral, God. God also served as undertaker. The funeral sermon was delivered by God. the funeral sermon was short, very short, and consisted of one statement, Moses, the servant of the Lord. Nothing more needed to be said.

18 18 B. Others in the Bible were said to be servants of the Lord, but Moses was the servant of the Lord par excellence! (See Hall.) 1. Deuteronomy 3:24, O, Lord God, you have begun to show me your greatness and strength. (What god in heaven or earth can rival your works and mighty deeds?) (NET) 2. Joshua 1:1, 2, 7, 13, 15, After Moses the Lord s servant died, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses assistant: Moses my servant is dead. Get ready! Cross the Jordan River! Lead these people into the land which I am ready to hand over to them. Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do. Remember what Moses the Lord s servant commanded you. The Lord your God is giving you a place to settle and is handing this land over to you. until the Lord gives your brothers a place like yours to settle and they conquer the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to them. Then you may go back to your allotted land and occupy the land Moses the Lord s servant assigned you east of the Jordan. (NET) 3. Joshua 8:31, 33, just as Moses the Lord s servant had commanded the Israelites. As

19 19 described in the law scroll of Moses, it was made with uncut stones untouched by an iron tool. They offered burnt sacrifices on it and sacrificed tokens of peace. 32 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a duplicate of the law written by Moses. 33 All the people, rulers, leaders, and judges were standing on either side of the ark, in front of the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord. Both resident foreigners and native Israelites were there. Half the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the Lord s servant had previously instructed to them to do for the formal blessing ceremony. (NET) 4. Joshua 9:24, They said to Joshua, It was carefully reported to your subjects how the Lord your God commanded Moses his servant to assign you the whole land and to destroy all who live in the land from before you. Because of you we were terrified we would lose our lives, so we did this thing. (NET) 5. Numbers 12:6-8, The Lord said, Hear now my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known to him in a vision; I will speak with him in a dream. My servant Moses is not like this; he is faithful in all my house. With him I will speak face to face, openly, and not in riddles; and he will see the form of

20 20 the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (NET) 6. Psalm 106:23, He threatened to destroy them, but Moses, his chosen one, interceded with him and turned back his destructive anger. (NET) C. The Lord had said Moses would not enter the Promised Land and this statement provides proof that events transpired as the Lord had foretold. (See Clarke.) 1. This was due to Moses transgression regarding the waters of Meribah. (See Clarke.) Joshua 34:6, He buried him in the land of Moab near Beth Peor, but no one knows his exact burial place to this very day. I. He buried him in the land of Moab near Beth Peor, but no one knows his exact burial place to this very day. A. Hamilton concluded this could have been to keep future generations from making Moses grave a shrine and worshiping him/his sprit there. 1. Deuteronomy 18:10-11, There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, one who conjures up spirits, a practitioner of the occult, or a necromancer. (NET)

21 It also could have been to keep Israel s enemies from desecrating his body, grave site. 3. Jude 1:9, But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said, May the Lord rebuke you! (NET) B. Beth Peor was a town of Moab near Pisgah that was allotted to the tribe of Reuben. It was in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor that Moses was buried. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) C. God buried Moses in the land of Moab in the valley opposite Beth Peor. 1. The exact location of Moses grave is unknown. 2. It was in the same area in which Moses had expounded the law to Israel. a. Deuteronomy 3:29, So we settled down in the valley opposite Beth Peor. (NET) b. Deuteronomy 4:46, in the Transjordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. (It is he whom Moses and the Israelites attacked after they came out of Egypt. (NET)

22 22 D. Death was not the end of Moses and it will not be the end of you and me! 1. Matthew 17:3, Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him. (NET) 2. Mark 9:4, Then Elijah appeared before them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. (NET) 3. Luke 9:30, Then two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with him. (NET) Deuteronomy 34:7, Moses was 120 years old when he died, but his eye was not dull nor had his vitality departed. (NET) I. Moses was 120 years old when he died, but his eye was not dull* nor had his vitality departed. A. *NET Footnote: Or dimmed. B. Smith wrote, At the time of his death Moses physically was in remarkable shape. At 120 years this servant of the Lord still had his sight and vigor. 1. Hall noted that Moses did not die of old age. He had just climbed to the top of Mount Pisgah indicating his health.

23 23 a. His role in God s plan of things had been completed and the Lord took him home. i. Numbers 33:38, Aaron the priest ascended Mount Hor at the command of the Lord, and he died there in the fortieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt on the first day of the fifth month. (NET) ii. Genesis 5:24, Enoch walked with God, and then he disappeared because God took him away. (NET) b. Moses death closed one era and prepared for a new one. Deuteronomy 34:8, The Israelites mourned for Moses in the deserts of Moab for thirty days; then the days of mourning for Moses ended. (NET) I. The Israelites mourned for Moses in the deserts of Moab for thirty days; then the days of mourning for Moses ended. A. Moses was accorded the high honors due the most remarkable spiritual and political leaders of state. 1. Numbers 20:29, When all the community saw that Aaron was dead, the whole house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days. (NET)

24 24 The Epitaph of Moses Deuteronomy 34:9, Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had placed his hands on him; and the Israelites listened to him and did just what the Lord had commanded Moses. (NET) I. Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had placed his hands on him,* and... A. *NET Footnote: See Numbers 27:8-16, And you must tell the Israelites, If a man dies and has no son, then you must transfer his inheritance to his daughter; and if he has no daughter, then you are to give his inheritance to his brothers; and if he has no brothers, then you are to give his inheritance to his father s brothers; and if his father has no brothers, then you are to give his inheritance to his relative nearest to him from his family, and he will possess it. This will be for the Israelites a legal requirement, as the Lord commanded Moses. Then the Lord said to Moses, Go up this mountain of the Abarim range, and see the land I have given to the Israelites. When you have seen it, you will be gathered to your ancestors, as Aaron your brother was gathered to his ancestors. For in the wilderness of Zin when the community rebelled against me, you rebelled against my command to show me as holy before their eyes over the water the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. Then Moses spoke to the Lord: Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all humankind, appoint a man over the community, (NET)

25 Exodus 24:12-13, The Lord said to Moses, Come up to me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandments that I have written, so that you may teach them. So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant, and Moses went up the mountain of God. (NET) 2. Deuteronomy 1:38, However, Joshua son of Nun, your assistant, will go. Encourage him, because he will enable Israel to inherit the land. (NET) 3. Deuteronomy 3:28, Commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, because he will lead these people over and will enable them to inherit the land you will see. (NET) 4. Deuteronomy 31:3-8, As for the Lord your God, he is about to cross over before you; he will destroy these nations before you and dispossess them. As for Joshua, he is about to cross before you just as the Lord has said. The Lord will do to them just what he did to Sihon and Og, the Amorite kings, and to their land, which he destroyed. The Lord will deliver them over to you and you will do to them according to the whole commandment I have given you. Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!

26 26 Then Moses called out to Joshua in the presence of all Israel, Be strong and courageous, for you will accompany these people to the land that the Lord promised to give their ancestors, and you will enable them to inherit it. The Lord is indeed going before you he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged! (NET) B. Joshua was selected by the Lord to be Moses successor and was endowed with the spirit of wisdom to discharge his duties well by the laying on of Moses hands. 1. Numbers 27:15-23, Then Moses spoke to the Lord: Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all humankind, appoint a man over the community, who will go out before them, and who will come in before them, and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in, so that the community of the Lord may not be like sheep that have no shepherd. The Lord replied to Moses, Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is such a spirit, and lay your hand on him; set him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community, and commission him publicly. Then you must delegate some of your authority to him, so that the whole community of the Israelites will be obedient. And he will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the Lord by the decision of the Urim. At his command they will go out, and at his command they will come in, he and all the

27 27 Israelites with him, the whole community. So Moses did as the Lord commanded him; he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community. He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord commanded, by the authority of Moses. (NET) 2. Isaiah 11:1-5, A shoot will grow out of Jesse s root stock, a bud will sprout from his roots. The Lord s spirit will rest on him a spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, a spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, a spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord. He will take delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by mere appearances, or make decisions on the basis of hearsay. He will treat the poor fairly, and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and order the wicked to be executed. Justice will be like a belt around his waist, integrity will be like a belt around his hips. (NET) 3. Joshua s success depended on his obedience to the law that God had given Moses, Hall wrote. a. Joshua 1:7-9, Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do. This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can