Joshua to Succeed Moses
(Numbers 27:18–23)

1When Moses (drawn out) had finished speaking [When Moses went out and spoke]a these words to all Israel (he wrestles with God), 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 {YHWH} has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan (flowing down).’

3The LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua (YHWH saves) will cross ahead of you, as the LORD has said. 4And the LORD {YHWH} will do to them as He did to Sihon (warrior) and Og (long-necked), the kings of the Amorites (sayers), when He destroyed them along with their land.

5The LORD {YHWH} 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 {YHWH Eloheka} who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you <Heb 13:5>.”b

7Then Moses (drawn out) called for Joshua (YHWH saves) and said to him in the presence of all Israel (he wrestles with God), “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD {YHWH} swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. 8The LORD {YHWH} Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

The Reading of the Law
(Nehemiah 8:1–8)

9So Moses (drawn out) wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH}, and to all the elders of Israel (he wrestles with God).

10Then Moses (drawn out) commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of remission of debt, during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot),c 11when all Israel (he wrestles with God) comes before the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel.

12Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} and to follow carefully all the words of this law. 13Then their children who do not know the law will listen and learn to fear the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem}, as long as you⁺ live in the land that you⁺ are crossing the Jordan (flowing down) to possess.”

God Commissions Joshua

14Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Behold, the time of your death is near. Call Joshua (YHWH saves) and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, so that I may commission him.”

So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting. 15Then the LORD {YHWH} appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.

16And the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “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.

On that day they will say, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God {Elohay} is no longer with us?’

18And on that day I will surely hide My face because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods.

19Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites (God prevails); 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 (drawn out) wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites (God prevails).

23Then the LORD commissioned Joshua (YHWH saves) son of Nun (fish / posterity) and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites (God prevails) into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with you.”

The Law Placed in the Ark

24When Moses (drawn out) had finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, 25he gave this command to (drawn out) the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH}: 26“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem}, so that it may remain there as a witness against you. 27For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you⁺ are already rebelling against the LORD {YHWH} while I am still alive, how much more will you⁺ rebel after my death!

28Assemble before me all the elders of your⁺ tribes and all your⁺ officers so that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29For I know that after my death you⁺ will become utterly corrupt and turn from the path I have commanded you⁺. And in the days to come, disaster will befall you⁺ because you⁺ will do evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH} to provoke Him to anger by the work of your⁺ hands.”

Moses Begins His Song

30Then Moses (drawn out) recited aloud to the whole assembly of Israel (he wrestles with God) the words of this song from beginning to end: