Joshua 1:13 kjv
Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
Joshua 1:13 nkjv
"Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.'
Joshua 1:13 niv
"Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you after he said, 'The LORD your God will give you rest by giving you this land.'
Joshua 1:13 esv
"Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, 'The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.'
Joshua 1:13 nlt
"Remember what Moses, the servant of the LORD, commanded you: 'The LORD your God is giving you a place of rest. He has given you this land.'
Joshua 1 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 32:20-23 | Then Moses said to them, “If you do this thing, if you go armed before the Lord to war, and every armed man of you passes over the Jordan... then afterward you may return, and be free of obligation..." | The original promise and oath of the tribes. |
| Deut 3:18-20 | “And I commanded you at that time, saying, ‘The Lord your God has given you this land to possess. All your men of valor shall pass over armed before your brothers, the people of Israel." | Moses' command regarding their military service. |
| Josh 1:14-15 | Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers... | The continuation and confirmation of the command. |
| Josh 22:1-4 | Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you and all that I have commanded you..." | Fulfilling the promise after the war. |
| Deut 12:9-10 | But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies around, so that you live in security..." | God's promise of "rest" in the land. |
| Deut 25:19 | Therefore, when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess... | The comprehensive nature of the promised rest. |
| Ps 95:11 | Therefore I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter my rest.” | Divine rest can be lost due to disobedience. |
| Heb 3:7-19 | Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion..." (re: entering God's rest). | The spiritual fulfillment of God's "rest". |
| Heb 4:1-11 | Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it... | Believers are still encouraged to strive for spiritual rest. |
| Prov 11:3 | The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. | Importance of integrity and keeping promises. |
| Ecc 5:4-5 | When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. | The importance of fulfilling vows to God. |
| Matt 5:33-37 | “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, do not take an oath at all..." | New Testament perspective on oaths and faithfulness. |
| Gal 6:2 | Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. | Principle of communal responsibility and mutual aid. |
| 1 Cor 12:26-27 | If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. | Corporate unity and responsibility in the body of Christ. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. | Selflessness and considering others' needs. |
| Eph 6:10-12 | Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil... | Spiritual warfare, requiring corporate strength. |
| Deut 6:10 | “When the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, with great and good cities that you did not build..." | Land as a divine gift, fulfilled promise. |
| Josh 1:3 | Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. | Continuity of the land promise from Moses to Joshua. |
| Exod 13:5 | And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey... | Foreshadowing the gift of the land. |
| Josh 24:29 | After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being 110 years old. | Joshua, like Moses, served as the "servant of the Lord." |
| Isa 63:11 | Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put his Holy Spirit in the midst of them...? | God remembers His covenant with His "servant Moses." |
| Mic 6:5 | O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous deeds of the Lord.” | Call to remember God's faithfulness and deeds in the past. |
| Gen 12:7 | Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. | The foundational promise of the land to Abraham. |
| Num 26:55 | But the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. | Land inheritance was specific and divinely guided. |
Joshua 1 verses
Joshua 1 13 Meaning
Joshua 1:13 conveys Joshua's direct instruction to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. It serves as a reminder of the solemn covenant they made with Moses, which was conditioned on their military participation in conquering Canaan before settling permanently in their assigned land east of the Jordan River. This verse underscores the continuity of God's command through His chosen leaders and the essential nature of fulfilling one's vows for the communal good. It highlights the divine promise of "rest" and possession of the land, contingent on Israel's unified obedience.
Joshua 1 13 Context
Joshua 1:13 stands at the beginning of Joshua's leadership, following Moses' death (Josh 1:1). God has just commissioned Joshua, reiterating the promise of land and success, emphasizing obedience to the Law (Josh 1:2-9). Joshua then begins to give instructions to the people of Israel. Before issuing a general command for preparations to cross the Jordan (Josh 1:10-11), Joshua specifically addresses the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in verses 12-15. These tribes had previously settled their inheritance east of the Jordan, a condition for which they had promised Moses that their armed men would accompany the other tribes to conquer Canaan before returning to their own lands (Num 32; Deut 3:18-20). This verse serves as a critical reminder of that solemn agreement and underscores the unity and shared responsibility required for Israel to possess the land God promised them.
Joshua 1 13 Word analysis
- Remember (זָכַר, zakhar): More than just intellectual recall; it implies an active re-engagement with past commitments. In the biblical sense, "to remember" often means "to act in accordance with what is remembered." It carries covenantal weight, signifying fidelity and renewed obligation. The original audience would understand this as a binding command for action, not mere mental recollection.
- Moses (מֹשֶׁה, Mosheh): The name evokes the recent past and the foundational leadership through whom God had spoken. Linking the instruction back to Moses lends it divine authority and continuity, demonstrating that Joshua is not initiating a new requirement but upholding an established, God-given covenant. This reinforces Joshua's legitimacy as Moses' successor.
- the servant of the LORD (עֶבֶד יְהוָה, eved YHVH): This is an honored title denoting one chosen and consecrated for special divine service. It elevates Moses' status from mere human leader to a representative of God. It means his words were not just human commands but divinely inspired directives, emphasizing the sacred and binding nature of the promise made to him.
- commanded you (צִוָּה, tzivvah): A strong verb indicating a formal, authoritative injunction or order. It implies an unchangeable directive, not a suggestion. It conveys the force of law and covenant obligation.
- The LORD your God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, YHVH Eloheikhem): Emphasizes God's personal, covenantal relationship with Israel ("your God") and His sovereign power ("the LORD," YHVH). It reminds the tribes that the command ultimately originates from their faithful, omnipotent God, reinforcing accountability and highlighting that their success or failure depends on His will.
- giving you rest (מֵנִיחַ לָכֶם, meniyakh lakhem): This refers to a state of permanent security and peace within their inheritance, free from warfare and opposition. This "rest" (מְנוּחָה, menukhah, derived from the same root) is a major theme in the Deuteronomistic history, signifying the successful possession and dwelling in the promised land. It is the fulfillment of God's promise to give them security after their wanderings and battles. It signifies God's provision and the ultimate goal of their endeavors.
- and will give you this land: Reaffirms God's unfailing promise of the land as an unconditional gift to the entire nation of Israel. It reassures these tribes that even though they received their inheritance early, the Lord is faithful to the greater promise for all Israel. It also signifies the corporate nature of the land acquisition; no single tribe could fully experience the divine promise without the unified effort of all.
Joshua 1 13 Bonus section
The reminder in Joshua 1:13 against the Transjordan tribes reveals a practical wisdom in leadership. While they had secured their land, there was a real temptation for them to simply settle and withdraw from the forthcoming difficult battles. Joshua's pre-emptive address minimizes potential disunity or slackness. The theological concept of "rest" is crucial here. While the physical rest in the land was the immediate goal, the deeper biblical theme of rest points to the Sabbath, salvation, and ultimate eternal rest with God (as expounded later in Hebrews). The journey to this physical rest foreshadows the spiritual journey of believers striving for God's ultimate rest through faith and obedience. The fulfillment of the physical promise of the land serves as a tangible demonstration of God's faithfulness to His covenant, even as His people faced arduous challenges and required unity to fully receive it. This polemic against individualistic settlement, prioritizing personal gain over corporate divine calling, underscores the unique communal nature of Israel's relationship with Yahweh.
Joshua 1 13 Commentary
Joshua 1:13 encapsulates several critical theological and practical principles at the onset of Israel's conquest. It primarily reminds the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh of their specific oath made to Moses: their armed men would lead the charge into Canaan, secure the land for the other tribes, and only then return to their allocated territory east of the Jordan. This reminder reinforces the principle of covenant fidelity – God expects His people to honor their commitments made before Him.
The verse also highlights continuity of leadership, with Joshua seamlessly taking the mantle from Moses while maintaining the established divine commands. Joshua’s leadership is validated not by new decrees but by his faithfulness to God's pre-existing plan through Moses. Furthermore, it underlines the concept of corporate responsibility within the community of faith. The rest and inheritance for all Israel depended on the combined effort and loyalty of each tribe. No tribe was an island; their success was interconnected. This required selfless participation from those who had already received their personal "rest" in Transjordan, prioritizing the greater good and God's overarching purpose for the nation. This passage serves as a powerful illustration that fulfilling personal blessings often involves continued service for the community and God's larger agenda.
Examples of its practical usage today:
- A seasoned believer, who has found "rest" in Christ, still commits to serving new converts or challenging mission fields for the greater glory of God's kingdom.
- Church members who are comfortable in their ministries still volunteer for new, difficult tasks to ensure the church as a whole can fulfill its mandate.
- Leaders reminding followers of fundamental, enduring principles and previous commitments that ensure unity and progress towards a shared spiritual goal.