Joshua to Succeed Moses
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Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel:
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"I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you.
The LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross the Jordan.'
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The LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you.
He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession
of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you as the LORD said.
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And the LORD will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of
the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land.
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The LORD wil deliver them to you,
and you must do to them all that I have commanded you.
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Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid because of them,
for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
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Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel,
"Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land
that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide
it among them as their inheritance.
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The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you;
he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
The Reading of the Law
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So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi,
who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD,
and to all the elders of Israel.
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Then Moses commanded them: "At the end of every seven years,
in the year for canceling debts, during the Feast of Tabernacles,
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when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place
he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing.
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Assemble the people - men, women and children, and the aliens living
in your towns - so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God
and follow carefully all the words of this law.
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Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear
the LORD your God as long as you live in the land
you are crossing the Jordan to possess."
Israel's Rebellion Predicted
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The LORD said to Moses, "Now the day of your death is near.
Call Joshua and present yourselves at theTent of Meeting,
where I will commssion him." So Moses and Joshua came and
presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting.
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Then the LORD appeared at the Tent in a pillar of cloud,
and the cloud stood over the entrance to the Tent.
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And the LORD said to Moses:
"You are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon
prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land are entering.
They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.
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On that day I will become angry with them and forsake them;
I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed.
Many disasters and difficulties will come upon them,
and on that day they will ask, 'Have not these disasters come upon us
because our God is not with us?'
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And I will cdrtainly hide my face on that day
because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.
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"Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites
and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.
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When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey,
the land I promised on oath to their forefathers, and when they eat their fill
and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them,
rejecting me and breaking my covenant.
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And when many disasters and difficulties come upon them, this song will
testify against them, becsause it will not be forgotten by their descendants.
I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into
the land I promised them on oath."
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So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.
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The LORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun:
"Be strong and courasgeous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land
I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you."
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After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end,
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he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD:
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"Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant
of the LORD your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.
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For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are.
If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you,
how much more will you rebel after I die!
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Assemble before memall the elders of your tribes and all your officials,
so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven
and earth to testify against them.
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For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt
and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come,
disaster will fall lupon you because you will do evil in the sight of
the LORD and provoke him to anger by what your hands have made.
The Song of Moses
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And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end
in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:
