Joshua 1:10-11 meaning

In Joshua 1:10-11, Joshua takes action as Israel’s new leader.

In the previous passage, the LORD urged Joshua to be strong and courageous as the new leader of the Israelites now that Moses had died. The daunting task of entering and conquering the Promised Land weighed on Joshua’s shoulders. God told Joshua to meditate on the Scriptures consistently to be successful in all his endeavors (Joshua 1:1-9).

Here in this section, Joshua obeyed the LORD. After receiving the divine instructions, he delegated some responsibilities, so he commanded the officers of the people (v. 10).

The term officers (Hebrew, “shōṭēr”) refers to officials who served in different areas of government administration and law enforcement. In Numbers and Deuteronomy, the LORD had appointed them to help Moses in his administrative tasks because they held high esteem in the ancient Israelite community (Numbers 11:16, Deuteronomy 1:15). In our passage, Joshua urged them to pass through the midst of the camp and command the people (v. 11). That means these officials were to relay Joshua’s instructions to the people.

Numbers 26:51 tells us the population of the Israelite males when they were preparing to enter Canaan, “These are those who were numbered of the sons of Israel, 601,730.” Thus, it would be necessary for the officers to carry out orders throughout the camp. Joshua could not effectively communicate to thousands upon thousands of men by himself.

The first instruction given by Joshua was: Prepare provisions for yourselves (v. 11). The covenant people were to prepare food for their journey. They needed plenty of food supplies because, as Joshua declared: Within three days, you are to cross this Jordan. The phrase within three days refers to the time it would take the people to leave their present camp in Shittim (Numbers 33:49) and be on their way to the Jordan River, since the crossing occurred on the seventh day (Joshua 2:22, 3:2). In other words, the march would begin within three days.

The phrase three days or “third day” occurs many times in the Bible and sometimes signifies a notable event or messianic prophecy (Genesis 22:4, Exodus 19:11,, 16 Joshua 1:11, Ezra 6:15, Hosea 6:2, Luke 24:46).

Joshua then told the people the reason they were to cross the Jordan River: to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God is giving you to possess it. The Hebrew term translated as LORD is Yahweh, the self-existent and eternal God who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). It often emphasizes God’s covenant relationship with His people, as in here.

The phrase the LORD your God reminds the reader of the stipulations of the covenant God had established with Israel on Mount Sinai when Moses went up to Him. There, the LORD urged Moses to tell the Israelites that if they obeyed Him wholeheartedly as their Suzerain, they would become His “own possession among all the peoples.” (Exodus 19:5). They would be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6). That means the nation Israel would serve as a testimony to bring the world to God by showing them the proper way of living and the benefits a self-governing community if she behaved accordingly (Exodus 19:6).

This was a significant moment in Israel’s history. The Israelites were finally in motion to enter a land of their own to inherit. After the difficult exodus from Egypt and the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the children of Israel were finally going to go into the Promised Land to conquer and settle it.

The LORD had long promised to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) to give the land of Canaan to their descendants (Genesis 12:7, 15:18, Deuteronomy 30:20). The Israelites were the ones who would enjoy the privilege of possessing it and living in it. Under Joshua’s leadership, the covenant people conquered the land: 

“Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed. All came to pass.”
(Joshua 21:45)

God is always faithful to His words.