Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Joshua to Succeed Moses

1 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel:

2 “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.’

3 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.

4 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.

5 The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you.

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

7 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 ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.

8 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.”

Deuteronomy 31:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 31

Moses being old, and knowing he should quickly die, and must not go over Jordan with the people of Israel, acquaints them with it, and encourages them and Joshua to go over notwithstanding, and not be afraid of their enemies, since the Lord would go with them, and deliver them into their hands, De 31:1-8; and having written the law, he delivered it to the priests, and ordered that it should be read at the end of every seven years before all the people, that they and theirs might learn it, and fear the Lord, De 31:9-13; and whereas the death of Moses was very near, and the Lord foreseeing the people would quickly fall into idolatry, which would bring great calamities upon them, he directed Moses to write a song, which should be a witness for him, and against them, in ages to come; which Moses accordingly did, De 31:14-22; and Moses having given a charge to Joshua, and finished the writing of the law in a book, gave it to the Levites to put it in the side of the ark, De 31:23-27; and then ordered the chief of the tribes to be gathered together, that he might deliver the song, which by the direction and under the inspiration of God he had written, De 31:28-30; which song is recorded in De 32:1-43.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 7:7; Deuteronomy 34:7
• 2. Numbers 27:17; 1 Kings 3:7
• 3. S Deuteronomy 3:23,26
• 4. Numbers 27:18
• 5. S Deuteronomy 9:3
• 6. S Deuteronomy 7:1
• 7. S Deuteronomy 3:28
• 8. S Numbers 21:33
• 9. S Deuteronomy 2:33; Deuteronomy 7:2
• 10. ver 7,23; Jos 1:6,9,18; Joshua 10:25; 1 Chronicles 22:13; 1 Chronicles 28:20; 2 Chronicles 32:7
• 11. Deuteronomy 7:18; Jeremiah 1:8,17; Ezekiel 2:6
• 12. S Genesis 28:15; S Deuteronomy 1:29; Deuteronomy 20:4; S Matthew 28:20
• 13. Joshua 1:5; Psalms 56:9; Psalms 118:6
• 14. S Deuteronomy 4:31; 1 Samuel 12:22; 1 Kings 6:13; Psalms 94:14; Isaiah 41:17; Hebrews 13:5*
• 15. ver 23; Numbers 27:23; Deuteronomy 1:38; Deuteronomy 3:28
• 16. Joshua 1:6
• 17. S Exodus 13:21; Exodus 33:14
• 18. S Genesis 28:15; S Deuteronomy 4:31