Joshua 1:17

17 We will obey you, just as we always obeyed Moses, and may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses!

Joshua 1:17 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 1:17

According as we have hearkened unto Moses in all things, so
will we hearken unto thee
Not right or wrong, but in all things that were according to the laws and will of God made known to them; and particularly it may refer to the above affair, which was settled between Moses and them, to whom they then hearkened, and now promise to confirm the same, and hearken to whatsoever orders and instructions Joshua should give them relative to it, according to the plan agreed upon:

only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses;
which is not mentioned as a condition of their obedience to him, but rather as a reason of it, and as an encouraging motive to it; for, according to Kimchi, the true sense and meaning is,

``for the Lord thy God will be with thee, as he was with Moses;''

so Noldius renders it,

``seeing the Lord thy God is with thee.''

Joshua 1:17 In-Context

15 until they have occupied the land west of the Jordan that the Lord your God has given them. When he has given safety to all the tribes of Israel, then you may come back and settle here in your own land east of the Jordan, which Moses, the Lord's servant, gave to you."
16 They answered Joshua, "We will do everything you have told us and will go anywhere you send us.
17 We will obey you, just as we always obeyed Moses, and may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses!
18 Whoever questions your authority or disobeys any of your orders will be put to death. Be determined and confident!"
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.