# Deuteronomy 31 š: Joshua to Succeed Moses
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Succession of Moses by Joshua
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā Then Moses wentĀ and spoke these wordsĀ to all Israel.
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā He said to them, āToday I am 120 years old. I am no longer able to get about,Ā and theĀ LordĀ has said to me, āYou will not cross the Jordan.āĀ
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā As for theĀ LordĀ your God, he is about to cross over before you; he will destroy these nations before you, and you will dispossess them. As for Joshua, he is about to cross before you just as theĀ LordĀ has said.Ā
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ will do to them just what he did to Sihon and Og, the Amorite kings, and to their land, which he destroyed.Ā
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ will deliver them over to you, and you will do to them according to the whole commandment I have given you.Ā
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for theĀ LordĀ your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!āĀ
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā Then Moses called out to JoshuaĀ in the presence of all Israel, āBe strong and courageous, for you will accompany these people to the land that theĀ Lord promised to give their ancestors,Ā and you will enable them to inherit it.Ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ is indeed going before youāhe will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged!ā
### The Deposit of the Covenant Text
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā Then Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carry the ark of theĀ Lordās covenant, and to all Israelās elders.Ā
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā He commanded them: āAt the end of seven years, at the appointed time of the cancellation of debts,Ā at the Feast of Shelters,Ā
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā when all Israel comes to appear before theĀ LordĀ your God in the place he chooses, you must read this law before themĀ within their hearing.Ā
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā Gather the peopleāmen, women, and children, as well as the resident foreignersĀ in your villagesāso they may hear and thus learn about and fear theĀ LordĀ your God and carefully obey all the words of this law.Ā
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā Then their children, who have not known this law,Ā will also hear about and learn to fear theĀ LordĀ your God for as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.ā
### The Commissioning of Joshua
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā Then theĀ LordĀ said to Moses, āThe day of your death is near. Summon Joshua and present yourselves in the tentĀ of meetingĀ so that I can commission him.āĀ So Moses and Joshua presented themselves in the tent of meeting.Ā
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud thatĀ stood above the door of the tent.Ā
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā Then theĀ LordĀ said to Moses, āYou are about to die,Ā and then these people will begin to prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which theyĀ are going. TheyĀ will rejectĀ me and break my covenant that I have made with them.Ā
[[#Verse 17.]] At that timeĀ my anger will erupt against them,Ā and I will abandon them and hide my face from them until they are devoured. Many disasters and distresses will overcomeĀ them so that theyĀ will say at that time, āHave not these disastersĀ overcome us because ourĀ God is not among usĀ ?āĀ
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā But I will certainlyĀ hide myself at that time because of all the wickedness theyĀ will have done by turning to other gods.Ā
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites. Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites!Ā
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā For after I have brought themĀ to the land I promised to theirĀ ancestorsāone flowing with milk and honeyāand theyĀ eat their fillĀ and become fat, then theyĀ will turn to other gods and worship them; they will reject me and break my covenant.Ā
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā Then when many disasters and distresses overcome themĀ this song will testify against them,Ā for theirĀ descendants will not forget it.Ā I know theĀ intentions they have in mindĀ today, even before I bring themĀ to the land I have promised.ā
[[#Verse 22.]]Ā So on that day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites,Ā
[[#Verse 23.]]Ā and theĀ LordĀ commissioned Joshua son of Nun, āBe strong and courageous, for you will take the Israelites to the land I have promised them, and I will be with you.ā
### Anticipation of Disobedience
[[#Verse 24.]]Ā When Moses finished writing on a scroll the words of this law in their entirety,
[[#Verse 25.]]Ā heĀ commanded the Levites who carried the ark of theĀ Lordās covenant,Ā
[[#Verse 26.]]Ā āTake this scroll of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of theĀ LordĀ your God. It will remain there as a witness against you,
[[#Verse 27.]]Ā for I know about your rebellion and stubbornness.Ā Indeed, even while I have been living among you to this very day, you have rebelled against theĀ Lord; you will be even more rebellious after my death!
[[#Verse 28.]]Ā Gather to me all your tribal elders and officials so I can speak to them directly about these things and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.Ā
[[#Verse 29.]]Ā For I know that after I die you will totallyĀ corrupt yourselves and turn away from the path I have commanded you to walk. Disaster will confront you in future days because you will act wickedly before theĀ Lord, inciting him to anger because of your actions.āĀ
[[#Verse 30.]]Ā Then Moses recited the words of this song from start to finish in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:
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## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Moses was 120 years old at this point (31:2; 34:7).
2. The law was to be read every seven years at the Feast of Temporary Shelters, in the year debts were canceled (31:10-11).
3. Ezra and Nehemiah led a public reading of the law connected to the Feast of Temporary Shelters (Nehemiah 8).
4. The book of the law was placed beside the ark (31:26), while the stone tablets were inside it (10:2).
5. The Lord appeared in a pillar of cloud at the entrance of the tent (31:15).
6. Hebrews 13:5 quotes the promise that God will never leave or abandon His people.
7. Moses wrote down the song that same day and taught it to Israel (31:22).
8. Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim, and his original name was Hoshea (Numbers 13:8, 16).
9. Moses said he could no longer "come and go" (31:2), a Hebrew expression for active leadership.
10. God said He would hide His face (31:17-18), a phrase that means withdrawing His favor and protection.
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One who never leaves nor forsakes His people (31:6, 8). The promise given to Joshua is applied to every believer in Hebrews 13:5, and Jesus promised to be with us always (Matthew 28:20).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. Moses told Joshua to be strong and courageous because the Lord goes before him (31:7-8). Where do you need that courage right now?
2. The law was read to men, women, children, and foreigners every seven years (31:10-13). Why does hearing God's Word together matter?
3. God knew Israel would turn away, yet He still gave them the song and the law (31:16-21). What does this show about His patience?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 6: Be strong and courageous, because the Lord goes with you and will not abandon you.
- š verse 8: The Lord goes before you and will be with you, so do not be afraid or discouraged.
- š verses 12-13: Gather everyone, including children and foreigners, so they can hear the law and learn to fear the Lord.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[Hebrews 13#Verse 05.|Hebrews 13:5-6]] - God will never leave or abandon us.
- š [[Joshua 01#Verse 05.|Joshua 1:5-9]] - Be strong and courageous.
- š [[Nehemiah 08#Verse 01.|Nehemiah 8:1-3]] - Ezra reads the law to the people.
- š [[Matthew 28#Verse 20.|Matthew 28:20]] - Jesus is with us always.
- š [[2 Timothy 03#Verse 16.|2 Timothy 3:16]] - All Scripture is inspired by God.
## š Devotional Reflection
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š Internal Notes