Joshua Chapter 1 Encouragement To Be Courageous

Encouragement to Be Courageous in Joshua Chapter 1

The book of Joshua begins with a divine exhortation to Joshua to "be strong and courageous" as he prepares to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land ^[1]. This command is repeated three times in the first nine verses, emphasizing its importance ^{[1, 2, 3]}. The context is Joshua's new role as leader following Moses' death, and God's assurance that He will be with him throughout his mission.

The exhortation to be courageous is linked to Joshua's task of leading the people into the land that God had sworn to give their fathers ^[1]. According to Rashi, a medieval Jewish commentator, the initial command to be strong and courageous is related to the physical challenge of leading the people into the land ^[8]. However, the subsequent repetition of this command is tied to the need to observe the law of Moses, indicating that courage is also required for obedience to God's commands ^[7].

The emphasis on courage is not limited to Joshua; it is also expected of the people. Joshua is instructed to command the officers to prepare the people for their passage over Jordan, indicating that the entire community is to be involved in the conquest ^[5]. The people, in turn, pledge to obey Joshua's commands, promising to put to death anyone who rebels against him ^[9].

The command to be strong and courageous is not unique to Joshua's situation. It is a recurring theme in the Hebrew Bible, with similar exhortations found in Deuteronomy ^[13]. The encouragement to courage is often linked to the presence of God and His faithfulness to His promises. As John Gill notes, the consideration of God's command and presence should animate Joshua to the work he was called to, encouraging his faith and engaging him in service cheerfully ^[10].

The theme of courage in Joshua Chapter 1 has been interpreted in various ways throughout history. Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian, saw the exhortation to courage as part of a broader encouragement to rely on God's assistance and to hope for victory over their enemies ^[4]. In Christian interpretation, the courage required of Joshua is sometimes seen as a type of the courage and strength exhibited by Christ in His redemptive work ^[6].

The repetition of the command to be strong and courageous in Joshua 1 serves as a reminder that courage is not a one-time event, but a continuous attitude required throughout the journey of faith. As the Tyndale House commentary on 2 Chronicles 15:7 notes, this exhortation is a literal quotation of the encouragement given to Israel when they were first entering the land, highlighting its ongoing relevance ^[11].

The call to courage in Joshua Chapter 1 is thus both a historical narrative and a theological theme that resonates throughout the biblical tradition. It underscores the importance of trust in God's presence and promises, and the need for courage in the face of challenges, whether physical or spiritual.

The encouragement to be courageous is not limited to the context of conquest or war. It is a principle that can be applied to various aspects of life, as seen in its repetition in different biblical contexts ^[12]. The underlying message is that God's people are to be strong and courageous, trusting in His presence and faithfulness, as they face various challenges and endeavors.

Sources

Joshua ““Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. -- Joshua 1:6”
Joshua “Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.” -- Joshua 1:9”
Joshua “Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. -- Joshua 1:7”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 2, section 2: exhort them to have a good heart, and rely on God's assistance by which they had been put in a state of freedom and to hope for victory over those who were ready to fight with them, in order to deprive them of that blessing: that they were to suppose their own army to be numerous, wanting nothing, neither weapons, nor money, nor provisions, nor such other conveniences as, when men are in possession of, they fight undauntedly; and that they are to judge themselves to have all these advantages in the Divine assistance. They are als”
Joshua (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Joshua 1 (introduction): Moses being dead, God commissions Joshua to bring the people into the promised land, Jos 1:1, Jos 1:2. The extent of the land to be possessed, Jos 1:3, Jos 1:4. Joshua is assured of victory over all his enemies, and is exhorted to courage and activity, Jos 1:5, Jos 1:6; and to be careful to act, in all things, according to the law of Moses, in which he us to meditate day and night, Jos 1:7, Jos 1:8. He is again exhorted to courage, with the promise of continued support, Jos 1:9. Joshua commands the officers to prepare the people for their passage over Jo”
Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 1:6: Be strong, and of good courage,.... The same exhortation Moses gave him, Deu 31:7; and is afterwards repeated in this chapter, as being of great moment and importance, as it is in the general of an army to show greatness and strength of mind, valour and courage, and not be dismayed at the number and strength of the enemy. As Joshua's work in fighting with the Canaanites, and conquering their land, so Christ's work in the redemption of his people, and subduing their enemies, required strength and courage, and both were very eminent in him: for unto this people shalt t”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Joshua 1:7: Just be very strong and courageous. This was said in reference to the Torah, as He states: ‘To preserve, to act in accordance with all the laws of the Torah.’”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Joshua 1:6: Be strong and courageous. In the physical sense, as He states: “For you will lead this people to inherit the land.””
Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 1:18: Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment,.... Refuses to go over Jordan with his brethren the children of Israel, when commanded by Joshua so to do: and will not hearken to thy words in all that thou commandest him; or, if he does go over, yet will not obey orders to take such a post, or go against such a city, or march into such a part of the country: he shall be put to death; this part of military discipline they agree to, and hereby declare their entire submission to him as their general; some understand this as spoken by all Israel, and of their”
Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 1:9: Have not I commanded thee?.... The above things, to go over Jordan with the people into the land of Canaan, and to observe the law of Moses in all things, and to be of good courage, which is again repeated; consider who it is that has given these orders and instructions, the great Jehovah, the everlasting I AM, who is faithful to his promises, and able to perform. The consideration of which would serve to animate him to the work he was called unto, to encourage his faith in God, to engage in his service cheerfully and readily: be strong, and of a good courage; See Gi”
2 Chronicles (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Chronicles 15:7: 15:7 The exhortation to be strong and courageous is a literal quotation of the exhortation that both Moses and Joshua gave Israel when they were first entering the land (Deut 31:6-7; Josh 1:6, 9, 18).”
Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 10:24: And Joshua said, rest not, nor be dismayed,.... Not meaning at the kings, who perhaps lay bound upon the ground, or however were not in a condition to make any resistance, so that they had nothing to fear from them; but this respects future time, and what other enemies they should meet with; who would be brought into subjection to them as these were, and therefore from hence should take heart: be strong, and of good courage; and go on valiantly in subduing the rest of their enemies, and not be afraid of them: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against”
Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 3:21: Here is I. The encouragement which Moses gave to Joshua, who was to succeed him in the government, Deu 3:21, Deu 3:22. He commanded him not to fear. This those that are aged and experienced in the service of God should do all they can to strengthen the hands of those that are young, and setting out in religion. Two things he would have him consider for his encouragement: - 1. What God has done. Joshua had seen what a total defeat God had given by the forces of Israel to these two kings, and thence he might easily infer, so shall the Lord do to all the rest of”

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