Yehoshua (Joshua) Chapter 1

1And it was after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying:   אוַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵ֛י מ֥וֹת מֹשֶׁ֖ה עֶ֣בֶד יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֚אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֔וּן מְשָׁרֵ֥ת מֹשֶׁ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר:
And it was after the death of Moses. This is connected to the order of the Torah which ends with Moses’ passing, and this follows it.   וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי מוֹת משֶׁה.  מְחוּבָּר עַל סֵדֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַמְסַיֶּימֶת בִּפְטִירַת משֶׁה, וְזֶה מְחוּבָּר לָהּ.
2Moses my servant has died; and now arise cross this Jordan, you and all this nation, to the land which I give the children of Israel.   במֹשֶׁ֥ה עַבְדִּ֖י מֵ֑ת וְעַתָּה֩ ק֨וּם עֲבֹ֜ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַזֶּ֗ה אַתָּה֙ וְכָל־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
Moses My servant has died. If he were alive, I would prefer him. The Rabbis interpret this passage as a reference, not to Moses the leader, but to Moses the Lawgiver, concerning the 3,000 laws that were forgotten during the period of mourning for Moses. Joshua came and asked the Lord to repeat these laws to him. Said to him the Holy One, Blessed be He: Moses My servant has died, and the Torah is called by his name, implying to you that it is impossible [to convey them to you.] Go out and occupy them with martial activities.   משֶׁה עַבְדִּי מֵת.  וְאִילּוּ הָיָה קַיָּים, בּוֹ הָיִיתִי חָפֵץ. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דְּרָשׁוּהוּ (תמורה טז א) עַל שְׁלשֶׁת אֲלָפִים הֲלָכוֹת שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּכְּחוּ בִּימֵי אֶבְלוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה. בָּא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְשָׁאַל, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּבָּ"ה: משֶׁה עַבְדִּי מֵת וְהַתּוֹרָה עַל שְׁמוֹ נִקְרֵאת, לוֹמַר לְךָ: אִי אֶפְשָׁר, צֵא וְטוֹרְדָן בְּמִלְחָמָה.
3Every place on which the soles of your feet will tread I have given to you, as I have spoken to Moses.   גכָּל־מָק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּדְרֹ֧ךְ כַּֽף־רַגְלְכֶ֛ם בּ֖וֹ לָכֶ֣ם נְתַתִּ֑יו כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי אֶל־מֹשֶֽׁה:
Every place on which [the soles of your feet] will tread. A similar statement to this was said to Moses, concerning which we learned in Sifrei : If this verse is to teach about the boundaries of Eretz Israel, the Scripture already states: From this desert and Lebanon etc., [clearly defining the boundaries of the Holy Land.] If so, why is it stated, ‘Every place where your foot will tread?’ Even outside of Eretz Israel. [I.e.] After you have conquered the land, all that you will conquer outside the land, will be holy and will be yours.   כָּל מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּדְרֹךְ.  כַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ נֶאֱמַר לְמשֶׁה, וְשָׁנִינוּ בְּסִפְרֵי (פר' עקב): אִם לְלַמֵּד עַל תְּחוּמֵי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר: מֵהַמִּדְבָּר וְהַלְּבָנוֹן הַזֶּה, אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר: כָּל מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּדְרֹךְ כַּף אַף חוּצָה לָאָרֶץ, מִשֶּׁתִּכְבְּשׁוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ, כָּל מַה שֶּׁתִּכְבְּשׁוּ מִחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ יִהְיֶה קָדוֹשׁ וְיִהְיֶה שֶׁלָּכֶם.
4From this desert and Lebanon to the great river, the Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the great sea westward shall be your boundary.   דמֵהַמִּדְבָּר֩ וְהַלְּבָנ֨וֹן הַזֶּ֜ה וְֽעַד־הַנָּהָ֣ר | הַגָּד֣וֹל נְהַר־פְּרָ֗ת כֹּ֚ל אֶ֣רֶץ הַחִתִּ֔ים וְעַד־הַיָּ֥ם הַגָּד֖וֹל מְב֣וֹא הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ יִֽהְיֶ֖ה גְּבֽוּלְכֶֽם:
From this desert and Lebanon. [I.e.] the Desert of Kadesh, the Desert of Zin [that is near Edom], which was in the southeastern corner, through which they entered the land, as it is stated: And behold, we are in Kadesh. Now, whence is it derived that it was in the southeast? For it is stated: And the south side shall be to you from the desert of Zin near Edom etc.   מֵהַמִּדְבָּר וְהַלְּבָנוֹן הַזֶּה.  הוּא מִדְבַּר קָדֵשׁ, מִדְבַּר צִין שֶׁעַל יְדֵי אֱדוֹם, שֶׁהָיָה בְּמִקְצוֹעַ דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית וְדֶרֶךְ שָׁם נִכְנְסוּ לָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כ טז): וְהִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ בְקָדֵשׁ וְגוֹמֵר, וּמִנַּיִין שֶׁהָיָה בִּדְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם לד ג): וְהָיָה לָכֶם פְּאַת נֶגֶב מִמִּדְבַּר צִין עַל יְדֵי אֱדוֹם.
to the great river, the Euphrates. This is its width from south to North.   וְעַד הַנָּהָר הַגָּדוֹל נְהַר פְּרָת.  זֶה רָחְבָּהּ מִדָּרוֹם לְצָפוֹן.
all the land of the Hittites. is included.   כָּל אֶרֶץ הַחִתִּים.  בַּכְּלָל הַזֶּה.
to the great sea westward. Lengthwise from east to west.   וְעַד הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל מְבוֹא הַשָּׁמֶשׁ.  לְאָרְכָּהּ, מִן הַמִּזְרָח לַמַּעֲרָב.
5No man shall stand up before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so shall I be with you. I will not weaken My grasp on you nor will I abandon you.   הלֹֽא־יִתְיַצֵּ֥ב אִישׁ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּ֑יךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיִ֚יתִי עִם־מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א אַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א אֶעֶזְבֶֽךָּ:
6Be strong and have courage; for you will cause this nation to inherit the land that I have sworn to their ancestors to give to them.   וחֲזַ֖ק וֶֽאֱמָ֑ץ כִּ֣י אַתָּ֗ה תַּנְחִיל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶת־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי לַֽאֲבוֹתָ֖ם לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶֽם:
Be strong and have courage. in worldly pursuits, as the Scripture states: “For you will cause this nation to inherit the land.”   חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ.  בְּדֶרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, כְּמָה שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר: כִּי אַתָּה תַּנְחִיל.
7Just be strong and very courageous to observe and do in accordance with all of the Torah that Moses My servant has commanded you. Do not stray therefrom right or left, in order that you succeed wherever you go.   זרַק֩ חֲזַ֨ק וֶאֱמַ֜ץ מְאֹ֗ד לִשְׁמֹ֚ר לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ כְּכָל־הַתּוֹרָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֚ר צִוְּךָ֙ מֹשֶׁ֣ה עַבְדִּ֔י אַל־תָּס֥וּר מִמֶּ֖נּוּ יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול לְמַ֣עַן תַּשְׂכִּ֔יל בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תֵּלֵֽךְ:
Just be strong and very courageous. in Torah, as the Scripture states: “To observe and to do in accordance with all of the Torah.”   רַק חֲזַק וֶאֱמַץ מְאֹד.  בְּתּוֹרָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר: לִשְׁמֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת כְּכָל הַתּוֹרָה.
succeed. Heb. תשכיל: succeed.   תַּשְׂכִּיל.  תַּצְלִיחַ.
8This book of the Torah shall not leave your mouth; you shall meditate therein day and night, in order that you observe to do all that is written in it, for then will you succeed in all your ways and then will you prosper.   חלֹֽא־יָמ֡וּשׁ סֵ֩פֶר֩ הַתּוֹרָ֨ה הַזֶּ֜ה מִפִּ֗יךָ וְהָגִ֚יתָ בּוֹ֙ יוֹמָ֣ם וָלַ֔יְלָה לְמַ֙עַן֙ תִּשְׁמֹ֣ר לַֽעֲשֹ֔וֹת כְּכָל־הַכָּת֖וּב בּ֑וֹ כִּי־אָ֛ז תַּצְלִ֥יחַ אֶת־דְּרָכֶ֖ךָ וְאָ֥ז תַּשְׂכִּֽיל:
This book of the Torah. The book of Deuteronomy was before him.   סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה.  סֵפֶר מִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה הָיָה לְפָנָיו.
And you shall meditate therein. והגית. Every expression of הגיון in the Scriptures refers to the heart, as it is stated: “And the meditation of my heart (והגיון לבי) before you.” Your heart will meditate (יהגה) fear.   וְהָגִיתָ בּוֹ.  וְהִתְבּוֹנַנְתָּ בּוֹ, כָּל הִגָּיוֹן שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה בַּלֵּב, כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים יט טו): וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ, (ישעיהו לג יח): לִבְּךָ יֶהְגֶּה אֵימָה.
9Did I not command you, be strong and have courage, do not fear and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.   טהֲל֚וֹא צִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙ חֲזַ֣ק וֶאֱמָ֔ץ אַֽל־תַּעֲרֹ֖ץ וְאַל־תֵּחָ֑ת כִּ֚י עִמְּךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תֵּלֵֽךְ:
Did I not command you, be strong and have courage. in war; as it is stated: Do not fear and not be dismayed. Now, when did he command him? In Moses’ time, as it is stated: “And command Joshua, etc.”   הֲלוֹא צִוִּיתִיךָ חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ.  בְּמִלְחָמָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אַל תַּעֲרֹץ וְאַל תֵּחָת. וְהֵיכָן צִוָּהוּ בִּימֵי משֶׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לא כג): וַיְצַו אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן־נוּן וְגוֹ'.
10And Joshua commanded the officers of the nation, saying:   יוַיְצַ֣ו יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ אֶת־שֹֽׁטְרֵ֥י הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר:
And Joshua commanded. on the day that the days of the weeping in the mourning of Moses were ended.   וַיְצַו יְהוֹשֻׁעַ.  בְּיּוֹם שֶׁתַּמּוּ יְמֵי בְּכִי אֵבֶל משֶׁה.
11Go through the midst of the camp and command the nation saying: Prepare provision for yourselves, for in another three days you will cross this Jordan to come and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you to inherit.   יאעִבְר֣וּ | בְּקֶ֣רֶב הַמַּֽחֲנֶ֗ה וְצַוּ֚וּ אֶת־הָעָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הָכִ֥ינוּ לָכֶ֖ם צֵדָ֑ה כִּ֞י בְּע֣וֹד | שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֗ים אַתֶּם֙ עֹבְרִים֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַזֶּ֔ה לָבוֹא֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
Prepare provisions for yourselves. everything necessary for the way. He told them to prepare weapons for battle. For, if you say it refers to food and drink, were they not supplied by the manna which was in their vessels until Nissan 16? For so it is stated: “And the manna ceased on the morrow.”   הָכִינוּ לָכֶם צֵדָה.  כָּל דָּבָר הַצָּרִיךְ לַדֶּרֶךְ וּכְלֵי זֵינָם לַמִּלְחָמָה אָמַר לָהֶם לְתַקֵּן, שֶׁאִם אַתָּה אוֹמֵר בְּמַאֲכָל וּבְמִשְׁתֶּה, הֲרֵי הָיוּ מִסְתַּפְּקִים בַּמָּן שֶׁבִּכְלֵיהֶם עַד ט"ז בְּנִיסָן, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (לקמן ה יב): וַיִּשְׁבֹּת הַמָּן מִמָּחֳרָת (מִפִּי רַבִּי).
in another three days. [lit. in yet three days, i.e.] At the end of three days, when you will still be here three days, and afterwards you will cross.   בְּעוֹד שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים.  בְּסוֹף שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים, בְּעוֹד שֶׁתִּהְיוּ כָּאן שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים וְאַחַר תַּעֲבֹרוּ.
12And to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, saying:   יבוְלָרְאוּבֵנִי֙ וְלַגָּדִ֔י וְלַֽחֲצִ֖י שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹֽר:
13Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you saying: The Lord your God is giving you rest and has given you this land.   יגזָכוֹר֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֛ם מֹשֶׁ֥ה עֶֽבֶד־יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר יְהֹוָ֚ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם֙ מֵנִ֣יחַ לָכֶ֔ם וְנָתַ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת:
14Your wives, your children, and your cattle shall settle in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan, and you, all the warriors, shall cross over armed before your brothers, and you shall help them.   ידנְשֵׁיכֶ֣ם טַפְּכֶם֘ וּמִקְנֵיכֶם֒ יֵֽשְׁב֕וּ בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֥ן לָכֶ֛ם מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּעֵ֣בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְאַתֶּם֩ תַּֽעַבְר֨וּ חֲמֻשִׁ֜ים לִפְנֵ֣י אֲחֵיכֶ֗ם כֹּ֚ל גִּבּוֹרֵ֣י הַחַ֔יִל וַֽעֲזַרְתֶּ֖ם אוֹתָֽם:
all the warriors. among you shall cross over armed.   כָּל גִּבּוֹרֵי הַחַיִל.  שֶׁבָּכֶם יַעַבְרוּ חֲלוּצִים.
15Until the Lord gives your brothers rest as He has given you, and they too shall inherit the land that the Lord your God gives them. You will then return to the land of your inheritance which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on this side of the Jordan towards the rising of the sun, and you will inherit it.   טועַ֠ד אֲשֶׁר־יָנִ֨יחַ יְהֹוָ֥ה | לַֽאֲחֵיכֶם֘ כָּכֶם֒ וְיָֽרְשׁ֣וּ גַם־הֵ֔מָּה אֶת־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֖ם נֹתֵ֣ן לָהֶ֑ם וְשַׁבְתֶּ֞ם לְאֶ֚רֶץ יְרֻשַּׁתְכֶם֙ וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם אוֹתָ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר | נָתַ֣ן לָכֶ֗ם מֹשֶׁה֙ עֶ֣בֶד יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּעֵ֥בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן מִזְרַ֥ח הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ:
toward the rising of the sun. The eastern side of the Jordan.   מִזְרַח הַשָּׁמֶשׁ.  עֵבֶר מִזְרָחִי שֶׁל יַרְדֵּן.
16And they answered Joshua saying: All that you have commanded us we shall do and wherever you send us we shall go.   טזוַֽיַּֽעֲנ֔וּ אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֚ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוִּיתָ֙נוּ֙ נַֽעֲשֶֹ֔ה וְאֶל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּשְׁלָחֵ֖נוּ נֵלֵֽךְ:
17Just as we obeyed Moses in everything, so shall we obey you. Only that the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses.   יזכְּכֹ֚ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַ֙עְנוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה כֵּ֖ן נִשְׁמַ֣ע אֵלֶ֑יךָ רַ֠ק יִֽהְיֶ֞ה יְהֹוָ֚ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־מֹשֶֽׁה:
18Every man that shall rebel against your words and will not listen to your commands in all that you order him shall be put to death. Only be strong and have courage.   יחכָּל־אִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יַמְרֶ֣ה אֶת־פִּ֗יךָ וְלֹֽא־יִשְׁמַ֧ע אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֛יךָ לְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־תְּצַוֶּ֖נּוּ יוּמָ֑ת רַ֖ק חֲזַ֥ק וֶֽאֱמָֽץ:
that shall rebel [against your words]. defy your words.   יַמְרֶה.  יַקְנִיט אֶת דְּבָרֶיךָ.