Feb 16 2025 36 mins 1
When Moses was still alive, the people of Reuben and Gad gained permission from Moses to stay on the east side of the Jordan where they could raise their livestock. The fighting men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh would fight with the rest of Israel until the land was conquered. Was this a strategic agreement to protect the eastern border of Israel? Or was this a selfish move by these tribes to have the best land? We don’t know. But the agreement was written down in Deuteronomy 3:18-20. Joshua 1:13-15 is a paraphrase of the passage from Deuteronomy 3.
The response from the tribes was both enthusiastic and solemn. They agreed to keep their part of the agreement. Any rebels would be executed. They did not want fear and sin festering in their tribes.
They based their agreement on two conditions. First, they had to witness God’s work in Joshua’s life as they had seen God work in Moses’ life. Second, Joshua had to demonstrate strength and courage as a leader.
Joshua assumed leadership when he was in his mid to late seventies. Some commentators believe he was in his eighties. He served as Moses' assistant for four decades, but he had never led at this level.
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