Joshua 1:9
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Joshua received this command at a pivotal moment: standing on the plains of Moab with Moses dead and two million Israelites looking to him for leadership. The Jordan River lay ahead at flood stage (Joshua 3:15), and beyond it stood fortified Canaanite cities with superior military technology—iron chariots and massive walls. The generation that witnessed the Exodus was dead; Joshua led a new generation born in wilderness wandering, untested in battle.
Ancient Near Eastern conquest followed established patterns: superior forces attacking inferior ones, gradual territorial expansion, reliance on military technology. Israel's situation inverted these patterns—a ragtag nation of former slaves facing entrenched civilizations. Without divine presence, the conquest was suicide. Archaeological evidence confirms heavily fortified Canaanite cities during this period (1400-1200 BCE), making Israel's victories humanly inexplicable.
This command became paradigmatic for God's people facing impossible assignments. The phrase "be strong and of good courage" appears throughout Scripture at critical moments: David facing Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32), Hezekiah confronting Assyria (2 Chronicles 32:7), exiles returning to rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 10:4). New Testament writers appropriate this promise for believers (Hebrews 13:5-6), demonstrating its transhistorical significance.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God command courage rather than promising to remove the reasons for fear, and what does this teach about facing difficulty as believers?
- How does the rhetorical question 'Have not I commanded thee?' address the problem of repeated doubts after receiving clear divine direction?
- In what specific life situations are you most prone to fear or discouragement, and how does God's promise of presence address those fears?
- What is the relationship between God's presence ('the LORD thy God is with thee') and human responsibility ('be strong...be not afraid')?
- How does Jesus' final promise 'lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world' (Matthew 28:20) echo and fulfill this promise to Joshua?
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Analysis & Commentary
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
This verse forms the climax of God's commissioning speech to Joshua, appearing after two previous commands to be strong and courageous (vv. 6-7). The rhetorical question "Have not I commanded thee?" emphasizes divine authority—this is not a suggestion but a command from Israel's true King. The Hebrew construction suggests incredulity: "Haven't I already commanded you? Why would you still hesitate?"
The dual command "be strong and of a good courage" combines physical strength (chazaq) and inner fortitude (amats). These are not psychological self-help mantras but theological imperatives grounded in God's character and presence. The negative commands "be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed" prohibit both sudden fear (yare) and gradual demoralization (chatat). God addresses comprehensive human weakness—both the shock of immediate danger and the wearing down of prolonged difficulty.
The foundation for courage appears in the closing promise: "for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." The Hebrew Yahweh eloheka (LORD thy God) emphasizes covenant relationship—not a distant deity but Joshua's personal God bound by promise to Israel. Divine presence (immak, "with thee") provides the ground for human courage. Geography doesn't limit this presence—"whithersoever thou goest" extends God's companionship to every location of obedience.