[Joshua, 1:1–18]
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord” [1:1]. It was after the death of Moses, the faithful servant of God in all things. The Holy One said to Joshua: Moses My servant has died. However, had he lived, I would rather speak with him than with you, since he was faithful to me.
Our sages say that during the mourning for Moses, they forgot three thousand laws. Before Moses died, he said to Joshua: review these laws or they will be forgotten. Joshua said: I have studied them earnestly day and night. I do not have to review them. Therefore, because he was arrogant and said that he did not need to review them, is why he forgot these same laws. Israel came to Joshua and said: teach us the laws or we will consider you as nothing. Concerning this, the verse here says, “My servant Moses has died” [1:1]. The Torah is called “the Torah of Moses” and not “the Torah of Joshua” Therefore, God said to Joshua: arise and make the people go to war. They will forget your forgetting and allow themselves to be led.1B. Temurah, 16a; Yalkut Shimoni, Joshua, Remez, 4. From here we learn that whoever is arrogant, wisdom and Torah leave him, as happened to Joshua. God said to Joshua: cross the Jordan with the whole people of Israel. I will give you the whole land of Israel and also even the land outside of Israel where you will go.
“From the wilderness and the Lebanon” [1:4]. I will give you from the wilderness, the Temple to the great sea, to the river Perath, to where the sun sets.
“No one shall be able to resist you, etc.” [1:5]. No one will be able to resist you because you will live, as I was with Moses so will I be with you, to help you. I will not leave you.
“But be strong and resolute” [1:7]. But be strong in the Torah, as Moses had taught you, in the expectation that you will have good fortune, blessing, and success in all your paths. However, study day and night so that the Torah will never be removed from your mouth.
“I command you” [1:9]. For I have commanded you that you should go to war, but have respect and also study Torah. It is also written concerning others, Torah and respect and do not fear the nations, since God is with you wherever you will turn.
“Joshua gave the order to the officials of the people” [1:10]. Joshua gave the order to those officials of the people. They should go among the people of Israel and say to the people that they should prepare food and drink, for in three days they will cross the Jordan to conquer the land of Israel.
“To the Reubenites and Gadites” [1:12]. Joshua said to those of the tribe of Menashe who did not want to have a share in the land of Israel, since they had taken a substantial amount of land as their share on the other side of the Jordan, outside the land of Israel. They said to Moses: let us remain here outside the land and we will help Israel to wage war in the land of Israel so that they will be able to conquer the land. Therefore, Joshua now said to them: remember that you promised that you would help wage war on the other side of the Jordan. Therefore, now come with us to help destroy the nations and your wives and children will remain here outside the land of Israel in their cities that you have taken as your share, until we will have conquered the whole land of Israel. Reuben Gad and half of the tribe of Menashe responded: we will obey everything that you will command and go where you will command. We listened to Moses and so will also follow you, but keep the commandments of God. God will be with you as He was with Moses.
“Any man who flouts your commands” [1:18]. Any person who does not listen to you will be put to death. However, be strong in the commandments of the Holy One and study Torah. Amen.