Joshua 1:5-9 NIV

Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz

;
A 5b As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
B 6 Be strong and courageous,
C because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors
to give them.
B 7 "Be strong and very courageous.
C Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from
it to the right or to the left,
D that you may be successful wherever you go.
C 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night,
so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.
D Then you will be prosperous and successful.
C 9 Have I not commanded you?
B Be strong and courageous.
A Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever
you go."

I believe we have here a chiasm in a chiasm. The repetition in block A is the same idea that the
Lord will be with the people no matter they go. Block B is an easy repetition to find since the
same words are used. Be strong and courageous because the Lord is with the people. God
knew the people under Joshuas leadership needed to be strong and courageous because the
people in the Promised Land were not going to just hand over the land. If the army of Israel was
confronted by an army from the Canaanites the Israelites would have to show courage and
strength. After all when the Lord God is with you amazing things can be happen.
In the first B-C block the people are told because they are courageous they would inherit the
land God promised to Abraham and Jacob. There was a reward for their trust and faith in God.
The second B block contains a two level chiasm in it.
The inside C block speaks in repetition about obeying the Laws God gave to Moses which
Moses passed on Joshua. The first part of the C block speaks about the Law given to Moses
and the repetition of the C block calls for obeying the Book of the Law. The D statement inside
of this block tells us by obeying the Book of the Law the people would have success whether
they go. Take note that both D statements are also repetitions. Success and prospering are
synonyms.

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The C block and D statement is repeated again because when the Book of the Law is spoken of
the words to obey it is a part of it. The last C block is bracketed by the obedience to the Book of
the Law.
This passage is a triple chiasm which makes it interesting. Each chiasm could be separated
onto its own block. When the three are put together it makes for an interesting piece of
literature. So what are the main learnings:
1. Because Joshua was strong and courageous God will be with him as he leads the
people.
2. As long as him remembers to obey the Laws God gave Moses God will continue to be
with him.
3. Joshua will be successful and prosperous by following the Law of God
Gods blessings will be upon all who follow His Law. There are many commandments in the
Hebrew Scriptures which do not pertain to Christians and many that were valid when the
Temple stood in Jerusalem. A summary of the Laws is given to us by Jesus love God and love
neighbor.

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