1 Now it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of Jehovah, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead ; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you have I given it, as I spake unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life : as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee ; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Note · Josué 1.1–5
La promesse précède la capacité du successeur
La première parole ne demande pas à Josué de devenir un autre Moïse. Elle l’appelle à traverser avec le peuple, dans la confiance en une présence qui continue. Les frontières énoncées appartiennent à cet horizon ancien de promesse ; elles ne constituent pas à elles seules un programme politique directement applicable à une situation contemporaine.
6 Be strong and of good courage ; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee : turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein : for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee ? Be strong and of good courage ; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed : for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Note · Josué 1.6–9
Le courage reçoit une règle qui le dépasse
L’insistance sur la force est encadrée par la méditation et la pratique de la loi. Il ne s’agit donc pas seulement d’oser entreprendre ce que l’on désire. La réussite évoquée concerne la mission confiée dans le récit ; elle ne garantit pas à chaque croyant le succès financier ou l’absence d’échec dès lors qu’il lit la Bible.
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 Pass through the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals ; for within three days ye are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which Jehovah your God giveth you to possess it.
12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, saying, Jehovah your God giveth you rest, and will give you this land.
14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall abide in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan ; but ye shall pass over before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them ;
15 until Jehovah have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which Jehovah your God giveth them : then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising.
Note · Josué 1.10–15
Être déjà installé ne dispense pas de la solidarité
Les tribus de l’est ont reçu un territoire, mais les hommes mobilisés doivent accompagner leurs frères. La promesse commune empêche de considérer sa propre sécurité comme la fin de toute responsabilité. L’organisation matérielle, jusque dans les provisions, appartient aussi à la marche : la confiance n’annule pas la préparation concrète.
16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou hast commanded us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go.
17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee : only Jehovah thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
18 Whosoever he be that shall rebel against thy commandment, and shall not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death : only be strong and of good courage.
Note · Josué 1.16–18
L’adhésion au responsable ne lui donne pas un pouvoir absolu
La réponse reconnaît Josué et demande que Dieu soit avec lui. La peine annoncée contre la rébellion montre la dureté du cadre militaire ancien. Une communauté chrétienne ne peut reprendre cette formule pour supprimer les désaccords, imposer la soumission à un dirigeant ou soustraire ses décisions à tout discernement.