Who is Joshua in this passage and what task is he given?

Joshua is the son of Nun who is chosen to take over leadership after Moses. In this passage, he is charged to be strong and courageous because he will be the one to bring the children of Israel into the land that God promised to their fathers. God reassures him that He Himself will be with him. Joshua is not starting a new work on his own, but finishing what God began through Moses. His courage is meant to rest on God’s promise and presence, not on his own strength or the goodness of the people.

What does it mean that the book of the law was put by the side of the ark?

Moses tells the Levites, who carry the ark of the covenant, to take the written book of the law and put it by the side of the ark, not inside it. The stone tablets with the ten commandments were inside the ark, but this larger written law was stored beside it, likely in a box next to the ark. This showed how precious it was and kept it in the holiest place. It was kept there as a constant witness, so when Israel later turned from God, the very law they had received could testify that they had been clearly warned.

Why did Moses say the law would be a witness against Israel?

Moses knew from long experience that the people were rebellious and stubborn. Even while he was still alive, they had already disobeyed God many times. God also told him they would turn aside after his death. Because of this, the written law would stand as a witness against them. It did not exist only to condemn them, but to show them plainly what God required and how He had been kind to them. When they later fell into idolatry and other sins, they could not say they had not been told. The law itself would prove that God’s judgments were fair.

Why does Moses speak so sternly about Israel’s rebellion and future corruption?

Moses speaks very plainly because he loves the people and knows their history. He says he knows their rebellion and stiff neck, since they have been disobedient even with him present. God has also revealed to him that after his death they will corrupt themselves, turn from God’s ways, and that evil will come on them in later days. He is not losing his temper, but giving a sober warning. By speaking this way, he shows them the seriousness of sin, removes any false comfort, and makes clear that if trouble comes, it will be because they turned from the Lord.

What does it mean that Moses calls heaven and earth to record against Israel?

When Moses gathers the elders and officers, he says he will call heaven and earth to record against them. This is a picture of a formal witness. Heaven above and earth beneath are always present and cannot be silenced or bribed. By speaking this way, Moses is stressing how serious his words are. It is as if all creation is being asked to bear witness that God’s covenant, His warnings, and His promises were clearly set before Israel. If they later break the covenant and suffer, no one can rightly claim that God did not warn them or deal justly.

What is the Song of Moses mentioned here and why did Moses teach it?

At the end of this passage we read that Moses spoke the words of a song in the ears of all the congregation until they were finished. This song, given by God, was meant to be memorized and passed down. It reminded Israel of who God is, what He had done for them, and what would happen if they turned away. When trouble later came because of their idolatry, this song would come back to mind and show them that God had told them beforehand. It worked as both a teaching tool and a witness, pressing the truth on their hearts in a way they could not easily forget.

What does this passage show about God’s presence with His people?

The passage shows both God’s kindness and His seriousness. On one hand, God tells Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage,” and promises, “I will be with thee.” Joshua can face a difficult task and a difficult people because God Himself will go with him. On the other hand, God knows the people will wander and warns of coming trouble. So we see that God stays faithful to His promise and does not abandon His plan, even though He fully knows the sins of His people. His presence is a gift, but it does not cancel His hatred of idolatry and rebellion.

Why does Moses say evil will befall Israel in the latter days?

Moses says that after his death the people will utterly corrupt themselves and turn aside from God’s way. Because of this, he says evil will befall them in the latter days. Here “evil” means the troubles and judgments that will come as the result of their sin, not that God Himself becomes evil. They will do what is evil in God’s sight, especially through the idols and images they make with their own hands, and this will provoke God to anger. So the later suffering is not random, but the clear outcome of turning from the Lord who had rescued them.

How can this warning to Israel help believers today?

This passage reminds believers today how easily people can forget God’s goodness and drift into sin, even after many blessings. Israel had seen great works of God, yet Moses still warns that they will corrupt themselves. It teaches us to take God’s word seriously, to keep it close, and not to trust our own hearts. It also shows the kindness of God in giving clear warnings, written truth, and leaders who point us back to Him. Knowing that God both promises His presence and takes sin seriously should lead us to humble trust, careful obedience, and honest self-examination.

Deut.31.23

Deuteronomy 31:23

KJV GOD

And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

God Commissions Joshua

¶ And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation

And the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.

¶ And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?

And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.

Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

¶ Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

¶ And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,

That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying,

Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death?

¶ Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.

For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.

Cross References

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