Joshua 1:17

KJV

According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.

KJV (with Strong's)

According as we hearkened {H8085} unto Moses {H4872} in all things, so will we hearken {H8085} unto thee: only the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} be with thee, as he was with Moses {H4872}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Just as we listened to everything Moshe said, so will we listen to you. Only may ADONAI your God be with you as he was with Moshe.

Berean Standard Bible

Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. And may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 1:17 captures a pivotal moment in Israel's history, as the people, through the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh, pledge their unwavering allegiance to Joshua, mirroring their obedience to Moses. This declaration is not merely an affirmation of human leadership but a profound theological statement, conditioning their loyalty on the active, empowering presence of the LORD with Joshua, just as He was with Moses. It underscores the foundational truth that true success in God's work is contingent upon divine backing and presence, setting the stage for the conquest of Canaan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a direct and powerful response from the trans-Jordanian tribes (Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh) to Joshua's initial commands and the Lord's commissioning. Following Moses' death, God had explicitly appointed Joshua as the new leader, promising, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" ([Joshua 1:5](/joshua/1-5 "Joshua 1:5 - God's Promise to Joshua")). Joshua then relayed instructions to the officers concerning the crossing of the Jordan ([Joshua 1:10-11](/joshua/1-10 "Joshua 1:10-11 - Joshua's Orders to the Officers")) and reminded the trans-Jordanian tribes of their commitment to Moses regarding the conquest ([Joshua 1:12-15](/joshua/1-12 "Joshua 1:12-15 - Joshua Reminds the Tribes of Their Oath")). Their response in [Joshua 1:16-18](/joshua/1-16 "Joshua 1:16-18 - The People's Pledge to Joshua") serves as a crucial corporate affirmation, legitimizing Joshua's leadership in the eyes of the entire nation and providing him with the necessary support for the daunting task ahead.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the plains of Moab, just across the Jordan River from the Promised Land, following forty years of wilderness wandering. Moses, the revered leader who brought them out of Egypt and mediated the covenant, has died. This period marks a critical transition from a nomadic existence under a singular, divinely appointed prophet to a settled nation requiring military conquest and territorial occupation. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, leadership succession was often fraught with instability. The people's explicit pledge of loyalty here, mirroring their past obedience to Moses, was vital for national unity and morale. Their understanding that God's presence was the ultimate guarantor of success reflects a deeply ingrained theological worldview, shaped by generations of divine intervention and miraculous provision, from the Exodus to the manna in the wilderness.
* **Key Themes:** [Joshua 1:17](/joshua/1-17 "Joshua 1:17 - The People's Pledge to Joshua") powerfully encapsulates several core themes central to the book of Joshua and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Obedience and Loyalty**, demonstrating the people's readiness to submit to divinely appointed authority, a theme consistently emphasized from the covenant at Sinai ([Exodus 19:5](/exodus/19-5 "Exodus 19:5 - Obedience to God's Covenant")). Secondly, and most profoundly, it underscores the **Prerequisite of Divine Presence and Empowerment**. The condition "only the LORD thy God be with thee" reveals a mature theological understanding that human effort is futile without God's active backing, echoing God's own promise to Joshua in [Joshua 1:5](/joshua/1-5 "Joshua 1:5 - God's Promise of Presence"). This theme is foundational to Israel's identity and success, emphasizing that victory comes not by human might but by divine power, as later articulated in [Zechariah 4:6](/zechariah/4-6 "Zechariah 4:6 - Not by Might, Nor by Power"). Lastly, the verse demonstrates a smooth and divinely ordained **Leadership Succession and Continuity**, ensuring the uninterrupted progression of God's redemptive plan for His people, moving them from the wilderness into their promised inheritance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hearkened (Hebrew, _shama'_):** This Hebrew verb is rich in meaning, extending far beyond merely "to hear." It encompasses active listening, understanding, and, crucially, **obeying**. In the context of the covenant, _shama'_ implies a responsive and compliant submission to divine commands or the directives of a divinely appointed leader. When the people pledge to "hearken" to Joshua, they are committing to full compliance with his leadership, recognizing that his authority is derived from God.
* **Be with thee (Hebrew, _hayah im_):** This phrase denotes an active, empowering, and protective divine presence. It's not a passive proximity but an intimate, dynamic relationship where God is actively involved in supporting, guiding, and enabling the individual. For a leader like Joshua, God's "being with" him meant His divine favor, wisdom, strength, and ultimate guarantee of success in the face of overwhelming odds. It was the very essence of Moses' effectiveness and now the indispensable requirement for Joshua's.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things":** This clause establishes a precedent of obedience and sets a high standard for their commitment to Joshua. It acknowledges Moses' unparalleled leadership and the people's general (though not always perfect) submission to his authority, particularly concerning major directives from God. It serves as a powerful affirmation of their past conduct and a promise for future behavior.
* **"so will we hearken unto thee":** This is a solemn and unequivocal pledge of allegiance to Joshua. It signifies their corporate acceptance of his new leadership role, promising the same level of active listening, understanding, and obedience they had (mostly) rendered to Moses. This commitment was absolutely vital for maintaining national unity and morale as they prepared for the challenging military campaigns ahead.
* **"only the LORD thy God be with thee":** This is the pivotal condition and the profound theological core of the verse. It is not a challenge or a sign of doubt, but an explicit recognition that Joshua's success, like Moses' before him, was entirely dependent on the active, empowering presence of God. It functions as both a prayer and a statement of theological truth, acknowledging God's sovereignty as the ultimate source of strength and victory.
* **"as he was with Moses":** This phrase sets the standard for the divine presence they seek for Joshua. Moses' leadership was marked by extraordinary divine intervention, from the plagues to the parting of the Red Sea, the giving of the Law, and miraculous provision in the wilderness. The people understood that this same level of divine backing was essential for Joshua to lead them successfully into the Promised Land. It connects Joshua's ministry directly to the legacy of Moses, ensuring continuity of divine favor.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Parallelism** to draw a direct comparison between Moses' leadership and Joshua's, and the people's past obedience and their promised future obedience. The structure "as we hearkened unto Moses... so will we hearken unto thee" creates a clear echo, reinforcing the idea of continuity in leadership and followership. Furthermore, the **Conditional Clause** introduced by "only" ("only the LORD thy God be with thee") is a powerful rhetorical device. While grammatically a condition, its theological function is not to impose a burden on God but to articulate a deep-seated understanding of divine sovereignty and the absolute necessity of God's presence for any true success in His work. This clause also serves as an **Echo** or **Allusion** to God's earlier promise to Joshua in [Joshua 1:5](/joshua/1-5 "Joshua 1:5 - God's Promise of Presence"), demonstrating that the people had internalized this crucial truth and were now articulating it back to their new leader.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 1:17 profoundly articulates the biblical understanding of leadership, which is never merely human-centric but always divinely empowered. The people's pledge reveals a mature theological insight: while human obedience and loyalty are necessary, they are ultimately secondary to God's sovereign presence. True effectiveness in God's kingdom work, whether in ancient Israel or today, flows from His active involvement and empowerment. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God raises up leaders, equips them, and sustains them through His Spirit, and that the community's role is to support such leadership while always recognizing God as the ultimate authority. It highlights the principle that God's presence is not just a comfort but a prerequisite for accomplishing His purposes, distinguishing His people and their endeavors from all others.

* [Deuteronomy 31:6-8](/deuteronomy/31-6 "God's Promise to Be with Joshua")
* [Exodus 33:14-16](/exodus/33-14 "God's Presence Distinguishes Israel")
* [Matthew 28:20](/matthew/28-20 "Jesus' Promise of Presence")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 1:17 offers timeless wisdom for both leaders and those who follow. For leaders, it serves as a profound reminder that our efficacy is not derived from our charisma, skills, or strategic brilliance, but from the manifest presence and empowering Spirit of God. It calls us to cultivate a deep dependence on Him, seeking His wisdom and guidance above all else, recognizing that without His backing, our efforts are ultimately in vain. For followers, this verse underscores the importance of supporting and obeying righteous leadership, especially when that leadership is clearly anointed and guided by God. Our loyalty should not be blind but rooted in the expectation and prayer for God's continued presence with our leaders. This mutual trust and reliance on God's presence create a strong, unified foundation for any community, whether a family, a church, or an organization, enabling it to face challenges with courage and faith, knowing that ultimate victory belongs to the Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the Israelites' condition for following Joshua ("only the LORD thy God be with thee") challenge our modern understanding of effective leadership?**
* **In what areas of your life or ministry do you need to explicitly acknowledge and seek God's presence as the primary prerequisite for success?**
* **How can we, as followers, better support and pray for our leaders, recognizing their profound need for divine empowerment and presence?**

### FAQ
**Why did the people add the condition "only the LORD thy God be with thee"? Was it a sign of doubt or a challenge to Joshua's authority?**

Answer: It was neither a sign of doubt nor a challenge to Joshua's authority. Instead, it was a profound theological statement and a heartfelt prayer, reflecting the Israelites' deep understanding of what truly constituted effective leadership in God's covenant community. They had witnessed firsthand that Moses' extraordinary success was entirely due to God's active, empowering presence ([Exodus 33:14](/exodus/33-14 "God's Presence with Moses")). Therefore, their "only" clause was an affirmation of God's sovereignty and a recognition that Joshua's success would similarly depend on the Lord's divine backing. It was a condition of faith, not skepticism, expressing their desire for God to be with Joshua as He was with Moses, thereby ensuring the continuity of divine favor and guidance for the nation.

**What does "hearkened unto" truly mean in this context, and why is it significant?**

Answer: The phrase "hearkened unto" comes from the Hebrew verb _shama'_ (שָׁמַע), which means much more than simply "to hear." In biblical Hebrew, _shama'_ implies active listening, understanding, and, crucially, **obeying**. It denotes a responsive and compliant submission to authority. In this context, when the people pledge to "hearken" to Joshua, they are committing to full and active compliance with his directives, recognizing his God-given authority. This commitment was profoundly significant because it established the necessary unity and discipline for the challenging conquest of Canaan. Their willingness to _shama'_ Joshua, just as they had _shama'_ Moses, was a pledge of corporate loyalty essential for the nation's success under its new leader.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 1:17, with its emphasis on God's presence as the prerequisite for effective leadership and the people's pledge of obedience, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Joshua was a type of Christ, leading God's people into a physical promised land, Jesus is the true and greater Joshua, leading His people into the spiritual and eternal inheritance of the Kingdom of God. The people's condition, "only the LORD thy God be with thee," is gloriously met in Christ, who is God incarnate, "God with us" (Immanuel, [Matthew 1:23](/matthew/1-23 "Immanuel")). In Him, the divine presence is not merely "with" a leader, but fully dwells within the [Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "The Word Became Flesh"). His leadership is absolute, not contingent on any external presence, for He is the very embodiment of God's authority and power. Furthermore, just as the Israelites pledged to "hearken" to Joshua, believers are called to absolute obedience to Christ, who is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God") and the [Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep](/john/10-11 "The Good Shepherd"). His promise to His disciples, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" ([Matthew 28:20](/matthew/28-20 "The Great Commission and Jesus' Presence")), and the sending of the [Holy Spirit, another Helper](/john/14-16 "The Promise of the Holy Spirit"), ensures that God's empowering presence is not only with our ultimate Leader but also perpetually within His people, enabling them to live in obedience and fulfill His mission until His return.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 1:5

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.

1 Kings 1:37

As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

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.

Psalms 118:25

Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

Psalms 118:26

Blessed [be] he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

Psalms 20:4

Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

1 Chronicles 28:20

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do [it]: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, [even] my God, [will be] with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.