Chapter Summaries from the Book of Joshua
Joshua chapter 1
Moses, the Servant of the Almighty, had passed away.
The Almighty appointed Joshua as the new leader of Israel.
The Israelites were to cross the Jordan and conquer the rest of the Promised Land. From the Wilderness and all of Lebanon up to the Euphrates River in the north and northeast, all the Land of the Hittites in the north and eastward up unto the Persian Gulf was to be the Hebrew border. God promised HE would be with them in conquering the Land.
The Land was to be divided unto all the Tribes of Israel. If you keep the Torah you will prosper and be successful in every direction you turn. It was commanded to learn Torah day and night. Joshua told the people to prepare themselves to cross the Jordan in three days time.
Joshua addressed the two and a half tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh. They had previously been given all the region east of the Jordan. Joshua reminded these tribes how Moses had already commanded them to leave their wives and children in encampments where they were. Meanwhile the warriors were to join the other tribes and participate in the conquest of the rest of the Land to the west of the Jordan. They answered in the affirmative and gave Joshua the recognition due to a king which in fact (according to Maimonides) he was. Whosoever should disobey the orders of Joshua was to be put to death.