Deuteronomy 31:14
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What's easy to miss is that the "tent of meeting" is not just a building, but a sacred space where God personally appears. By bringing Joshua there and presenting him to God, Moses is essentially handing him over for divine commissioning, ensuring Joshua's authority comes directly from the Lord, not just from Moses.
And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord directly addresses Moses, informing him that his time to die is near and instructing him to bring Joshua to the Tent of Meeting. This is a pivotal moment where God commissions Joshua as Moses' successor, formally inaugurating him into his crucial role. Immediately following this, God reveals to Moses the people's future unfaithfulness and the ensuing judgment, setting the stage for Moses to record a song of warning.
Leadership changes can feel uncertain, even for the best of us. Where do we turn when it's time to pass the baton?
God Himself orchestrates this pivotal moment of transition for Moses and Joshua. He calls them to the Tent of Meeting, the sacred space where He met His people.
A Divine Appointment
This isn't just a casual handover. God is directly involved, initiating the process. He tells Moses, 'Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.' This highlights that true leadership succession is not merely human arrangement but a divine commission.
The Significance of the Tent
Meeting God in the Tent of Meeting signifies that Joshua's new authority and responsibilities come directly from God. It's a public and divine endorsement, ensuring Joshua is recognized not just by Moses, but more importantly, by God and His people. This sacred space becomes the platform for God's direct charge to His chosen successor, imbuing Joshua's new role with divine authority and purpose.
Moses' days are ending, but Israel's journey is far from over. What assurance does God provide for the challenging road ahead?
God understands the daunting task ahead for Joshua and the Israelites. He knows their future struggles and His Word prepares them for it.
God's Foreknowledge and Promise
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God doesn't just commission Joshua; He reveals His foreknowledge of Israel's future unfaithfulness. He tells Moses that after his death, the people 'will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers.' This isn't to discourage Joshua, but to underscore the magnitude of his task and God's sovereign plan.
The Commissioning as Empowerment
While the immediate text focuses on the handover, the broader context (as seen in verse 23) reveals God's direct charge to Joshua: 'Be strong and of good courage.' This charge, rooted in God's promise, 'for I will be with you,' is the ultimate source of authority and strength for any leader facing difficult times. Joshua's authority to lead Israel into the promised land is thus divinely ratified and personally guaranteed.
Understand the original words
ohel mo'ed · Hebrew Noun Phrase
The sacred space where God manifested His presence among His people during the wilderness wanderings. It served as the place of encounter between God and His chosen leaders.
tsavah · Hebrew Verb
To formally authorize or empower someone for a specific divine task or office. It often involves the transfer of authority or responsibility from one leader to another under God’s sanction.
This moment marks a profound transition, not just for Israel but for Moses himself, as God formally commissions Joshua as the next leader right before Moses' own death. It underscores the continuity of God's plan, even through significant leadership changes.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin their military campaigns to conquer the land of Canaan, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham.
c. 1406-1399 BC
Conquest and Allotment of Canaan
The majority of Canaan is conquered, and the land is systematically divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joshua serves as the paramount leader during this crucial period.
c. 1399 BC
Joshua's Farewell Address
As the conquest concludes and the tribes settle, Joshua delivers his final speeches to the Israelites, urging them to remain faithful to God and their covenant.
c. 1399 BC— this verse
Moses Receives Final Instructions
God speaks to Moses, informing him of his imminent death and commissioning Joshua as his successor. Moses and Joshua present themselves at the Tent of Meeting for this sacred transfer of authority.
c. 1399 BC
Moses' Death
Shortly after these events, Moses dies on Mount Nebo after viewing the Promised Land from its peak.
This passage describes God's earlier appointment of Joshua as Moses' successor, highlighting the divine authority behind such transitions of leadership and the need for public recognition before God.
Exodus 33:7-11This passage shows Moses meeting with God at the Tent of Meeting, demonstrating the established practice of divine commission and communication happening in this sacred space.
1 Kings 2:1-4Similar to Deuteronomy 31:14, this passage shows David giving his final charge to Solomon before his death, emphasizing the importance of passing leadership and responsibilities with divine instruction.
2 Kings 2:1-11This account parallels the transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua, as Elijah commissions Elisha in a significant moment before his own departure, showing a pattern of spiritual succession.
calvinDeuteronomy 31:14-30: "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 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 Josh…
cambridgeDeuteronomy 31:14: "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."
14 . And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold ] No parallel passage in Deut. ( Deuteronomy 1:42 , Deuteronomy 2:9 , Deuteronomy 3:2 ; Deuteronomy 3:26 , Deuteronomy 4:10 , Deuteronomy 5:28 , Deuteronomy 9:13 ,…
What's easy to miss is that the "tent of meeting" is not just a building, but a sacred space where God personally appears. By bringing Joshua there and presenting him to God, Moses is essentially handing him over for divine commissioning, ensuring Joshua's authority comes directly from the Lord, not just from Moses.
The Lord directly addresses Moses, informing him that his time to die is near and instructing him to bring Joshua to the Tent of Meeting. This is a pivotal moment where God commissions Joshua as Moses' successor, formally inaugurating him into his crucial role. Immediately following this, God reveals to Moses the people's future unfaithfulness and the ensuing judgment, setting the stage for Moses to record a song of warning.
The Lord directly addresses Moses, informing him that his time to die is near and instructing him to bring Joshua to the Tent of Meeting. This is a pivotal moment where God commissions Joshua as Moses' successor, formally inaugurating him into his crucial role. Immediately following this, God reveals to Moses the people's future unfaithfulness and the ensuing judgment, setting the stage for Moses to record a song of warning.
"And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting." — What's easy to miss is that the "tent of meeting" is not just a building, but a sacred space where God personally appears. By bringing Joshua there and presenting him to God, Moses is essentially h…
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Last reviewed October 2026
