“Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just reminding them of a command; it's pointing to a foundational truth about God's character: He gives rest. This isn't about Israel earning peace through their own strength, but about God graciously providing it, a concept that echoes through Scripture to the ultimate rest found in Christ.
“Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joshua is addressing the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, who had been granted land east of the Jordan River. He reminds them of their promise to Moses to help their brethren conquer the land west of the Jordan before returning to their own inheritance. This verse specifically recalls Moses' charge that God had already provided them with rest and this land, reinforcing their obligation to help others find the same.
Joshua reminds the people of a promise made generations ago. Why is looking back so crucial for moving forward?
Joshua begins by calling the people to 'Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you.' This isn't just a gentle nudge; it's a foundational command. Moses, acting as God's mouthpiece, had made a promise concerning their inheritance and their rest.
A Covenantal Echo
This 'remembering' is deeply significant. It calls back to a specific agreement made between Moses and the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh (Numbers 32). They had requested and received land on the east side of the Jordan River, with the condition that they would first help their brothers conquer the land west of the Jordan. Joshua is invoking this past covenant, reminding them of the promises made and the obligations undertaken.
Trusting God's Provision
The promise itself, 'The LORD your God has given you rest, and has given you this land,' wasn't just about physical possession. It was a declaration of God's faithfulness. The 'rest' they had found on the east side of the Jordan was a tangible sign of God's provision and power. By reminding them of this, Joshua anchors their present mission in God's past faithfulness, building confidence for the daunting task ahead.
The verse speaks of 'rest' and 'this land.' Are these simply about kicking back, or is there more to it?
The phrase 'The LORD your God has given you rest, and has given you this land' is powerful. It highlights that 'rest' is not merely the absence of struggle, but a gift from God, linked directly to possessing the land He provides.
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More Than a Break
This 'rest' isn't a final destination but a provision along the journey. The commentators point out that this initial rest was a 'halting-place,' a fulfillment of God's promise to settle them. However, as Hebrews 4 explains, it's a foreshadowing of a greater, eternal rest that remains for God's people. The land itself, given by God, was the context for this immediate rest.
The Challenge Within the Gift
Crucially, this rest was not passively received. The tribes east of the Jordan had received their land, but they were now being called to actively help their brethren secure their land. God's provision of rest often comes with a call to action, a partnership in His ongoing work. It's a reminder that God's gifts are meant to empower us for His purposes, not just for our comfort.
Understand the original words
ebed · Hebrew Noun
A person who serves another, especially one who serves God with devotion and humility; a title of honor for those commissioned by God to lead or minister.
nuach · Hebrew Noun
A state of cessation from labor, peace, or settled security granted by God; it often refers to the covenantal security enjoyed by God's people in the promised land.
This verse is a direct callback to a specific agreement made years earlier, highlighting how God's promises and human commitments intertwine. Joshua reminds the eastern tribes of their covenant with Moses, showing that faithful leadership involves remembering past word and covenant obligations.
c. 1406 BC
Israelites Conquer Sihon and Og
During their wilderness journey, the Israelites under Moses defeated the Amorite kings Sihon and Og, conquering the land east of the Jordan River. This victory paved the way for the settlement of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh in this territory.
c. 1406 BC
Tribes Request Land East of Jordan
The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with half of Manasseh, requested to settle in the conquered lands east of the Jordan River due to their large herds. Moses agreed on the condition that their men would help the other tribes conquer the land west of the Jordan.
c. 1406 BC
Moses' Farewell and Succession
Moses delivered his final addresses to the Israelites, reiterating God's commands and promises before his death. He also appointed Joshua as his successor, commissioning him to lead Israel into the Promised Land.
c. 1405 BC— this verse
Joshua Assumes Leadership
Following Moses' death, Joshua officially takes command of the Israelite nation. He is tasked with leading them across the Jordan River and conquering the land of Canaan.
This passage directly records the covenant Joshua is reminding the Reubenites and Gadites of, where they promised to fight with their brethren in exchange for their inheritance east of the Jordan.
Deuteronomy 3:18-20Moses reiterates the agreement made with the Transjordanian tribes, emphasizing their role in helping their brethren conquer the land before they could return to their own inheritance, echoing the 'rest' concept.
Hebrews 4:8-9This New Testament passage uses the concept of 'rest' given to Israel in the Promised Land, contrasting it with the ultimate, eternal rest that remains for believers, showing a spiritual progression of God's provision.
Psalm 95:7-11This psalm is a powerful reminder of Israel's wilderness wandering and their failure to enter God's rest due to disobedience, highlighting the importance of hearkening to God's commands, which Joshua is emphasizing.
calvinJoshua 1:10-18: "Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,"
Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days you shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God give you to possess it.
Transite per medium castrorum et praecipite populo, dicendo, Parate vobis annonam: quia post tres dies transibitis Jordanem hunc, ut intretis et possideatis terram, quam Jehova Deus vester dat vobis possi…
pulpitJoshua 1:13: "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land."
Verse 13. - Remember the word. The substance, and not the ipsissima verba, of the directions of Moses in Numbers 32. is here given (see also Deuteronomy 3:16-20). Hath given you rest. Perhaps, rather, hath caused you to rest - hath permitted you to settle; though the LXX. here has κατέπαυσεν, and the Vulgate, dedit vobis requiem (cf. He…
The verse isn't just reminding them of a command; it's pointing to a foundational truth about God's character: He gives rest. This isn't about Israel earning peace through their own strength, but about God graciously providing it, a concept that echoes through Scripture to the ultimate rest found in Christ.
Joshua is addressing the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, who had been granted land east of the Jordan River. He reminds them of their promise to Moses to help their brethren conquer the land west of the Jordan before returning to their own inheritance. This verse specifically recalls Moses' charge that God had already provided them with rest and this land, reinforcing their obligation to help others find the same.
Joshua is addressing the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, who had been granted land east of the Jordan River. He reminds them of their promise to Moses to help their brethren conquer the land west of the Jordan before returning to their own inheritance. This verse specifically recalls Moses' charge that God had already provided them with rest and this land, reinforcing their obligation to help others find the same.
"“Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’" — The verse isn't just reminding them of a command; it's pointing to a foundational truth about God's character: He gives rest. This isn't about Israel earning peace through their own strength, but a…
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Last reviewed October 2026