It was with great anxiety and self-distrust that Joshua had looked forward to the work before him; but his fears were removed by the assurance of God, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. . . . Unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them." "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses." To the heights of Lebanon in the far distance, to the shores of the Great Sea, and away to the banks of the Euphrates in the east--all was to be theirs.

Josua stolede ikke på sine egne evner og havde med megen ængstelse set frem til den opgave, der ventede ham, men hans frygt svandt bort, da Gud gav ham denne forsikring: "Som jeg var med Moses, vil jeg være med dig; jeg vil ikke slippe dig og ikke forlade dig. Du skal skaffe dette folk det land i eje, som jeg tilsvor deres fædre at ville give dem." Ethvert sted, Eders fod betræder, giver jeg Eder, som jeg lovede Moses." Alt skulle blive deres, lige til Libanons høje i det fjerne, til det store havs kyster og helt til Eufrats bredder mod øst.