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Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.
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He said to them, “I am now one hundred and twenty years old; I can no longer go out and come in, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’
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The LORD your God Himself will cross over before you; He will destroy these nations before you, so that you may possess their land; Joshua, he will cross over before you, as the LORD has spoken.
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And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom He destroyed, and to their land.
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The LORD will give them over to you, and you shall do to them exactly as I have commanded you.
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Be strong and courageous; do not fear or be dismayed because of them, for the LORD your God Himself goes with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
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Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall lead them until they possess it.
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For the LORD Himself will go before you; He Himself will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear and do not be discouraged.”
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When Moses had written this law, he gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
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And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths,
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when all Israel comes to appear before the presence of the LORD your God in the place that He will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel.
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Assemble the people—men, women, and little ones, and the foreigner who lives within your gates—so that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,
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and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
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Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the time has come near for you to die; call Joshua and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, that I may give him a command.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.
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And the LORD appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood at the entrance of the tent.
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The LORD said to Moses: “Behold, you are about to rest with your fathers, and this people will rise up and play the harlot after the foreign gods that are in the land, into which they are going; they will forsake Me and break My covenant that I made with them.
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Then My anger will burn against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them, so that they will be consumed, and many troubles and distresses will come upon them. In that day they will say, ‘Have not these troubles come upon us because our God is not among us?’
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But I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil they have done, in turning to other gods.
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Now therefore write this song and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel.
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For I will bring them into the land that I swore to their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey; they will eat and be satisfied and grow fat, but they will turn to other gods and serve them, and they will despise Me and break My covenant.
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Then when many troubles and distresses come upon them, this song will testify against them, for it will not be forgotten from the mouths of their descendants. For I know the intent they are forming today, before I bring them into the land that I swore to them.”
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So Moses wrote this song and taught it to the children of Israel.
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To Joshua the son of Nun He gave command, saying, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land that I swore to them, and I will be with you.”
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When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, to the very end,
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Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying:
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“Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you.
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For I know your rebellion and your stubborn neck. Behold, while I am still alive with you today, you have shown rebellion against the LORD; how much more after my death!”
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Call together to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, and I will speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them.
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For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. Therefore in the latter days disaster will come upon you, when you do what is evil in the sight of the LORD and provoke him to anger by the work of your hands.”
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Then Moses spoke in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.
👴➡️👨📖 Summary of Deuteronomy 31 – Moses Hands Leadership to Joshua
Deuteronomy 31 marks an important moment in Israel’s history: Moses hands the staff of leadership to Joshua. This chapter also contains the command that the law of God continue to be taught, as well as a prophecy concerning Israel’s apostasy after Moses dies.
📌 1. Moses Hands Over Leadership (verses 1–8)
- Moses announced that he was 120 years old and would not cross the Jordan.
- The Lord himself would lead the people in conquering the promised land.
- Moses called Joshua and said:
“Be strong and of good courage… The Lord who goes before you, he will not leave you.” (verses 6 & 8)
🎯 The same Lord who was with Moses will also be with his successor.
📌 2. The Law of God Must Be Read Regularly (verses 9–13)
- Moses wrote the law and gave it to the priests and the elders.
- Every seven years, at the Feast of Tabernacles, the law of God was to be read to the whole nation, including the children and the foreigners.
🎯 The word of God must be taught continually so that faith remains alive across generations.
📌 3. The Lord Foretells Israel’s Apostasy (verses 14–22)
- The Lord called Moses and Joshua to the Tent of Meeting.
- He declared that after Moses dies, the people will turn away and worship other gods.
🎯 The Lord knows human weakness — yet still provides warnings and a way back.
📌 4. The Law Is Placed Beside the Ark (verses 23–30)
- The Lord strengthens Joshua:
“Be strong and steadfast in heart, for you shall bring the Israelites into the land I have promised.”
- Moses handed over the book of the law and instructed the Levites to place it beside the ark of the covenant.
- Moses sang a song of witness for the people (continued in chapter 32).
🎯 The book of the law became a witness to the covenant — and a reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness and will.
📖 Main Teachings
- Spiritual leadership does not depend on a person, but on the Lord’s presence.
- The Lord still leads even when leaders change.
- The word of the Lord must continue to be passed down and read from generation to generation.
- The Lord knows the people’s tendency to rebel, yet still gives warnings and opportunities to repent.
- True courage arises from the assurance that the Lord is with us.
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
- Hebrews 13:5 (quoting Deuteronomy 31:6):
“I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you.”
“What you have heard from me… entrust it to faithful people.”
- Leadership in the Kingdom of God is a relay, not personal domination.
🎯 We are all part of a chain of obedience and faithfulness that must be passed on, not kept to ourselves.
“Be strong and steadfast in heart… For the Lord your God, he is the one who goes with you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
“Gather the people… so that they may hear and learn… and fear the Lord.” – Deuteronomy 31:12
“Write this song… so that it may be a witness.” – Deuteronomy 31:19
