Caput X (opening)

The remaining deeds of our Joshua, up to after Moses’s death, are nearly these in the text, as it were: [1] his Corroboration [encouragement]; [2] [his] election for dividing the land of promise; [3] the Canticle; and [4 — Moses now dead, his succession]. Concerning the first and second, although it is established (quest. 16 of the superior chapter) [that] Moses often gave Joshua various precepts, [and] confirmed his spirit by several admonitions, and set him over the division of the land: [at] which [time], the more death was drawing near to him [Moses], so much the more often and diligently did both he himself and the Lord do this. And therefore [in] Deuteronomy ch. 31, verse 7: “Moses called Joshua, and said to him before all Israel: Take courage, and be strong… for thou shalt bring in this people into the Land which the Lord swore He would give to their fathers; [and the Lord] who is your leader, He will be with thee: He will not leave, nor forsake [thee]…” And at verse 14 the Lord says to Moses: “Behold the days [of thy death] are near: call Joshua, and stand ye in the tabernacle of testimony, that I may command him.” Moses [and Joshua] therefore went, [and stood in the tabernacle of] testimony; and the Lord appeared there in the pillar of cloud, and [it] stood [in the entrance of the tabernacle. And] the Lord [said] to Moses: “Behold thou shalt sleep with thy fathers.” And [at verse 23 the Lord commanded Joshua] the son of Nun, and said: “Take courage, and be strong: for thou shalt bring in the sons of Israel into the land which I have promised, and I will be with thee.” Concerning the third, [it is] in the same chapter [verse 19]: “Now therefore write ye this Canticle, and teach [it to] the sons of Israel, that they may hold [it] by memory, and [that] this song may be to me for a testimony among the sons of Israel.” And ch. 32, v. 44: “Moses came therefore… and spoke all the words of this canticle in the ears of the people, he, and Joshua the son of Nun.” Concerning the fourth [it is] in the same book of Deuteronomy, ch. 34, v. 9: “Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands upon him. And the sons of Israel obeyed him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.”