Overview

The haftarah for Simchat Torah, the day on which we finish reading the Torah, is a natural sequel to the ending of the Five Books of Moses. The Torah ends with the passing of Moses and the ascent of Joshua to the role of leadership. This next link of the Jewish story is recorded in the book of Joshua. In its first chapter we read how Joshua quickly takes the reins of command into his hands and begins preparing the Jewish people for their entry into the promised land.

The opening verses of Joshua capture what may be described as a mixture of emotions. The Jewish people have just been dealt a mighty blow, the loss of Moses. The people owed everything they had to their revered leader, and the void left by his passing was massive. On the other hand, the Jews were now at the threshold of a major historic milestone. The entry into and inheritance of the promised land had been awaited for over four hundred years. It had been promised in the covenant to Abraham, and repeated multiple times thereafter. Now, after over two centuries of endurance in Egypt and a turbulent forty years of wandering in the desert, the long-awaited moment had finally arrived.

The verses reflect this mood in the first words of G‑d to Joshua: “Moses My servant has died.” This statement of obvious fact is understood by the commentaries as the communication of G‑d’s feeling of loss, so to speak, with the passing of his beloved Moses. The overtone was, in effect, that had Moses still been living, it would be in Him that G‑d would confide, not Joshua…1 If there was anyone who felt this most acutely, it was Joshua himself. The ensuing words of G‑d to Joshua are therefore charged with security, strength and reassurance to the new leader.

The first instruction to Joshua was to pass over the Jordan River and enter the Land of Israel. G‑d reassured Joshua that it would be under his leadership that the land would be conquered and divided among the people. G‑d would be with him just as He was with Moses, and he had nothing to fear. The one condition to all this was a total commitment to the Torah and its commandments, just as he had received them from Moses, his teacher.

After these reassuring words, Joshua issued his first set of commands to the people. They were to prepare themselves for travel, for in three days they were going to enter the land.

Joshua then addressed the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. These were the tribes who had requested of Moses to settle in Transjordan, citing the better pasture for their livestock there. Moses had granted them this on condition that the able-bodied men of these tribes would enter the land with their brethren, heading the fighting forces, and not leave until the various battles were won and the people were settled. Now, when the Jews were ready to enter the land, the members of these tribes were called upon by Joshua to remember and fully fulfill their pledge.

The people responded to Joshua’s instructions with a commitment of total allegiance. If G‑d would be with Joshua as He was with Moses, they would be faithful to him right to the end. Echoing the same words that G‑d had just communicated to him, the people begged of Joshua to “be strong and courageous.” The people were united, resolute and ready to go.