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Haftarah V’zot Ha’berakhah

“Passing the Torch”

Joshua 1:1–18 (A); 1:1-9 (S)

excerpted from TorahScope Haftarah Exhortations

Upon arriving at the final reading of the annual Torah cycle (Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12), it seems like one should be ready to take off and discover everything which was going to happen to the new generation of Israelites, who had been prepared for the invasion of Canaan. Lamentably I think, many readers annually close out their Torah study and turn from Deuteronomy 34:12 to Genesis 1:1 with a gusty Chazak! Chazak! V’nit’chazeik!—“Be strong! Be strong! And let us be strengthened!”—with no serious thought given to what lay in store for the company of people who had been taught by Moses in the wilderness. Many in today’s Messianic community end the Book of Deuteronomy, and then begin again with the Book of Genesis, almost forgetting how there is a much bigger Bible which continues on.

While it is most admirable to be excited about a new year of Torah study just around the corner, is there not something intriguing about the final three verses of Deuteronomy—which just might prompt you to move forward to Joshua 1:1? After all, the laying on of hands and the anointing of Joshua, as Israel’s next leader, was something very important. Most of the Torah had been spent readying Israel to enter into its inheritance in the Promised Land. With Moses having died (Deuteronomy 34:5-7), Joshua was ready to take the Israelites into what they had eagerly waited for since they left Egypt:

“Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. The children of Israel listened to him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses. Since then, there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all the mighty hand, and in all the awesome deeds, which Moses did in the sight of all Israel” (Deuteronomy 34:9-12, WMB).

Thankfully, the Sages did choose the first chapter of the Book of Joshua, as the complementary Haftarah reading for V’zot Ha’berakhah. Hopefully, by taking a look at Joshua 1, Torah students today will be inspired to read on and investigate what happened not only in Joshua’s era during the Conquest, but later into the time of the Judges and throughout Ancient Israel’s history (principally what is recorded in Joshua, Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings).

Reviewing Joshua 1, we find that Joshua was the ideal candidate to follow as Moses’ successor. Having served as Moses’ assistant and trusted aid, Joshua was prepared for nearly forty years for this vital role. We are all most familiar with Joshua’s call for Israel to be strong and courageous. Yet as he assumed the office of Israel’s leader, Joshua implemented the plans which Moses had previously agreed to regarding the territory designated to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh[1]—before the greater company of Israel entered into Canaan:

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, ‘Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel. I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This scroll of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.’ Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, ‘Pass through the middle of the camp, and command the people, saying, “Prepare food; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess.”’ Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying, ‘Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, “The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land. Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall live in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them until the LORD has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which the LORD your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”’ They answered Joshua, saying, ‘All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him shall himself be put to death. Only be strong and courageous’” (Joshua 1:1-18, WMB).

Did you notice the absolute allegiance pledged by the Ancient Israelites to the leadership of Joshua? Does this not seem similar to what was declared to Moses as their representative before the Holy One?[2] The Lord had prepared Joshua, and enough of Israel had seen him previously serve alongside of Moses, that he garnered their respect. With the torch of leadership passed on to Joshua, the blessing and anointing of the Lord enabled him to lead Israel into the Promised Land, expelling Canaan of its pagan inhabitants. If you are like me, only looking at the Haftarah reading of Joshua 1 is not enough: reading through the balance of the Book of Joshua should be a regular exercise for those of us who want to be able students of God’s Word!

Obviously, the details about how the leadership of Israel was passed from Moses to Joshua, have been recorded for the sake of posterity. Today’s Messianic Believers should take some serious notes and pointers from this, because over the next ten to fifteen years (2010-2025), we will be experiencing our own shifting of the generations. Just as there were changes which occurred in administration style when Joshua took over from Moses, there will doubtlessly be some changes we will see, as the broad Messianic movement becomes a second and third generation movement. I have no doubt that the next generation will be able to look back on their predecessors with a degree of honor and respect, although it will probably also want to see a different approach to various issues of mission and purpose.

What important message do you need to explore further from the close of Deuteronomy, and in looking through Joshua 1? Are you excited about another year of Torah study, or are you perhaps a little more excited about reading more of the Bible, and how the message and theme of each book, demonstrates how each person has had a critical role to play in God’s plan? I know that I am very thankful for each figure I read about in the Scriptures—the most important One being our Messiah Yeshua, who we eagerly wait to return to the Earth, so that we might all fully enter into His Kingdom!