After Moses had announced Joshua as his successor before all the
congregation, he disclosed to him that the course of his own life was
run, and that he would now depart to his fathers. At his inheritance he
gave to Joshua a book of prophecy, which Joshua was to anoint with
cedar-oil, and in an earthen vessel to lay upon the spot that from the
creation of the world God had created for it, so that His name might
there be invoked. This book contained in brief outline the history of
Israel from the entrance into the promised land to the establishment of
God's kingdom upon earth, when, in wrath and indignation on account of
His children, the Lord will rise from His Throne of power and proceed
from His holy dwelling.
When Joshua heard the words of Moses as they are written in his Holy
Scriptures, he rent his garments and fell at Moses' feet, who, himself
in tears, yet comforted him. Joshua, however, said: "How canst thou
comfort me concerning the bitter word that thou hast spoken, which
abound in sobs and tears, that thou are to depart from thy people? What
place will receive thee? What monument will point to thy grave? Or who
will dare to remove thy corpse from one place to another as if it were
an ordinary mortal's? All dying men receive a grave upon earth
according to their rank, but thy grave extends from sunrise to sunset,
from South to North; all the world is thy tomb. Thou goest. Who not, O
master, shall care for this people? Who shall take pity upon them and
be a guide upon their way? Who shall pray for them incessantly, that I
may lead them into the land of their fathers? How shall I provide food
for them according to their wish, or drink according to their desire?
From the beginning they numbered sixty myriads, and now, thanks to thy
prayers, they have greatly multiplied. Whence shall I draw insight and
understanding to give them judgement and counsel? Even the kings of the
Amorites, hearing that we desire to attack them, will say, 'Let us not
set out against them, for there is now no longer among them the
many-sided, incomprehensible and sacred spirit, worthy of the Lord, the
ever-faithful master of the word, the Divine prophet of all the world,
the most consummate master of this age. If now our enemies once more
transgress before the Lord, they will have no defender to offer up
prayers for them before God, as Moses had done, the great messenger who
at all hours of the day kneeled down and prayed, lifting up his eyes to
Him who rules all the world, and constantly reminding Him of His
covenant with the Patriarchs, and appeasing Him with invocation.' For
thus will the Amorites speak saying, 'He is no longer among them; arise
then and let us wipe them from the face of the earth.' But what then, O
my lord Moses, will become of this people?"
When Joshua has spoken these words, he cast himself once more at Moses'
feet. Moses seized his hand, raised him to a seat before them, and
answered him, saying: "Do not underestimate thyself, O Joshua, but be
light of heart, and pay heed to my words. All the nations that dwell in
the universe hath God created, and us also. Them and us did He foresee
from the beginning of the creation of the universe even unto the end of
the world, and He overlooked nothing, even down to the smallest, but He
at the same time foresaw and foredoomed everything. All that was to
happen in this universe did God foresee and foredoom, and lo! it cometh
to pass. He appointed me for them and for their sins, that for them I
might make prayer and exhortation. Not for my fitness or my strength
was I chosen, but only through the grace of His mercy and His
long-suffering. For I assure thee, Joshua, not on account of the
excellence of this people wilt thou destroy the heathens; all the
fastnesses of heaven and the foundations of the universe were created
and approved by God, and are beneath the ring of His right hand. Those,
therefore, that maintain and fulfil God's commandments thrive and
prosper, but those who sin and neglect the commandments will now
receive the promised possessions, and will be punished by the heathens
with many plagues. But that He should wholly destroy or abandon them is
impossible, for God will step forth, who foresaw everything even to
eternity, and whose covenant is firmly founded, in accordance with the
oath which He swore to the Patriarchs. Then the hands of the angel will
be filled and he will be appointed chief, and he will forthwith avenge
them of their enemies." [838]