Joshua - Chapter 1

1. Why is there no indication of the location, the time of day, or the mode of address in the very first sentence of Joshua?

The last few chapters of Deuteronomy and the start of the book of Joshua can really be viewed and a single book – with the first chapter of Joshua following immediately after the account of Moses’ death. The change in book really only reflects a change of authour - God being the authour of Deuteronomy (with Moses as his scribe) and Joshua the author of his own book. Accordingly, the location, line, and mode are all obvious from the close of the previous book.

2. How is the initial contact with Joshua different from the initial contact with Mosheh; and why is there no element of surprise in the response of Joshua? Had he been "spoken to" prior thereto?

When God spoke to Moses, it caught Moses off guard, he was a Sheppard at the time, with no expectation of every speaking with G-d. Joshua, on the other hand, had been Moses’ right hand mad for 40 years, and had been selected by God and Moses to be the next leader of Israel.

3. There is a repeated refrain in verses 6 and 7 -- the imperative to be "strong and resolute". Why the repetition? And is it really a repetition in terms of what it is that constitutes "being resolute"?

I don’t see this as a repetition, the two instances of the directive to be “strong and courageous” are in reference to different things. Both verses are talking about being resolute in leading the Jewish people, but verse 6 is talking about being strong when conquering the land while verse 7 is talking about being remaining loyal to mitzvoth while conquering the land. One verse is being physically strong and courageous, and the next is being morally strong and courageous.

4. Does verse 8 imply that by Joshua's time the Torah had been committed to writing? Or is this a poetic reference?

My understanding is that before Moses’ death, he completed scribing the 5 books (and in fact, made 12 copies of it, one for each tribe), so yes, this verse can certainly be taken to mean that the Torah had been committed to writing by this time.

5. How does the response of the Reubenites/Gadites and the Menasheh families indicate that Joshua's assumption of responsibility is with promise?

???

6. How does the author of the text (in the closing verse of the first chapter) reaffirm the basic theme of the charge to Joshua?

Israel put their faith in Joshua, and pledged to follow him, but on one condition – that he be “strong and courageous”. As I say above, that is being strong and courageous to follow God’s command exactly, straying neither to the right or to the left.

Favourate Quote: "Every place on which the sole of your foot will tread I have given to you." - Verse 3