King James Bible
"But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it."
In contrast to Moses who was forbidden entry, Joshua is identified as Moses' assistant who 'stands before' him—a Hebrew idiom indicating loyal service and readiness. This designation marks Joshua as the divinely chosen successor after forty years of apprenticeship. God commands Moses to strengthen Joshua for the daunting task ahead of leading Israel into Canaan. The directive to encourage reveals that even chosen leaders need fortification for their calling, establishing a pattern of mentorship in leadership transition. Joshua's role extends beyond mere entry—he will actively distribute the promised land as inheritance among the tribes. The Hebrew verb emphasizes Joshua as God's agent in fulfilling the ancient covenant promise to Abraham's descendants.