Deuteronomy 31

Joshua as a type of Jesus

Joshua (Yehoshua) — 'Jehovah saves'; the same name rendered 'Jesus' in the King James New Testament

The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said. Deuteronomy 31:3

Moses, who gave the law, cannot bring Israel into the promised land; Joshua, whose name is the Hebrew form of Jesus, leads them across. The law points the way, but it is Jesus who brings His people into their inheritance.

How we know: a traditional type, cited

• alluded to by Hebrews 4:8 — The King James text names Joshua 'Jesus' here (Greek Iesous) and reasons from the rest he gave to a greater rest that remains.
• fulfilled by Joshua 1:2 — 'Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan' — Joshua does go over before Israel, as this verse says he shall.

Jehovah

Jehovah (LORD) — the covenant God of Israel

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6–8

Israel can be courageous because the LORD goes before them and will never abandon them. Hebrews applies this same promise to Christian disciples, and in modern revelation the Lord who says 'I am with you, and will stand by you' names Himself Jesus Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• quoted by Hebrews 13:5 — 'for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.'
• quoted by Joshua 1:5 — The Lord repeats the promise word for word to Joshua: 'I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee' (the Church footnote on v. 8).
• alluded to by D&C 68:6 — 'be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ' — the Church footnote on v. 6.

Premortal Christ appears

And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle. Deuteronomy 31:15

Jehovah shows His presence in the pillar of cloud at the tabernacle door as He prepares to charge Joshua. The God who appeared to Israel in the cloud is the premortal Jesus Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

Jehovah

Jehovah (LORD) — the covenant God of Israel

And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. Deuteronomy 31:16–21

Jehovah speaks directly, foreseeing that Israel will break His covenant and that He will hide His face. He gives the Song as a witness so that later generations will know why the troubles came and to whom they must return.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him

• quoted by Deuteronomy 32:20 — The Song repeats this sentence word for word: 'I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be.'

Jehovah charges Joshua

And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee. Deuteronomy 31:23

The LORD Himself charges Joshua — 'the land which I sware unto them... I will be with thee' — and promises His presence to the man who bears the name Jesus as he leads Israel into the inheritance.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him

• alluded to by Joshua 1:6 — The Lord repeats the charge at the Jordan: 'Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers.'