The Israelites were finally ready to do what the Lord had told them to do. Moses had died and Joshua had been chosen by God to lead the people into Canaan.
Numbers
27:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim,
and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.
27:13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people,
as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
27:14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife
of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that [is]
the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
27:15 And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,
27:16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the
congregation,
27:17 Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which
may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the
LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
27:18 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in
whom [is] the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;
27:19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation;
and give him a charge in their sight.
27:20 And thou shalt put [some] of thine honour upon him, that all the
congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
27:21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask [counsel] for
him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out,
and at his word they shall come in, [both] he, and all the children of Israel
with him, even all the congregation.
27:22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him
before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:
27:23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD
commanded by the hand of Moses.
(The beginning of the story of the conquest of Canaan can be found in the Bible's book of Joshua. It is interesting to note that most of the Old Testament, starting with the book of Joshua, is about events related to this conquest and occupation.)
For further study, read: