The Lord speaks saying....

Joshua was selected by God to take the Israelites into the land he promised them. Chapter 1 establishes Joshua and the chapter starts out with an interesting Chiasma. A Chiasma is a figure of speech that has an ABC...CBA pattern of thought.  There are a number of these throughout the Book of Joshua. The figure of speech places emphasis on a series of statements by accenting the middle pivot statements. The emphasis takes a student deeper into the Word.

1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; (Joshua 1:1,2a)

A = Death of Moses

B =  Moses the servant

C = the Lord spake unto Joshua C = saying

B = Moses my servant

A = Dead

The pivotal point is God talking to Joshua. This is where the emphasis is to be placed.  It is foundational to the Book of Joshua. God selected and informed Joshua.

This is a simple illustration of the beauty of the intricacies of the Word. God had locked thing deeply within the pages of this book. There is another Chiasma a couple of verses later. Here's a hint:

the pivotal point is: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt mediate therein day and night....." (ABCDDBCA).