Having received the word from God Joshua tells the officers to instruct and prepare the people. Following the word there is practical action.
The two and a half tribes that elected to stay on the other side of the Jordan are yet again reminded of their commitment to play their full part in the battle for the land.
"Until the Lord gives them rest". We tend to think of the word "rest" in terms of not doing something, in terms of taking a break. However, it also means a state where one is free to pursue your goals. So after the sixth day in Genesis 1 where it says God rested, it means that everything was now in order and God could fulfil His purposes. So there would come a time when they had conquered the land and were then able to build the society that God intended for them.
The people respond with absolute commitment, and say they will obey Joshua just as they obeyed Moses. Given their record of frequent rebellions against Moses this isn't much of a promise!
Why do we do this? As humans we have a habit of making promises and commitments, and at the time we usually genuinely mean them, yet later they prove to be worthless. This is a symptom of our fallen condition, and is one that Paul talks about in Romans 7.
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