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Read Joshua Chapter 23

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1And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

2And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:

3And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.

4Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

5And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.

6Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

7That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

8But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.

9For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

10One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

11Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

12Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

13Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

14And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

15Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

16When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

You are readingKing James Version

Explanation

Joshua 23

In short

Joshua, now elderly, gathers Israel's leaders to remind them that God has kept all his promises and given them the land. He warns them sternly: stay faithful to God's law, do not mix with the remaining peoples or worship their gods, or God will turn against them and they will be destroyed.

What the text says

Verses 1-2: Joshua is old. He calls together all Israel's leadership to speak with them. Verses 3-5: He tells them God has fought for them and won the land. God will continue to drive out the remaining nations, and Israel will possess their land as promised. Verses 6-7: He urges them to be courageous and obey the law of Moses strictly, without turning aside. Do not associate with the remaining nations, do not speak the names of their gods, and do not serve or bow to them. Verse 8: Stay joined to the Lord, as you have done until now. Verses 9-10: The Lord has already defeated great nations for you; one Israelite chased a thousand because the Lord fights for you. Verse 11: Love the Lord your God. Verses 12-13: If you turn back and marry these people and join with them, then the Lord will stop driving out these nations. Instead, they will become snares, traps, whips, and thorns until you perish from this good land. Verse 14: Joshua says today he goes "the way of all the earth" (meaning he will die), and every good promise the Lord made has come true. Verse 15: As God brought good things, so God will bring evil things until you are destroyed from the land, if you break the covenant. Verse 16: When you serve other gods, the Lord's anger will kindle against you, and you will perish from the good land.

Takeaways

  • Joshua's final warning is that Israel must choose: stay faithful to God alone, or face destruction from God's own hand, not from enemies.
  • God's past faithfulness does not guarantee future blessing; it depends on Israel's obedience.
  • Breaking covenant with God by serving other gods brings the opposite of what God promised: curse instead of blessing.

Explanation written with the help of AI. The Bible text above is not changed. Context and interpretation are flagged as such; always come back to the text itself.