Josua 23:7

7 auf daß ihr nicht unter diese übrigen Völker kommt, die bei euch sind, und nicht gedenkt noch schwört bei dem Namen ihrer Götter noch ihnen dient noch sie anbetet,

Josua 23:7 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 23:7

That ye come not among these nations, those that remain among
you
That remained unsubdued, or that were suffered to dwell among them, being tributaries to them; with these they were not to converse freely and familiarly, nor to carry on trade and commerce with them, nor enter into any alliances or marriages with them, and not even attend any of their feasts, and especially their idolatrous ones:

neither make mention of the name of their gods;
not in common conversation, and still less in any religious matters; never with any reverence of them, or in any respectable manner; but always with indignation and contempt, calling them dunghill gods, and the like, as they often are in Scripture:

nor cause to swear [by them];
neither swear by them themselves, nor cause others to swear by them, as Abarbinel; or a man his neighbour, as Kimchi; no, not a Gentile, as Ben Melech; so it is said in the Misnah {p},

``he that vows in the name of an idol, and confirms in his name, (which Bartenora interprets, swears by his name,) transgresses a negative precept.''

Maimonides ^F17 also says,

``he that vows in the name of an idol, and swears by it, is to be beaten--he that swears by it himself, or causes a Gentile to swear by it; for it is forbidden to cause a Gentile to swear by his fear (or idol), and even to cause him to make mention of it, though not in the way of an oath, it is forbidden:''

neither serve them;
by offering any sacrifice or incense to them, or by praying to them, or offering them praises on any account, or by performing any religious service in any instance or form whatever:

nor bow yourselves unto them;
give them any adoration or worship, external or internal.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 6.
F17 Hilchot & Obedeth Cochabim, c. 5. sect. 10.

Josua 23:7 In-Context

5 Und der HERR, euer Gott, wird sie ausstoßen vor euch und von euch vertreiben, daß ihr ihr Land einnehmt, wie euch der HERR, euer Gott, geredet hat. {~}

6 So seid nun sehr getrost, daß ihr haltet und tut alles, was geschrieben steht im Gesetzbuch Mose's, daß ihr nicht davon weicht, weder zur Rechten noch zur Linken,

7 auf daß ihr nicht unter diese übrigen Völker kommt, die bei euch sind, und nicht gedenkt noch schwört bei dem Namen ihrer Götter noch ihnen dient noch sie anbetet,

8 sondern dem HERRN, eurem Gott, anhangt, wie ihr bis auf diesen Tag getan habt.

9 Der HERR hat vor euch vertrieben große und mächtige Völker, und niemand hat euch widerstanden bis auf diesen Tag.