Joshua 23:1-10

1 Much later the Lord gave Israel security from their enemies around them. By that time Joshua was very old,

2 so he called all Israel, the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of the people, and said, "I am very old now.

3 You have seen everything that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you. The Lord your God has been fighting for you.

4 I have assigned as the possession of your tribes the land of the nations that are still left, as well as of all the nations that I have already conquered, from the Jordan River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west

5 The Lord your God will make them retreat from you, and he will drive them away as you advance. You shall have their land, as the Lord your God has promised you.

6 So be careful to obey and do everything that is written in the book of the Law of Moses. Do not neglect any part of it,

7 and then you will not associate with these peoples left among you or speak the names of their gods or use those names in taking vows or worship those gods or bow down to them.

8 Instead, be faithful to the Lord, as you have been till now.

9 The Lord has driven great and powerful nations out as you advanced, and no one has ever been able to stand against you.

10 Any one of you can make a thousand men run away, because the Lord your God is fighting for you, just as he promised. ¹

Joshua 23:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 23

Joshua being old, convenes the states of Israel a little before his death, Jos 23:1,2; and in his address to them observes what God had done for them, and would do, Jos 23:3-5; and exhorts them to keep the commandments of God, and cleave to him, and not to mix with the Gentiles, and join with them in idolatrous practices, and then it would be well with them, Jos 23:6-11; but otherwise should they join with them, and depart from the Lord, who had so faithfully and punctually performed every good thing he had promised them, they might expect all evils and calamities, utter ruin and destruction, to befall them, Jos 23:12-16.

Cross References

• 1. 23.10 aDeuteronomy 32.30; bDeuteronomy 3.22.