Joshua 24:13-23

13 And I have given you a land for which ye did not labor and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them. Of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.'

14 "Now therefore, fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt, and serve ye the LORD.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land ye dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

16 And the people answered and said, "God forbid that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;

17 for the LORD our God, He it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went and among all the people through whom we passed.

18 And the LORD drove out from before us all the people, even the Amorites who dwelt in the land. Therefore will we also serve the LORD, for He is our God."

19 And Joshua said unto the people, "Ye cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins:

20 if ye forsake the LORD and serve strange gods, then He will turn and do you hurt, and consume you after He hath done you good."

21 And the people said unto Joshua, "Nay; but we will serve the LORD."

22 And Joshua said unto the people, "Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen for yourselves the LORD to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses."

23 "Now therefore put away," said he, "the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel."

Joshua 24:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 24

This chapter gives us an account of another summons of the tribes of Israel by Joshua, who obeyed it, and presented themselves before the Lord at Shechem, Jos 24:1; when Joshua in the name of the Lord rehearsed to them the many great and good things the Lord had done for them, from the time of their ancestor Abraham to that day, Jos 24:2-13; and then exhorted them to fear and serve the Lord, and reject idols, Jos 24:14; and put them upon making their choice, whether they would serve the true God, or the gods of the Canaanites; and they choosing the former, he advised them to abide by their choice, Jos 24:15-24; and made a covenant with them to that purpose, and then dismissed them, Jos 24:25-28; and the chapter is concluded with an account of the death and burial of Joshua and Eleazar, and of the interment of the bones of Joseph, Jos 24:29-33.