Giosué 23:7

7 e non entriate da queste genti che restano appresso di voi, e non ricordiate il nome de’ loro dii, e non li usiate in giuramenti, e non serviate loro, e non li adoriate.

Giosué 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.

Giosué 23:7 In-Context

5 E il Signore Iddio vostro disperderà quelle dal vostro cospetto, e le scaccerà d’innanzi a voi; e voi possederete il lor paese, come il Signore Iddio vostro ve ne ha parlato.

6 Perciò, fortificatevi vie più, per osservare, e per fare tutto quello che è scritto nel Libro della Legge di Mosè; acciocchè non ve ne rivolgiate nè a destra nè a sinistra;

7 e non entriate da queste genti che restano appresso di voi, e non ricordiate il nome de’ loro dii, e non li usiate in giuramenti, e non serviate loro, e non li adoriate.

8 Anzi vi atteniate al Signore Iddio vostro, come avete fatto infino ad oggi.

9 Onde il Signore ha cacciate dal cospetto vostro delle nazioni grandi e potenti; e niuno è potuto starvi a fronte fino ad oggi.