Joshua 23:7-16

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

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

9 For 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.

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

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

12 Or else, 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,

13 know 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.

14 "And 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 spoke concerning you: all have come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof

15 Therefore it shall come to pass that, as all good things have 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:

16 when 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."

Joshua 23:7-16 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.