Joshua 24:4-14

4 I gave to Yitzchak Ya`akov and Esav: and I gave to Esav Mount Se`ir, to possess it: and Ya`akov and his children went down into Mitzrayim.

5 I sent Moshe and Aharon, and I plagued Mitzrayim, according to that which I did in the midst of it: and afterward I brought you out.

6 I brought your fathers out of Mitzrayim: and you came to the sea; and the Mitzrim pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horsemen to the Sea of Suf.

7 When they cried out to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Mitzrim, and brought the sea on them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Mitzrayim: and you lived in the wilderness many days.

8 I brought you into the land of the Amori, that lived beyond the Yarden: and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand, and you possessed their land; and I destroyed them from before you.

9 Then Balak the son of Tzippor, king of Mo'av, arose and fought against Yisra'el: and he sent and called Bil`am the son of Be'or to curse you;

10 but I would not listen to Bil`am; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.

11 You went over the Yarden, and came to Yericho: and the men of Yericho fought against you, the Amori, and the Perizzi, and the Kana`ani, and the Hittite, and the Girgashi, the Hivvi, and the Yevusi; and I delivered them into your hand.

12 I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amori; not with your sword, nor with your bow.

13 I gave you a land whereon you had not labored, and cities which you didn't build, and you dwell therein; of vineyards and olive groves which you didn't plant do you eat.

14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Mitzrayim; and serve you the LORD.

Joshua 24:4-14 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.