Joshua 23:12

12 That if ye will cleave to the errors of these folks that dwell among you, and will meddle marriages with them, and couple friendships, (But if ye cleave to the errors of these people who live among you, and will mix marriages with them, and couple friendships,)

Joshua 23:12 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 23:12

Else if ye do in any wise go back
From the Lord and his worship, from his word and ordinances:

and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, [even] those that remain
among you;
in cities not taken, or in several which the Philistines were in possession of, or lived among them as tributaries to them, if they should take to them, and be free and familiar with them, which may lead on to nearer connections in civil and religious matters:

and shall make marriages with them;
marry their daughters to the sons of Canaanites, or admit the daughters of Canaanites to be married to their sons:

and go in unto them, and they to you;
which is expressive of the consummation of marriage, and of the performance of the conjugal duty,

Joshua 23:12 In-Context

10 One of you shall pursue a thousand men of enemies, for your Lord God shall fight for you, as he hath promised. (Yea, one of you can pursue a thousand of the enemies, for the Lord your God fighteth for you, as he promised you that he would.)

11 Be ye ware before most diligently of this thing only, that ye love your Lord God. (But be ye ware, that ye do this thing most diligently, that ye love the Lord your God.)

12 That if ye will cleave to the errors of these folks that dwell among you, and will meddle marriages with them, and couple friendships, (But if ye cleave to the errors of these people who live among you, and will mix marriages with them, and couple friendships,)

13 know ye right now, that the Lord your God shall not do away them before your face, but they shall be to you into a ditch, and into a snare, and into hurting of your side, and into stakes in your eyes, till your Lord God take away you, and destroy you from this best land, which he gave to you. (then know ye right now, that the Lord your God shall not do them away from before your face, but they shall be for you a ditch, and a snare, and a hurting to your side, and stakes in your eyes, until the Lord your God shall take you away, and destroy you from off this best land, which he gave to you.)

14 Lo! I enter today into the way of all (the) earth, for soon I shall die, as each man shall; and ye shall know with all (your) soul, that of all [the] words which the Lord promised himself to give to you, not one passed (away) in vain. (Lo! I go today the way of all people upon the earth, for soon I shall die, as each person shall; and ye know with all your soul, that of all the things which the Lord promised to give you, not one thing hath been left void, or undone.