Joshua 23:8

8 But cleave ye to your Lord God (So cleave ye only to the Lord your God), the which thing ye have done unto this day;

Joshua 23:8 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 23:8

But cleave unto the Lord your God
To his word, worship, and ordinances; externally, by close adherence to them, and strict observation of them; and internally, by strong affection to him, hope, trust, and confidence in him, expectation of all good things from him, and constant application to him for help in all times of need, and a fixed dependence on him:

as ye have done unto this day;
that is, since they came into the land of Canaan, and had been under the government of Joshua; for otherwise, while in the wilderness, they frequently revolted from God, and murmured against him; and this is to be understood not of individuals, who doubtless were guilty of various failings and sins, but of the whole body, and with respect to any notorious offence, particularly idolatry, which they had not fallen into since they came into the land of Canaan, and had very lately shown great zeal against it; not only the tribes on this side, but those on the other side Jordan, as the preceding chapter largely relates.

Joshua 23:8 In-Context

6 Only be ye comforted, and be ye busy, that ye keep all things that be written in the book of Moses? law, and bow ye not away from those things, neither to the right side, neither to the left side, (So be ye strengthened/So be ye encouraged, and be ye busy, that ye obey all the things that be written in the Book of the Law by Moses, and turn ye not away from those things, neither to the right, nor to the left,)
7 lest after that ye have entered to the heathen men, that shall be among you, ye swear in the name of their gods, and serve those gods, and worship them. (lest that ye be mixed, or mingled, with the heathen, who be among you, and ye swear in the name of their gods, and serve those gods, and worship them.)
8 But cleave ye to your Lord God (So cleave ye only to the Lord your God), the which thing ye have done unto this day;
9 and then the Lord God shall do away in your sight great folks, and strongest; and none shall be able to against-stand you. (for the Lord God hath done away from before you great and strong nations, and none hath been able to stand against you.)
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.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.