Joshua 23
Joshua 23 records Joshua's final address to the leaders of Israel, as he nears the end of his life. He reflects on God's faithfulness in giving the Israelites the land and urges them to remain obedient to God's commands. He warns them against alliances with the remaining Canaanite nations and stresses the importance of loving and serving the Lord wholeheartedly.
Joshua 23:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now it came to pass, a long time after the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in age.
2 And Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them: “I am old, advanced in age.
3 You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you.
4 See, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea westward.
5 And the Lord your God will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, as the Lord your God promised you.
Joshua begins his farewell speech by addressing the leaders of Israel. He reminds them that it was the Lord who fought for them and gave them victory over their enemies. Joshua had divided the conquered land among the tribes, and though some Canaanites remained, he assures the people that God will continue to drive them out. The emphasis here is on God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises and the importance of continuing to trust in Him for the remaining tasks.
Joshua 23:6 (NKJV)
6 Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left,
Joshua encourages the leaders to remain steadfast and courageous in following the Law of Moses. He warns them not to deviate from God’s commandments in any way. The emphasis is on the importance of obedience, knowing that straying from God's word would lead them astray and ultimately invite disaster upon the nation.
Joshua 23:7-8 (NKJV)
7 and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,
8 but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.
Joshua warns the Israelites not to intermingle with the remaining Canaanite nations, nor to adopt their religious practices. He specifically forbids any reference to the Canaanite gods or involvement in their idolatry. Instead, they are to cling firmly to the Lord. This call to remain devoted to God underscores the dangers of compromise and the temptation of idol worship, which could lead the nation away from God’s protection and blessings.
Joshua 23:9-10 (NKJV)
9 For the Lord has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day.
10 One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you.
Joshua reminds the Israelites of their past victories over stronger nations, victories that were only possible because God fought for them. The image of one Israelite chasing a thousand enemies is a powerful metaphor for the supernatural assistance they had received. This served to inspire confidence in God's continued protection and support, as long as they remained obedient to Him.
Joshua 23:11-13 (NKJV)
11 Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God.
12 Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you,
13 know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.
Joshua stresses the need to love the Lord wholeheartedly, warning that if they turn away from Him and form alliances, especially through intermarriage with the remaining Canaanites, they will lose God's favor. He describes the consequences of disobedience as being surrounded by traps and thorns. The vivid imagery highlights the painful and inescapable troubles that would result if they compromise with these nations.
Joshua 23:14 (NKJV)
14 “Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.
As Joshua nears the end of his life, he reflects on God’s faithfulness. He affirms that every promise God made to the Israelites has been fulfilled, without exception. Joshua’s words serve as a powerful reminder that God’s word can be trusted completely, and they also serve as a final testimony of God’s reliability.
Joshua 23:15-16 (NKJV)
15 Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which the Lord your God promised you, so the Lord will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.
16 When you have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”
Joshua concludes with a stark warning: just as God’s promises of blessings were fulfilled, His warnings of judgment will also come to pass if the people turn away from Him. If they break their covenant with God by serving other gods, they will be swiftly removed from the land He gave them. This final caution emphasizes the seriousness of remaining faithful to God and the dire consequences of disobedience.