Joshua 23:1-13

Joshua 23:1-13

[1] And it came to pass a long  time  after  that the LORD  had given rest  unto Israel  from all their enemies  round about,  that Joshua  and stricken  in age.  [2] And Joshua  called  for all Israel,  and for their elders,  and for their heads,  and for their judges,  and for their officers,  and said  unto them, I am old  and stricken  in age:  [3] And ye have seen  all that the LORD  your God  hath done  unto all these nations  because  of you; for the LORD  your God  is he that hath fought  for you. [4] Behold,  I have divided  unto you by lot these nations  that remain,  to be an inheritance  for your tribes,  from Jordan,  with all the nations  that I have cut off,  even unto the great  sea  westward.  [5] And the LORD  your God,  he shall expel  them from before  you, and drive  them from out of your sight;  and ye shall possess  their land,  as the LORD  your God  hath promised  unto you. [6] Be ye therefore very  courageous  to keep  and to do  all that is written  in the book  of the law  of Moses,  that ye turn  not aside therefrom to the right hand  or to the left;  [7] That ye come  not among these nations,  these that remain  among you; neither make mention  of the name  of their gods,  nor cause 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] Else if ye do in any wise  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  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.

What does Joshua 23:1-13 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Joshua reminded the Israelites of God"s faithfulness in fighting for them and giving them victory over their enemies, as He had promised, if they kept His covenant with them. Joshua urged the people to remain loyal and promised that God would then drive out the Canaanites that still remained in the land ( Joshua 23:4-7; Joshua 23:12-13).
"Joshua passed on to Israel the secret of success and prosperity that the Lord had given him at the beginning of the Conquest [1]. God"s promise [2] was not unconditional; Israel"s faithfulness was required." [3]
"To make mention of the names of the idols [4] (Ex. xxiii13), to swear by them, to serve them (by sacrifices), and to bow down to them (to invoke them in prayer), are the four outward [5] forms of divine worship." [6]
"For Israel, Yahweh claimed to fulfill all the functions for which other nations needed a multitude of gods. The problem was that Israel could never really come to believe the claim totally. She constantly sought the favors of the gods who had claimed to give fertility to the land long before Israel entered it or the gods who seemed at the moment to have military power." [7]
The nation as a whole had been faithful to God during Joshua"s administration. Therefore he did not mention individual sins and failures here. Joshua , as Moses, called the people to love Yahweh as well as obey Him ( Joshua 23:11). He also reminded his hearers of the dire consequences of failing to obey God out of love ( Joshua 23:12-13).
"If Israel does not do her part, then God will not do his. Here is the danger of freedom. God seeks man"s free response of love. God does his part to deserve and receive such love. God does not force his attentions upon man. But the man who ignores God"s claims finds God"s punishment." [8]