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About this chapterJoshua, old and near death, gathers Israel's leaders for a farewell address. He reminds them that the Lord fought for them and urges them to be very careful to obey the whole law, not turning right or left. He warns them not to mix with the surviving nations or swear by their gods, for such alliances would become snares and traps, and Israel would lose the land. Joshua declares that not one promise of God has failed, and just as all the good things came, so will the bad if they turn away from the covenant.

Joshua, old and near death, gathers Israel's leaders for a farewell address. He reminds them that the Lord fought for them and urges them to be very careful to obey the whole law, not turning right or left. He warns them not to mix with the surviving nations or swear by their gods, for such alliances would become snares and traps, and Israel would lose the land. Joshua declares that not one promise of God has failed, and just as all the good things came, so will the bad if they turn away from the covenant.

Themes

  • Farewell warning
  • Hold fast to the Lord
  • Promises never fail

Key verses

Audio Bible · Joshua 23

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Joshua 23

Berean Standard Bible16 verses · 2 min read

1A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, when Joshua was old and well along in years, 2he summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. “I am old and well along in years,” he said, 3“and you have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, because it was the LORD your God who fought for you. 4See, I have allotted as an inheritance to your tribes these remaining nations, including all the nations I have already cut off, from the Jordan westward to the Great Sea. 5The LORD your God will push them out of your way and drive them out before you, so that you can take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you. 6Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left. 7So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them. 8Instead, you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. 9The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations before you, and to this day no one can stand against you. 10One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised. 11Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God. 12For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them, 13know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you. 14Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed. 15But just as every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come to pass, likewise the LORD will bring upon you the calamity He has threatened, until He has destroyed you from this good land He has given you. 16If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.”
Verses in Joshua 23

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