Joshua 24
24
Israel Renews its Commitment to the Lord
1 Joshua assembled all the Israelite tribes at Shechem. He summoned Israel’s elders, rulers, judges, and leaders, and they appeared before God. 2 Joshua told all the people, “Here is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘In the distant past your ancestors#tn Heb “your fathers.” lived beyond the Euphrates River,#tn Heb “the river,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity. including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor. They worshiped#tn Or “served.” other gods, 3 but I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates#tn Heb “the river,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity. and brought him into#tn Or “through.” the entire land of Canaan. I made his descendants numerous; I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned Mount Seir,#tn Heb “I gave to Esau Mount Seir to possess it.” while Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. 5 I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt down when I intervened in their land.#tn Heb “by that which I did in its midst.” Then I brought you out. 6 When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you arrived at the sea. The Egyptians chased your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 7 Your fathers#tn Heb “they”; the referent (the fathers) has been specified in the translation for clarity (see the previous verse). cried out for help to the Lord; he made the area between you and the Egyptians dark,#tn Or “put darkness between you and the Egyptians.” and then drowned them in the sea.#tn Heb “and he brought over them the sea and covered them.” You witnessed with your very own eyes#tn Heb “your eyes saw.” what I did in Egypt. You lived in the wilderness for a long time.#tn Heb “many days.” 8 Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought with you, but I handed them over to you; you conquered#tn Or “took possession of.” their land and I destroyed them from before you. 9 Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, launched an attack#tn Heb “arose and fought.” against Israel. He summoned#tn Heb “sent and called.” Balaam son of Beor to call down judgment#tn Or “to curse.” on you. 10 I refused to respond to Balaam; he kept#tn The infinitive absolute follows the finite verb in the Hebrew text and indicates continuation or repetition of the action. Balaam pronounced several oracles of blessing over Israel (see Num 23-24). prophesying good things about#tn Heb “blessing.” Balaam’s “blessings” were actually prophecies of how God would prosper Israel. you, and I rescued you from his power.#tn Heb “hand.” 11 You crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho.#map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1. The leaders#tn Or perhaps, “citizens.” of Jericho, as well as the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, fought with you, but I handed them over to you. 12 I sent terror#tn Traditionally, “the hornet” (so KJV, NKJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV) but the precise meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain (cf. NEB “panic”). ahead of you to drive out before you the two#tn The LXX has “twelve,” apparently understanding this as a reference to Amorite kings west of the Jordan (see Josh 5:1, rather than the trans-Jordanian Amorite kings Sihon and Og (see Josh 2:10; 9:10). Amorite kings. I gave you the victory; it was not by your swords or bows.#tn Heb “and it drove them out from before you, the two kings of the Amorites, not by your sword and not by your bow.” The words “I gave you the victory” are supplied for clarification. 13 I gave you a land in#tn Or perhaps, “for.” which you had not worked hard; you took up residence in cities you did not build and you are eating the produce of#tn The words “the produce of” are supplied for clarification. vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.’
14 Now#sn Joshua quotes the Lord’s words in vv. 2b-13 (note that the Lord speaks in the first person in these verses); in vv. 14-15 Joshua himself exhorts the people (note the third person references to the Lord). obey#tn Heb “fear.” the Lord and worship#tn Or “and serve.” him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors#tn Heb “your fathers.” worshiped#tn Or “served.” beyond the Euphrates#tn Heb “the river,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity; see v. 3. and in Egypt and worship#tn Or “and serve.” the Lord. 15 If you have no desire#tn Heb “if it is bad in your eyes.” to worship#tn Or “to serve.” the Lord, choose today whom you will worship,#tn Or “will serve.” whether it be the gods whom your ancestors#tn Heb “your fathers.” worshiped#tn Or “served.” beyond the Euphrates,#tn Heb “the river,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity; see v. 3. or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family#tn Heb “house.” will worship#tn Or “will serve.” the Lord!”
16 The people responded, “Far be it from us to abandon the Lord so we can#tn Heb “to.” worship#tn Or “can serve.” other gods! 17 For the Lord our God took us and our fathers out of slavery#tn Heb “of the house of slavery.” in the land of Egypt#tn Heb “for the Lord our God, he is the one who brought up us and our fathers from the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves.” and performed these awesome miracles#tn Or “great signs.” before our very eyes. He continually protected us as we traveled and when we passed through nations.#tn Heb “and he guarded us in all the way in which we walked and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed.” 18 The Lord drove out from before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. So we too will worship#tn Or “will serve.” the Lord, for he is our God!”
19 Joshua warned#tn Heb “said to.” the people, “You will not keep worshiping#tn Heb “you are not able to serve.” the Lord, for#sn For an excellent discussion of Joshua’s logical argument here, see T. C. Butler, Joshua (WBC), 274-75. he is a holy God.#tn In the Hebrew text both the divine name (אֱלֹהִים, ’elohim) and the adjective (קְדֹשִׁים, qÿdoshim, “holy”) are plural. Normally the divine name, when referring to the one true God, takes singular modifiers, but this is a rare exception where the adjective agrees grammatically with the honorific plural noun. See GKC §124.i and IBHS 122. He is a jealous God who will not forgive#tn Heb “lift up” or “take away.”sn This assertion obviously needs qualification, for the OT elsewhere affirms that God does forgive. Joshua is referring to the persistent national rebellion against the Mosaic covenant that eventually cause God to decree unconditionally the nation’s exile. your rebellion or your sins. 20 If#tn Or “when.” you abandon the Lord and worship#tn Or “and serve.” foreign gods, he will turn against you;#tn The words “against you” are added for clarification. he will bring disaster on you and destroy you,#tn Heb “bring you to an end.” though he once treated you well.”#tn Heb “after he did good for you.”
21 The people said to Joshua, “No! We really will#tn The translation assumes that כִּי (ki) is emphatic. Another option is to take it as explanatory, “No, for we will….” worship#tn Or “will serve.” the Lord!” 22 Joshua said to the people, “Do you agree to be witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to worship the Lord?”#tn Heb “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the Lord to serve him.” They replied, “We are witnesses!”#sn Like witnesses in a court of law, Israel’s solemn vow to worship the Lord will testify against them in the divine court if the nation ever violates its commitment. 23 Joshua said,#tn The words “Joshua said” are supplied for clarification. “Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to#tn Heb “bend your heart toward.” The term לֵבָב (levav, “heart”) probably here refers to the people’s volition or will. the Lord God of Israel.”
24 The people said to Joshua, “We will worship#tn Or “will serve.” the Lord our God and obey him.”#tn Heb “and listen to his voice.”
25 That day Joshua drew up an agreement#tn Heb “cut a covenant.” for the people, and he established rules and regulations#tn Heb “a statute and a judgment.” for them in Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these words in the Law Scroll of God. He then took a large stone and set it up there under the oak tree near the Lord’s shrine. 27 Joshua said to all the people, “Look, this stone will be a witness against you, for it has heard everything the Lord said to us.#tn Heb “all the words of the Lord which he spoke with us.” It will be a witness against you if#tn Or “lest,” “so that you might not.” you deny your God.” 28 When Joshua dismissed the people, they went to their allotted portions of land.#tn Heb “And Joshua sent the people away, each to his inheritance.”
An Era Ends
29 After all this#tn Heb “after these things.” Joshua son of Nun, the Lord’s servant, died at the age of one hundred ten. 30 They buried him in his allotted territory#tn Heb “in the territory of his inheritance.” in Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 31 Israel worshiped#tn Or “served.” the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and as long as the elderly men who outlived him remained alive.#tn Heb “all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived him.” These men had experienced firsthand everything the Lord had done for Israel.#tn Heb “who knew all the work of the Lord which he had done for Israel.”
32 The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the part of the field that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for one hundred pieces of money.#tn Heb “one hundred qesitahs.” The Hebrew word קְשִׂיטָה (qesitah) is generally understood to refer to a unit of money, but the value and/or weight is unknown. The word occurs only here and in Gen 33:19 and Job 42:11. So it became the inheritance of the tribe of Joseph.#tn Heb “and they became for the sons of Joseph an inheritance.” One might think “bones” is the subject of the verb “they became,” but the verb is masculine, while “bones” is feminine. The translation follows the emendation suggested in the BHS note, which appeals to the Syriac and Vulgate for support. The emended reading understands “the part (of the field)” as the subject of the verb “became.” The emended verb is feminine singular; this agrees with “the part” (of the field), which is feminine in Hebrew.
33 Eleazar son of Aaron died, and they buried him in Gibeah in the hill country of Ephraim, where his son Phinehas had been assigned land.#tn Heb “in Gibeah of Phinehas, his son, which had been given to him in the hill country of Ephraim.”
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Joshua 24: NET
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Joshua 24
24
1And Ioshua assembled againe all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called the Elders of Israel, and their heades, and their iudges, and their officers, and they presented themselues before God. 2Then Ioshua said vnto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt beyond the flood in olde time, euen Terah the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor, and serued other gods. 3And I tooke your father Abraham from beyond the flood, and brought him through all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seede, and gaue him Izhak. 4And I gaue vnto Izhak, Iaakob and Esau: and I gaue vnto Esau mount Seir, to possesse it: but Iaakob and his children went downe into Egypt. 5I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt: and when I had so done among them, I brought you out. 6So I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and ye came vnto the Sea, and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with charets and horsemen vnto the red sea. 7Then they cryed vnto the Lord, and he put a darkenesse betweene you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea vpon them, and couered them: so your eyes haue seene what I haue done in Egypt also ye dwelt in the wildernesse a long season. 8After, I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt beyond Iorden, and they fought with you: but I gaue them into your hand, and ye possessed their countrey, and I destroyed them out of your sight. 9Also Balak the sonne of Zippor King of Moab arose and warred against Israel, and sent to call Balaam the sonne of Beor for to curse you, 10But I would not heare Balaam: therefore he blessed you, and I deliuered you out of his hand. 11And ye went ouer Iorden, and came vnto Iericho, and the men of Iericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hiuites and the Iebusites, and I deliuered them into your hand. 12And I sent hornets before you, which cast them out before you, euen the two kings of the Amorites, and not with thy sword, nor with thy bow. 13And I haue giuen you a land, wherein ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and yee dwell in them, and eate of the vineyards and oliue trees, which yee planted not. 14Nowe therefore feare the Lord, and serue him in vprightnesse and in trueth, and put away the gods, which your fathers serued beyonde the flood and in Egypt, and serue the Lord. 15And if it seeme euill vnto you to serue the Lord, choose you this day whome yee will serue, whether the gods which your fathers serued (that were beyond the flood) or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwel: but I and mine house will serue the Lord. 16Then the people answered and saide, God forbid, that we shoulde forsake the Lord, to serue other gods. 17For the Lord our God, he brought vs and our fathers out of the lande of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and he did those great miracles in our sight, and preserued vs in all the way that we went, and among all the people through whome we came. 18And the Lord did cast out before vs all the people, euen the Amorites which dwelt in the lande: therefore will we also serue the Lord, for he is our God. 19And Ioshua saide vnto the people, Ye can not serue the Lord: for he is an holie God: he is a ielous God: hee will not pardon your iniquitie nor your sinnes. 20If yee forsake the Lord and serue strange gods, then he will returne and bring euill vpon you, and consume you, after that hee hath done you good. 21And the people saide vnto Ioshua, Nay, but we will serue the Lord. 22And Ioshua saide vnto the people, Yee are witnesses against your selues, that yee haue chosen you the Lord, to serue him: and they sayd, We are witnesses. 23Then put away nowe, saide he, the strange gods which are among you, and bowe your hearts vnto the Lord God of Israel. 24And ye people saide vnto Ioshua, The Lord our God wil we serue, and his voyce wil we obey. 25So Ioshua made a couenant with the people the same day, and gaue them an ordinance and lawe in Shechem. 26And Ioshua wrote these woordes in the booke of the Lawe of God, and tooke a great stone, and pitched it there vnder an oke that was in the Sanctuarie of the Lord. 27And Ioshua saide vnto all the people, Beholde, this stone shall be a witnesse vnto vs: for it hath heard all the wordes of the Lord which he spake with vs: it shall be therefore a witnesse against you, lest yee denie your God. 28Then Ioshua let the people depart, euery man vnto his inheritance. 29And after these things Ioshua the sonne of Nun, the seruaunt of the Lord died, being an hundreth and ten yeeres olde. 30And they buried him in ye border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the Northside of mount Gaash. 31And Israel serued the Lord all the daies of Ioshua, and all the daies of the Elders that ouerliued Ioshua, and which had knowen all the workes of the Lord that he had done for Israel. 32And the bones of Ioseph, which the children of Israel brought out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem in a parcell of ground which Iaakob bought of the sonnes of Hamor the father of Shechem, for an hundreth pieces of siluer, and the children of Ioseph had them in their inheritance. 33Also Eleazar the sonne of Aaron died, whome they buried in the hill of Phinehas his sonne, which was giuen him in mount Ephraim.
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