Joshua 24
24
Renewal of the Covenant at Shechem
1Joshua assembled all Israel’s tribes at Shechem. # 24:1 Three locations in the promised land were of vital interest to Israel: Gilgal, Shiloh, and Shechem. Gilgal was their military headquarters during the invasion. For the believer today, Gilgal represents our beginning, our resurrection into new life, and our responsibilities and battles that come with it (see Josh. 10:43–11:23; Eph. 6:12). Gilgal was also a place of recovery and renewal, for the reproach of Egypt was rolled away at Gilgal. Shiloh was the pre-Jerusalem capitol and worship center for Israel, the spiritual pivot of national life. That is where God had manifested his grace, guidance, and power. It represents the holy realm of worship and devotion to God, where we receive divine revelation. Shechem was the political cradle of the nation due to its importance in the lives of the patriarchs. Shechem was not only the geographic center of Canaan but also the moral heart of the nation. At this city Abraham built the first altar to Yahweh within the land, and here God appeared to him and promised that Abraham’s seed would inherit the promises (see Gen. 12:7). It is the place of building altars, renewing our covenant-love of God (see Gen. 35:1–4), and receiving our spiritual inheritance as sons and daughters of God. He summoned all the leaders—elders, judges, and officials of Israel—and they all stood in the presence of God. 2Then Joshua said to them all: “This is what Yahweh the God of Israel has to say to you: ‘Long ago, your forefathers—Terah, father of Abraham and father of Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods. 3I took your father Abraham from that land and led him through all the land of Canaan. I gave him a son, Isaac, and through Isaac I multiplied his descendants. 4I gave Isaac two sons, Jacob and Esau. To Esau and his descendants I gave the hill country of Edom # 24:4 Or “Seir.” as their inheritance, while Jacob and his family went down to Egypt. 5When the time of their captivity was complete, I sent Moses and Aaron to Egypt to deliver them. I struck the land with great plagues, and afterward I led you # 24:5 In vv. 5–7 the author alternates between using “your forefathers [ancestors]” and “you [plural]” as a way of reminding the people of that generation that they were included in the redemptive history of their people. out from there. 6I freed your forefathers from Egypt and brought you to the Red Sea, but the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen. 7Then our people cried out to Yahweh for help, and he put a thick, dark cloud between you and the Egyptians. When the Egyptians attempted to follow them, I caused the sea to roll over them and drown them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert for many years. 8I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived east of the Jordan. When they fought against you, I gave them into your hands. As you advanced, I gave you victory over them, and you took possession of their land.
9‘Later, when Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, opposed Israel, he sent for the prophet Balaam son of Beor to come and curse you. 10But I refused to listen to Balaam. Instead he had to prophesy my blessings over you! I rescued you from his power. # 24:10 Or “from his hand.”
11‘Later, after you crossed the Jordan miraculously, you faced another impossibility—Jericho! The lords of Jericho, # 24:11 “The lords of Jericho” may be a reference to the spiritual powers (principalities) that held Jericho and the other city-states in their grip. Joshua battled not only against flesh and blood but also against principalities and powers (Eph. 6:10–18). as well as the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, fought with you, but I gave you victory over them all! 12I sent the hornet # 24:12 See Ex. 23:28; Deut. 7:20. The hornet is likely an idiomatic expression for being thrown into a panic. One can get a picture of a man thrashing at a swarm of hornets trying to sting him. That is the word picture here. As God’s presence invaded the land, it brought panic into the hearts of God’s enemies. ahead of you to run off the two Amorite kings. # 24:12 That is, Og and Sihon. See 12:2–13:11. Your weapons and strength had nothing to do with it! 13I gave you land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built. You are now living in the land I gave you. You are eating grapes from vines that others planted and olives from trees planted by the people who lived there before you.’
Choose Whom You Will Serve
14“Now therefore, worship Yahweh with holy awe # 24:14 Or “fear” or “reverential honor.” and serve him in authentic love and loyalty. Remove from your hearts every false god to whom your fathers bowed down beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and serve Yahweh. 15If it seems wrong in your eyes to serve Yahweh, then make your decision today which gods you will worship—the gods which your ancestors worshiped in Mesopotamia or the gods which the Amorites worship in the land where you are now living—but I and my family, we will give our lives to worship and serve Yahweh!” # 24:15 The Septuagint adds the clause “for he is holy!”
16The people responded enthusiastically: “Far be it from us to abandon Yahweh and serve other gods! 17Our God, Yahweh, set us and our fathers free from slavery in the land of Egypt, the house of bondage. He performed these many great signs and wonders before our eyes. Yahweh supernaturally protected us throughout our entire journey as we passed through the territory of other nations. 18And as we advanced, Yahweh powerfully drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who inhabited the country. Yes, Joshua! We, too, will worship and serve Yahweh, for he alone is our God.”
19Joshua warned the people, “Don’t be so quick to say, ‘We will worship and serve Yahweh,’ # 24:19 Or “You will not be able to serve Yahweh.” for he is a holy God. And he will tolerate no rivals. # 24:19 Or “He is El, the Jealous.” See Ex. 20:5; Deut. 4:24; 5:9. God will not forgive the sin of unfaithfulness to him. # 24:19 Or “He will not forgive your transgressions and your sins.” Joshua possibly knew that they were secretly practicing idolatry. 20If after Yahweh has been gracious to you, you turn and forsake him to worship other gods, then he will turn and deal harshly with you and totally consume you!”
21“No, no!” the people responded. “We promise to worship and serve Yahweh!”
22Then Joshua said to them, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve Yahweh.”
“Yes, we are witnesses,” they responded.
23“Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away these foreign gods that are among you, and yield your hearts fully to Yahweh the God of Israel!”
24And the people promised Joshua, “We really will worship and serve our God, Yahweh, and listen to his voice.”
25On that day when the people were gathered at Shechem, Joshua made a covenant between them and Yahweh, which contained laws the people were to obey. 26Joshua recorded all this in a book of divine instruction. # 24:26 Or “the book of the law of God.” It is difficult to identify this as any particular book included in the Old Testament. Then he set up a large stone memorial at the tent pole # 24:26 Or “oak tree [terebinth].” This is a hapax legomenon that Rabbinical Judaism interprets as “pole.” (See A. Cohen, American Journal of Semitic Languages, xl, pp. 160ff). near the holy place of Yahweh. 27Joshua said to all the people, “Look at this stone! It will serve as a witness, for it heard all the words that Yahweh spoke to us; # 24:27 The stones (inanimate objects) can hear our words. it will be a witness against you if you rebel against our God.” 28Joshua then dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.
Joshua and Eleazar Buried in the Promised Land
29Some time later, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, # 24:29 Finally upon his death Joshua was called “the servant of Yahweh,” a title that had been used exclusively for Moses up to this point in the book of Joshua. died at the age of one hundred and ten. 30They buried him on his own property, at Timnath Serah # 24:30 Or “Timnath Heres.” See Judg. 2:9 and first footnote. in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. # 24:30 Gaash means “shaking” or “commotion.” 31Israel was faithful to serve Yahweh during the lifetime of Joshua and the lifetime of the elders who lived on after Joshua, those who had experienced all the miracles that Yahweh had done for Israel. # 24:31 See Judg. 2:7, 10.
32They buried Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, at Shechem, in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver # 24:32 Or “for a hundred qesitah,” an unknown unit of money. from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father. # 24:32 See Gen. 50:24–25. The Septuagint adds “There they deposited in his grave the flint knives used to circumcise the children of Israel at Gilgal, as the Lord commanded them when he brought them out of Egypt.” So the land became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants. 33The chief priest # 24:33 The words “chief priest” are found in some Syriac manuscripts and the Septuagint. Eleazar son of Aaron also died. They buried him on the hill # 24:33 Or “Gibeah.” Gibeah is the common Hebrew word for “hill.” of his son Phineas, which had been assigned to him in Ephraim. # 24:33 The Septuagint adds, “At that time, the children of Israel took up the ark of God and carried it about among them.”
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Joshua 24: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationJoshua 24
24
Joshua Recounts Their History
1And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem; he summoned the elders of Israel, their heads, their judges, and their officials, and they presented themselves before God. 2And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel: ‘Long ago#Literally “from ancient” your ancestors#Or “fathers”—Terah the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor—lived beyond the river,#That is, the Euphrates and they served other gods. 3I took your ancestor#Or “father” Abraham from beyond the river#That is, the Euphrates and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I increased his offspring; I gave him Isaac, 4and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. 5And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in its midst; and afterward I brought you out. 6When I brought out your ancestors#Or “fathers” from Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued after your ancestors#Or “fathers” with chariots#Hebrew “chariot” and horsemen to the Red Sea.#Literally “sea of reed” 7They cried out to Yahweh, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and he brought the sea over them#That is, the Egyptians and covered them; your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. Then you lived in the wilderness for many days. 8And I brought you to the land of the Amorites#Hebrew “Amorite” who lived beyond the Jordan; they fought you, and I gave them into your hand; you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.#Literally “in your presence” 9Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, set out and fought against Israel, and he sent and summoned Balaam son of Beor to curse you, 10but I was not willing to listen to Balaam, and he richly blessed you. So I rescued you from his hand, 11and you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. And the citizens of Jericho, the Amorites,#Hebrew “Amorite” the Perizzites,#Hebrew “Perizzite” the Canaanites,#Hebrew “Canaanite” the Hittites,#Hebrew “Hittite” the Girgashites,#Hebrew “Girgashite” the Hivites,#Hebrew “Hivite” and the Jebusites,#Hebrew “Jebusite” fought against you, and I gave them into your hand. 12I sent before you the hornet and they drove out before you two kings of the Amorites;#Hebrew “Amorite” but not by your sword or bow. 13I gave to you a land that you have not labored on, and cities that you have not built, and you live#Or “dwell” in them; you eat from vineyards and olive groves that you have not planted.’
The Israelites Promise to Serve Yahweh
14“So now, revere Yahweh and serve him in sincerity and faithfulness; remove the gods that your ancestors#Or “fathers” served beyond the river#That is, the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve Yahweh. 15But if it is bad in your eyes to serve Yahweh, choose for yourselves today whom you want to serve, whether it is the gods that your ancestors#Or “fathers” served beyond the river,#That is, the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites#Hebrew “Amorite” in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve Yahweh.” 16And the people answered and said, “Far be it from us that we would forsake Yahweh to serve other gods, 17for Yahweh our God brought us and our ancestors#Or “fathers” from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery, and did these great signs before our eyes. He protected us along the entire way that we went, and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed. 18And Yahweh drove out all the people before us, the Amorites#“Hebrew “Amorite” who live#Or “dwell” in the land. We will serve Yahweh, for he is our God.”
19But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve Yahweh, for he is a holy and jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20If you forsake Yahweh and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster to you; he will destroy you after he has done good to you.” 21And the people said to Joshua, “No, we will serve Yahweh.” 22And Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves to serve Yahweh.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” 23He said, “Remove the foreign gods that are in your midst, and incline your hearts to Yahweh the God of Israel.” 24And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice.” 25So Joshua made a covenant#Literally “cut a covenant” with the people on that day, and he established for them a statute and a judgment at Shechem. 26Then Joshua wrote these words in a scroll of the law of God, and he took a large stone and set it up there under a large tree, which is at the shrine of Yahweh. 27And Joshua said to all the people, “Look, this stone will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of Yahweh that he spoke with us. It will be as a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God.” 28Then Joshua sent the people away to their inheritance.
29After these things Joshua son of Nun servant of Yahweh died; he was one hundred and ten years old.#Literally “a son of one hundred and ten years” 30They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, at Timnath-Serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 31Israel served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who lived long after Joshua, and who had known all the work that Yahweh did for Israel.#Joshua 24:28–31 is repeated in Judges 2:6–10 32The bones of Jacob, which the Israelites#Literally “sons/children of Israel” had brought out from Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in a piece of land that Jacob had bought from the children of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for one hundred pieces of money;#Hebrew kesitah it became an inheritance for the descendants#Or “sons” of Joseph. 33And Eleazar son of Aaron died; and they buried him in Gibeah in the hill country of Ephraim, which had been given to his son Phinehas.
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