Joshua Chapter 23

At a Glance

  • Joshua 23 records Joshua’s final address to Israel after many years of rest from enemies.
  • This is a farewell chapter, bridging conquest and post-conquest life.
  • - Covenant fidelity as ongoing obligation: Remaining in the Law is essential to ongoing blessing.
  • - Boundaries and sanctity: The need to separate from spiritual practices of the remaining nations to preserve Israel’s holiness.
  • - Divine deliverance requires loyal response: God fights for the people when they remain faithful.

Joshua 23 records Joshua’s final address to Israel after many years of rest from enemies. He calls the leaders, elders, judges, and officers together to recount what the LORD has done and to exhort them to remain steadfast in the law. Joshua emphasizes moral courage, urging Israel to be diligent to keep all the law of Moses, to avoid intermingling with remaining nations, and not to turn to the right or left. Thematic focal points include obedience to God’s commands, spiritual loyalty, and the consequences of compromise: if they fail to drive out the remaining nations or if they marry with them, they risk becoming snares and traps. Joshua reminds them that the LORD has fought for them and that divine aid is contingent on continued faithfulness. The chapter ends with a covenant affirmation and a stark warning: cling to the LORD, for drifting will lead to danger and divine discipline.

This is a farewell chapter, bridging conquest and post-conquest life. The Deuteronomistic emphasis on covenant loyalty is reinforced as Joshua catalogs blessings and cautions. The genre blends exhortation, prophetic-like speech, and covenant renewal. The chapter serves as a capstone for the conquest narrative, pressing the people to internalize the theological logic that success in land hinges on fidelity to the Law and exclusive worship of the LORD. It aligns with Moses’ previous commands and with the book’s broader pattern of reminding Israel of obedience as the condition of blessing.

- Covenant fidelity as ongoing obligation: Remaining in the Law is essential to ongoing blessing.

- Boundaries and sanctity: The need to separate from spiritual practices of the remaining nations to preserve Israel’s holiness.

- Divine deliverance requires loyal response: God fights for the people when they remain faithful.

- Warning against compromise: The risk of alliances or practices that lead to idolatry and national destabilization.

- Faithful living as lifelong discipline: The call to remain rooted in Scripture and worship despite years of rest and stability.

- Guardrails for today’s life: Avoidance of syncretism—adapting beliefs or practices to fit surrounding culture at the expense of core convictions.

- Courageous leadership in households and communities: Embracing Joshua’s call to leadership that is faithful, discerning, and courageous.

Key Themes

Covenant fidelity as ongoing obligation: Remaining in the Law is essential to ongoing blessing.Boundaries and sanctity: The need to separate from spiritual practices of the remaining nations to preserve Israel’s holiness.Divine deliverance requires loyal response: God fights for the people when they remain faithful.Warning against compromise: The risk of alliances or practices that lead to idolatry and national destabilization.

Chapter Text

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 waxed old 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 go back, 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 for a certainty 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.

14

And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

15

Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

16

When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

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