Joshua

Joshua 23 ©

1 Joshua exhorteth before his death to obedience by the remembrance of former benefits, 5 by the prospect of future blessings, 12 and by threatenings in case of disobedience.

1

AND it came to pass a long time after that the LORD ahad given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua bwaxed old and 1*stricken in age.

2

And cJoshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their dofficers, and said unto them, I am old and *stricken in age:

3

And ye have eseen 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, fI 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 ggreat sea 2westward.

5

And the LORD your God, he hshall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, ias the LORD your God hath promised unto you.

6

Be jye 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 kye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor lcause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

l Je. 5.7.
8

3But cleave unto the LORD your God, as mye have done unto this day.

9

4For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, nno man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

10

One oman 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 pgood heed therefore unto 5yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

12

Else if qye 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 rthat 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 sgoing the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that tnot 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 ushall 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 vye 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.