1Joshua exhorteth before his death to obedience by the remembrance of former benefits, 5by the prospect of future blessings, 12and by threatenings in case of disobedience.
1AND it came to pass 1a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and 2stricken in age.
1 It was about fourteen years after they were come into the land of Canaan. Compare this with the annotation on Joshua 22:3.
2 Hebr. was come unto days.
2And Joshua called for 3all 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 Understand the heads and princes, with all those of the people who could give their appearance or attendance thereunto.
3And 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.
4Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these 4nations 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.
4 Namely, which were yet to be warred upon, and destroyed by the Israelites.
5And the LORD your God, he 5shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, asa the LORD your God hath 6promised unto you.
5 Namely, the heathen nations which yet remain in the land of Canaan.
a Exod. 14:14; 23:27; Num. 33:53; Deut. 6:19; Joshua 13:6.
6 Or, hath spoken; that is, promised.
6Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, thatb ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
b Deut. 5:32; 28:14.
7That ye come 7not among these nations, these that remain among you; 8neither make mentionc of the name of their gods, 9nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
7 That is, entertain no fellowship or society with them; for, he who deals with pitch, is soiled therewith. Some understand this, as if the Israelites were forbidden here to marry with those nations. See verse 12.
8 Other, do not remember of the name of their gods.
c Exod. 23:13; Psalm 16:4; Jer. 5:7; Zeph. 1:5; Eph. 5:3.
9 The meaning is: Swear not by the gods of the heathen, nor cause others to swear by them. See Exod. 23:13; Deut. 12:3; Psalm 16:4.
8Butd cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.
d Deut. 11:22.
9For 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.
10Onee man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath 10promised you.
e Lev. 26:8; Deut. 32:30.
10 Or, hath spoken; that is, promised.
11Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
12Else if ye do 11in 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:
11 Hebr. turning turn aside.
1312Know 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 13scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
12 Hebr. know knowing.
13 Of old they were wont to whip or to scourge people’s sides, as may be gathered here, and Ecclesiasticus 30:12; and 42:5.
14And, behold, 14this day 15I am going the way 16of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath 17failed 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.
14 That is, soon, ere long. For Joshua made this exhortation not just the same day that he died, but somewhat before.
15 That is, I die, as all men.
16 That is, as all people who live upon the earth. See 1 Kings 2:2.
17 Compare 1 Sam. 3:19 with the annotation there.
15Therefore 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 18all evil 19things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
18 Namely, wherewith He has threatened you, if ye would not keep and obey His commandments.
19 Other, words.
16When 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.