Joshua 23: Joshua's farewell to the leaders of Israel
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Long after Yahweh has given Israel rest, Joshua, now old, calls together all Israel and its leaders. He reminds them that Yahweh has fought for them and will drive out the nations that remain, and tells them to keep the law of Moses, to hold on to Yahweh, and not to serve the gods of those nations. He warns that if they turn back and marry among those nations, Yahweh will no longer drive them out and they will be a trap to them; and that just as every good word Yahweh promised has come true, he will bring every evil on them if they break his covenant, until they perish from the good land.
Who is speaking?
The narrator sets the scene in verses 1 and 2. Then Joshua speaks to all Israel to the end of the chapter (verses 2 to 16). He speaks often of what Yahweh has done and promised, but these are Joshua's words. No verse is in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1After many days, when Yahweh had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,
In plain English: A long time later (literally: after many days), when Yahweh had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, and Joshua was old and well on in years,
Good to know: The text used the same words, "old and well advanced in years", in , when Yahweh told Joshua that much land was still to be taken.
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2Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said to them, “I am old and well advanced in years.
In plain English: Joshua called all Israel, their elders, their heads, their judges and their officers, and said to them, "I am old and well on in years.
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3You have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is Yahweh your God who has fought for you.
In plain English: You have seen everything Yahweh your God has done to all these nations because of you (literally: before you), because it is Yahweh your God who has fought for you.
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4Behold, I have allotted to you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea toward the going down of the sun.
In plain English: Look, I have given out to you (literally: made fall to you) these nations that remain, as an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, together with all the nations I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea in the west (literally: toward the going down of the sun).
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5Yahweh your God will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight. You shall possess their land, as Yahweh your God spoke to you.
In plain English: Yahweh your God himself will push them out before you and drive them out of your sight. You will take over their land, as Yahweh your God promised you.
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6“Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left;
In plain English: So be very strong (this Bible: courageous) to keep and do everything written in the book of the law of Moses, and do not turn aside from it to the right or to the left,
Good to know: Yahweh said nearly these words to Joshua in : "Only be strong and very courageous ... Don't turn from it to the right hand or to the left." Here Joshua passes them on to Israel.
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7that you not come 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 down yourselves to them;
In plain English: so that you do not mix with (literally: go among) these nations that remain among you. Do not speak the names of their gods, or make anyone swear by them. Do not serve them or bow down to them.
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8but hold fast to Yahweh your God, as you have done to this day.
In plain English: But hold on to Yahweh your God, as you have done to this day.
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9“For Yahweh has driven great and strong nations out from before you. But as for you, no man has stood before you to this day.
In plain English: For Yahweh has driven out great and strong nations before you. As for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day.
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10One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is Yahweh your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you.
In plain English: One man of you chases (or: will chase) a thousand, because it is Yahweh your God who fights for you, as he promised you.
Good to know: "One ... chase a thousand" is also in Moses' song in , and has "Five of you shall chase a hundred".
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11Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love Yahweh your God.
In plain English: So take great care for yourselves (literally: for your souls) to love Yahweh your God.
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12“But if you do at all go back, and hold fast to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you;
In plain English: But if you ever turn back, and hold on to what is left of these nations that remain among you, and marry them, and go in among them and they among you,
Good to know: Moses forbade marriages with the nations of the land in .
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13know for a certainty that Yahweh your God will no longer drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap to you, a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you.
In plain English: then know for certain that Yahweh your God will no longer drive these nations out before you. They will be a snare and a trap to you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that Yahweh your God has given you.
Good to know: Yahweh gave a like warning through Moses in : those left in the land "will be like pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides". says it again: "they shall be in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you".
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14“Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which Yahweh your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it.
In plain English: Look, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and all your soul that not one word has failed (literally: fallen) of all the good things Yahweh your God promised about you. Every one has come true for you. Not one of them has failed.
Good to know: "The way of all the earth" means dying. King David uses the same words before his death in . The line that not one good word failed was said in .
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15It shall happen that as all the good things have come on you of which Yahweh your God spoke to you, so Yahweh will bring on you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you,
In plain English: But just as every good thing Yahweh your God promised you has come to you, so Yahweh will bring on you every evil thing (literally: every bad word), until he has wiped you out from this good land that Yahweh your God has given you,
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16when you disobey the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them. Then Yahweh’s anger will be kindled against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which he has given to you.”
In plain English: when you break (literally: cross over) the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then Yahweh's anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you."
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