Joshua 23

Joshua 23:11-16

In this and the following chapter we have Joshua’s last charges to the people, 1. A convention of the state called, vers. 1, 2. 2. Joshua’s speech to them, in which, (1.) He meets them of what God had done for them, vers. 3, 4, 9, 14, and what he was ready to do yet farther, vers. 5, 10. (2.) He exhorts them carefully and resolutely to persevere in their duty to God, vers. 6, 8, 11. (3.) He cautions them against all familiarity with Libisters, vers. 7. (4.) He points out the fatal consequences of revolting from God, vers. 12-16.

1. AND it came to pass, 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 had 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, I wellwant. 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 there from, to the right hand, or to the left. 7. That ye come not among these nations, these that remain amongst 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 your shall chate a thousand: for the LORD your God, he is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

2. 1-10. Joshua was now old, and having but a short time to live, is inflictious to improve it to the best purpose; his last words, it is to be perfumed, would be heard with peculiar attention: wherefore he fummons those, on whose carefulness and piety the well-being of the three chiefly depressed, and whose examples must be most influential over the people, the elders of R. r. r.

the great ha:hedrim, the heads or princes of the tribes, the judges in the several cities, and the officers the executioners of justice, and to these assembled on this occasion, he addrelles his didactic.

J. He reminds them of what God had done for them, to awaken a grateful return for such forpalling mercies. He had thrust out powerful nations, to make room for them, had given them success in every attack; neither city nor army ever was able to stand before them; and they were now in quiet profession of these valuable conquests. Note, We can never too frequently remember, or too thankfully acknowledge what great things God hath done for us in our bodies or in our souls.

2. He affirms them the same mercy and goodness was engaged to attend them in their future attempts; they had enough at present, but when they should be increased, the remaining Canaanites should fall as early a year as their neighbours; one needed they the assembled forces of Israel; one tribe would be sufficient for any conquest, when one Israelite should chase a thousand. Note, It is God who giveth us the victory; though our spiritual enemies appear never to numerous or strong, God fightsth for us, and then we must be more than experience.

3. He exhents them hereupon to courage and faithful obedience. They may confidently go forth under his bidding, only let them take care to secure his favour; and, in order hereunto, they must be, (1.) Obedient to God’s commands, careful to observe his inflicted ordinances, and faithful in their adherence to him: they had been so, and this was an argument for their perseverance; they had experienced the enemies of it. (2.) They must avoid all connexion with the Canaanites which were among them, must have no intercourse with them, so much as to rest. The very names of their idols they may not mention in their lips, much less swear by them, or serve or bow down to them. Idolatry being their befitting sin, and the most provoking to God, they must keep at the greatest possible distance from it. Note, They who would keep from evil, must avoid temptation, especially in the case of their easily befitting sin.

Heb. Vior Ioch. Prov. civ. 11. Heb. c. 13. 1 Petos. 86, 81. Heb. A from and to a net, and for a change. Tend. vcn. 13. Noth. ann. 15. 1 Kings vi. 4. P.1 Kings c. 2. Heb. w. 37. 6. Chap. col. 41. 1 Sam. In. 10. Liberas. 15. Lev. 40. 13. Deut. ann. 1. 1. Gen. 10. 14. Deut. ann. 15. 68.

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 shares 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.

In order to preserve them from that state of apostasy from God, which, with prophetic forefight, he justly apprehended,

1. Joshua exhorts them to take heed, and keep themselves in the love of God; carelessness about his service would quickly bring ruin on their souls, and nothing can preserve them from falling away, but a principle of love engaging their hearts to God. Note, (1.) When we are surrounded with Canaanites, temptations on every side, we need constantly watch and pray. (2.) The love of God is the great preservative from all evil.

2. He reminds them of God’s faithfulness, as the most powerful motive to engage their love; nothing had failed of all his promises, therefore they were insecutable if they forfeited him. Note, God is faithful, and all who trust him will find him so.

3. He speaks of his own departure as at hand, when his warning voice would no more be heard among them, therefore the more commonly now should it be heard and pondered. He was going the way of all the earth. Death is the journey we all must take; the greatest of God’s times must tread this better road, in their removal from time into eternity. Happy they

who, like Joshua, can speak of it with satisfaction, and are ready for their great change.

4. He warns them of the danger they were in, and the ruin which would ensue, if they joined the Canaanites in their abominations. The gradual steps of their departure from God he describes, that avoiding the feast, they may keep from the danger; intercourse with the Canaanites would introduce more intimate connexions; profane marriages with these idolaters then would follow, and, as the necessary consequence of being yoked with unbelievers, they would serve their idols, and thus violate the farcist covenant established between God and them. The consequence of this must be, that God, in anger, would leave them to be enslaved in their own perseverance and folly; those neighbours, whom they cherished, would be thanks to their bosom, to sing them to death, first leading them into sin, and then bringing wrath upon them; their tempers would turn their tormentors; and God, in just judgment, give them up to their enemies, to the utter ruin of their church and nation, and the good land, where they dwelt so happily, should rest them out. Note, (1.) No fouse so fatal as being unequally yoked with unbelievers. (2.) It is just in God to make them ordinaments in our punishment, whom we have made instruments of our sin. (3.) The mercy which sinners have rejected will aggravate their misery, and the knowledge of the bliss they have lost increase the torment they feel.