Joshua 23

Jos 23:1, 2.

JOSHUA'S

EXHORTATION BEFORE

HIS

DEATH.

1. a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all

their enemies--about fourteen years after the conquest of Canaan, and

seven after the distribution of that country among the tribes.

2. Joshua called for all Israel--The clause which follows seems to

restrict this general expression as applicable only to the officers and

representatives of the people. The place of assembly was most probably

Shiloh. The occasion of convening it was the extreme age and approaching

death of the venerable leader; and the purport of this solemn address

was to animate the chosen people and their posterity to a faithful and

unswerving continuance in the faith and worship of the God of Israel.

Jos 23:3.

BY

FORMER

BENEFITS.

3. ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these

nations because of you--The modesty and humility of Joshua are

remarkably displayed at the commencement of this address. Dismissing

all thoughts of his personal services, he ascribed the subjugation and

occupation of Canaan entirely to the favoring presence and aid of God;

and in doing so, he spoke not more piously than truly. This had been

promised

(De 1:30; 3:22);

and the reality of the divine aid was seen in the rapid overthrow of

the Canaanites, which had already led to the division of the whole land

among the tribes

[Jos 23:4].

Jos 23:5-11.

BY

PROMISES.

5-11. the Lord your God, he shall expel them from before you, as the

Lord your God hath promised you, &c.--The actual possessions which God

had given were a pledge of the complete fulfilment of His promise in

giving them the parts of the country still unconquered. But the

accomplishment of the divine promise depended on their inviolable

fidelity to God's law--on their keeping resolutely aloof from all

familiar intercourse and intimate connections with the Canaanites, or

in any way partaking of their idolatrous sins. In the event of their

continuing in steadfast adherence to the cause of God, as happily

distinguished the nation at that time, His blessing would secure them a

course of brilliant and easy victories

(Le 26:7;

De 28:7; 32:30).

11. Take good heed, therefore, that ye love the Lord your God--The

sum of his exhortation is comprised in the love of God, which is the

end or fulfilment of the law

(De 6:5; 11:13;

Mt 22:37).

Jos 23:12.

BY

THREATENINGS IN

CASE OF

DISOBEDIENCE.

12, 13. Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant

of these nations--As marriage connections with the idolatrous

Canaanites would present many and strong temptations to transgress it,

these were strictly prohibited

(Ex 34:12-16;

De 7:3).

With his eye, as it were, upon those prohibitions, Joshua threatens

them with the certain withdrawal of the divine aid in the further

expulsion of the Canaanites (a threat founded

Ex 23:33;

Nu 33:55;

De 7:16).