Joshua 24:1
וַיֶּאֶסֹ֧ף יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶת־כָּל־שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שְׁכֶ֑מָה וַיִּקְרָא֩ לְזִקְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וּלְרָאשָׁ֗יו וּלְשֹֽׁפְטָיו֙ וּלְשֹׁ֣טְרָ֔יו וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
Joshua 24:2
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֗ם כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָה֮ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ בְּעֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֗ר יָשְׁב֤וּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ מֵֽעוֹלָ֔ם תֶּ֛רַח אֲבִ֥י אַבְרָהָ֖ם וַאֲבִ֣י נָח֑וֹר וַיַּעַבְד֖וּ אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִֽים׃
Joshua 24:3
וָ֠אֶקַּח אֶת־אֲבִיכֶ֤ם אֶת־אַבְרָהָם֙ מֵעֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֔ר וָאוֹלֵ֥ךְ אוֹת֖וֹ בְּכָל־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וָאֶרֶב אֶת־זַרְע֔וֹ וָֽאֶתֶּן־ל֖וֹ אֶת־יִצְחָֽק׃
Joshua 24:4
וָאֶתֵּ֣ן לְיִצְחָ֔ק אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֖ב וְאֶת־עֵשָׂ֑ו וָאֶתֵּ֨ן לְעֵשָׂ֜ו אֶת־הַ֤ר שֵׂעִיר֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אוֹת֔וֹ וְיַעֲקֹ֥ב וּבָנָ֖יו יָרְד֥וּ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
Joshua 24:5
וָאֶשְׁלַ֞ח אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֤ה וְאֶֽת־אַהֲרֹן֙ וָאֶגֹּ֣ף אֶת־מִצְרַ֔יִם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי בְּקִרְבּ֑וֹ וְאַחַ֖ר הוֹצֵ֥אתִי אֶתְכֶֽם׃
Joshua 24:6
וָֽאוֹצִ֤יא אֶת־אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם וַתָּבֹ֖אוּ הַיָּ֑מָּה וַיִּרְדְּפ֨וּ מִצְרַ֜יִם אַחֲרֵ֧י אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם בְּרֶ֥כֶב וּבְפָרָשִׁ֖ים יַם־סֽוּף׃
Joshua 24:7
וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־יְהוָ֗ה וַיָּ֨שֶׂם מַֽאֲפֵ֜ל בֵּינֵיכֶ֣ם׀ וּבֵ֣ין הַמִּצְרִ֗ים וַיָּבֵ֨א עָלָ֤יו אֶת־הַיָּם֙ וַיְכַסֵּ֔הוּ וַתִּרְאֶ֙ינָה֙ עֵינֵיכֶ֔ם אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֖יתִי בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וַתֵּשְׁב֥וּ בַמִּדְבָּ֖ר יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃
Joshua 24:8
וָאָבִאָה אֶתְכֶ֗ם אֶל־אֶ֤רֶץ הָאֱמֹרִי֙ הַיּוֹשֵׁב֙ בְּעֵ֣בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ אִתְּכֶ֑ם וָאֶתֵּ֨ן אוֹתָ֤ם בְּיֶדְכֶם֙ וַתִּֽירְשׁ֣וּ אֶת־אַרְצָ֔ם וָאַשְׁמִידֵ֖ם מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם׃
Joshua 24:9
וַיָּ֨קָם בָּלָ֤ק בֶּן־צִפּוֹר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מוֹאָ֔ב וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח וַיִּקְרָ֛א לְבִלְעָ֥ם בֶּן־בְּע֖וֹר לְקַלֵּ֥ל אֶתְכֶֽם׃
Joshua 24:10
וְלֹ֥א אָבִ֖יתִי לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ לְבִלְעָ֑ם וַיְבָ֤רֶךְ בָּרוֹךְ֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם וָאַצִּ֥ל אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדֽוֹ׃
Joshua 24:11
וַתַּעַבְר֣וּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן֮ וַתָּבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־יְרִיחוֹ֒ וַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּ בָכֶ֣ם בַּעֲלֵֽי־יְ֠רִיחוֹ הָֽאֱמֹרִ֨י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֜י וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֗י וְהַֽחִתִּי֙ וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֔י הַֽחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִ֑י וָאֶתֵּ֥ן אוֹתָ֖ם בְּיֶדְכֶֽם׃
Joshua 24:12
וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח לִפְנֵיכֶם֙ אֶת־הַצִּרְעָ֔ה וַתְּגָ֤רֶשׁ אוֹתָם֙ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם שְׁנֵ֖י מַלְכֵ֣י הָאֱמֹרִ֑י לֹ֥א בְחַרְבְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א בְקַשְׁתֶּֽךָ׃
Joshua 24:13
וָאֶתֵּ֨ן לָכֶ֜ם אֶ֣רֶץ׀ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יָגַ֣עְתָּ בָּ֗הּ וְעָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־בְנִיתֶ֔ם וַתֵּשְׁב֖וּ בָּהֶ֑ם כְּרָמִ֤ים וְזֵיתִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־נְטַעְתֶּ֔ם אַתֶּ֖ם אֹכְלִֽים׃
Joshua 24:14
וְעַתָּ֞ה יְר֧אוּ אֶת־יְהוָ֛ה וְעִבְד֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ בְּתָמִ֣ים וּבֶֽאֱמֶ֑ת וְהָסִ֣ירוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֩ עָבְד֨וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֜ם בְּעֵ֤בֶר הַנָּהָר֙ וּבְמִצְרַ֔יִם וְעִבְד֖וּ אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃
and now, fear YHWH and serve Him in completeness and in truth and put away the gods which your fathers served in the region of the river and in Egypt and serve YHWH.
Paraphrase: Now having reviewed all what I have done for you, what should your response be? Well you should have a perfect confidence in YHWH as your Great King. You should give all your respect and honor to Him. Your submission to YHWH should be complete and total. No part of your heart or life should be kept from Him. Any idols that you might cherish either openly or in secret, you should dismiss without any hesitation. Cast them from you with disgust. You know that some of your people began privately to look to some of the god’s of Egypt when they were there and the god’s of other nations. This is a terrible evil and must never enter your mind. You are to serve the Creator of heaven and earth and Him alone.
Comments:
What idolatry is referenced here? Poole comments on this verse: “whereby it appears, that although Joshua had doubtless prevented and purged out all public and manifest idolatry, yet there were some of them who practiced it in their private houses and retirements.” This corresponds to Joshua’s command in Joshua 24:23. From the following verse, however, support is given to the idea that the idolatry referenced here is the idolatry practiced by the ancestors of Abraham as in Joshua 24:2.
Joshua 24:15
וְאִם֩ רַ֨ע בְּֽעֵינֵיכֶ֜ם לַעֲבֹ֣ד אֶת־יְהוָ֗ה בַּחֲר֨וּ לָכֶ֣ם הַיּוֹם֮ אֶת־מִ֣י תַעֲבֹדוּן֒ אִ֣ם אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֞ים אֲשֶׁר־עָבְד֣וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּעֵבֶר הַנָּהָ֔ר וְאִם֙ אֶת־אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֖ם יֹשְׁבִ֣ים בְּאַרְצָ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֣י וּבֵיתִ֔י נַעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃פ
and if is evil in your eyes to serve YHWH, choose for yourself today who you will serve; if the god’s which your fathers served which was in the region of the river or if the God’s of the Amorites in whose land you dwell but I and my house, we will serve YHWH.
Paraphrase: Or if it is too much trouble for you to serve YHWH, if life lived in submission to Him is so irksome and irritating for you, then make a choice. Take a stand today and decide who you are going to follow. (Revelation 22:11) Don’t waffle around and flit from one to the other like foolish birds. (1 Kings 18:21) Perhaps you would like to return to the gods your ancestors served, the gods who Terah and Nahor worshipped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates in the land of Ur? Or maybe you prefer the gods of the Amorites who you just defeated in battle and on whose land you are now living? (Joshua 24:8) Whatever way you go, know this. I and my family are going to serve YHWH, and there is nothing in heaven (Galatians 1:8) or on earth that could persuade me to do otherwise.”
Comments:
Joshua 24:16
וַיַּ֤עַן הָעָם֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר חָלִ֣ילָה לָּ֔נוּ מֵעֲזֹ֖ב אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה לַעֲבֹ֖ד אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִֽים׃
and the people answered and said, “It is abhorrent to us to abandon YHWH to serve other gods.”
Paraphrase: As Joshua spoke this, the people rose up in indignation and vehemently responded. “It is unthinkable that we would ever leave YHWH to serve and worship other gods. We know very well that there is no God but YHWH. The very suggestion of turning from Him is abhorrent to us.
Comments:
חָלִילָה is an exclamation of abhorrence similar to μη γενοιτο. source
The mem prefix on מֵעֲזֹב is
Joshua 24:17
כִּ֚י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ הוּא֩ הַמַּעֲלֶ֨ה אֹתָ֧נוּ וְאֶת־אֲבוֹתֵ֛ינוּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֣ית עֲבָדִ֑ים וַאֲשֶׁ֧ר עָשָׂ֣ה לְעֵינֵ֗ינוּ אֶת־הָאֹת֤וֹת הַגְּדֹלוֹת֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַֽיִּשְׁמְרֵ֗נוּ בְּכָל־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלַ֣כְנוּ בָ֔הּ וּבְכֹל֙ הָֽעַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָבַ֖רְנוּ בְּקִרְבָּֽם׃
For YHWH is our God, He is the One who caused us and our fathers to go up from the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage and who did before our eyes these great signs and kept us in all the way which we went through her and in all the peoples which we passed in their midst.
Paraphrase: We know very well who delivered us and our fathers from the Egyptian bondage and who did the amazing miracles which brought us safely through the wilderness and to the promised land. We saw what YHWH did to the Egyptians drowning them in the Red sea without us lifting a finger. We remember very well how He destroyed the Amalekites when they attacked us.
Comments:
Joshua 24:18
וַיְגָ֨רֶשׁ יְהוָ֜ה אֶת־כָּל־הָעַמִּ֗ים וְאֶת־הָאֱמֹרִ֛י יֹשֵׁ֥ב הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפָּנֵ֑ינוּ גַּם־אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ נַעֲבֹ֣ד אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה כִּי־ה֖וּא אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ס
and YHWH drove out all the peoples and Amorites who were living the land from before us. We also will serve YHWH because He is our God.
Paraphrase: We saw how He gave us the victory over all the nations who lived in the land of Canaan. We hardly had to fight; YHWH did everything. Time and again, He showed us that all power in heaven and earth belongs to Him. He is the great Sovereign who rules over all creation. Now, therefore, we swear an oath this today that we will serve and worship YHWH alone; He and He alone is our God.
Comments:
Note the גם correlativum (see middle of right column p169).
Joshua 24:19
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ אֶל־הָעָ֗ם לֹ֤א תֽוּכְלוּ֙ לַעֲבֹ֣ד אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֥ים קְדֹשִׁ֖ים ה֑וּא אֵֽל־קַנּ֣וֹא ה֔וּא לֹֽא־יִשָּׂ֥א לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֖ם וּלְחַטֹּאותֵיכֶֽם׃
and Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve YHWH because God is holy; He is a jealous God; He will not lift up your rebellions or your sins.
Paraphrase: Then Joshua looked at the people with dismay. “Look,” he said, “I have heard your determination to serve YHWH faithfully and to follow Him with your whole heart. Alas, if only it were true. The truth is, however, that you are not able to serve YHWH as you have promised today. (Deuteronomy 5:27-29) The reason is simple. No matter how firm your resolve and no matter how well you do, you simply cannot measure up to God’s standard. God is holy. Do any of us really understand what this means? It means that God cannot brook the least compromise with evil. He cannot tolerate the slightest deviation from His laws. The least sin is punishable with death because it is a violation of who He is. This is why you can never successfully serve YHWH. Furthermore, God demands perfect exclusivity. (Hosea 1:2; Ezekiel 16, 23) His love for you is such that He will not tolerate any rival. (Zechariah 8:2) When God sees your devotion beginning to wander, He will punish with all the fury of His perfect holiness. YHWH never overlooks sin. Any rebellion, any thought in your heart towards another deity, even the slightest inclination to do something contrary to what God has commanded, He will not pass it by. He will surely punish you for any sin. (Matthew 5:26)
Comments:
It is interesting to note that it is not Israel’s folly which is given as the reason for their inability to obey God but God’s perfect holiness.
The central idea behind God’s jealousy is His exclusivity. (Deuteronomy 6:5) The catechism of the council of Trent (p326):
The jealousy of God, therefore, is His most calm and impartial justice, by which the soul, that is corrupted by false opinions and depraved passions, is repudiated as an adulteress; and in this jealousy of God, evincing as it does His supreme and incredible goodness towards us, we recognize a source of the sweetest and most delightful pleasure. For there is no love more ardent among men, no bond of union stronger or closer, than what exists between married persons. God, therefore, when, frequently comparing Himself to a spouse or husband, He calls Himself a jealous God, demonstrates the excess of His love towards us.
Fairbairn says (bottom of p118) that using the term “jealous” to describe God gives vividness to the idea that God’s love cannot bear a partner or rival. Beet (very bottom of p541):
…by calling Himself holy, God proclaimed that in virtue of His own nature, and of the essential relation of the Creator to His creatures, He can do no other than claim their unreserved devotion, and that in this devotion He can tolerate no rival.
Calvin (top of p345): Wherefore, when he reproves the apostacy of the Jews, he complains that they had discarded chastity, and were polluted with adulteries. Therefore as a husband in proportion to the superiority of his purity and chastity is the more grievously incensed, if he perceive the affection of his wife inclining to a rival; so the Lord, who hath in truth espoused us to Himself, declares that He feels the most ardent jealousy, whenever we neglect the sacred purity of His conjugal relation to us, and defile ourselves with criminal lusts, but especially when we transfer to any other, or adulterate with any superstition, the worship of his majesty, which ought to be preserved in the most consummate perfection. Since by such conduct we not only violate the faith pledged in our nuptials, but even pollute our souls with spiritual adultery.
Also Oehler (bottom of p165), Watson (p255), Lightfoot, Simeon.
Joshua 24:20
כִּ֤י תַֽעַזְבוּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם אֱלֹהֵ֣י נֵכָ֑ר וְשָׁ֨ב וְהֵרַ֤ע לָכֶם֙ וְכִלָּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם אַחֲרֵ֖י אֲשֶׁר־הֵיטִ֥יב לָכֶֽם׃
When you abandon YHWH and serve gods of foreigners, then He will turn and cause evil for you and consume you after He caused good to you.
Paraphrase: Every time you turn your back on YHWH and start to look to the gods of the surrounding nations, then expect all kinds of evil and disaster to fall upon you. God is punishing you for your unfaithfulness to Him. Yes, it is true that God did so much good for you in the past; but now, He will turn on you and put an end to your existence as His people.
Comments:
Joshua 24:21
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הָעָ֖ם אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ לֹ֕א כִּ֥י אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה נַעֲבֹֽד׃
and the people said to Joshua, “No, for YHWH we will serve.”
Paraphrase: Then the people all responded with one voice, “Never! We will stay true to YHWH forever and ever; all other deities are dead to us!”
Comments:
Joshua 24:22
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ אֶל־הָעָ֗ם עֵדִ֤ים אַתֶּם֙ בָּכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־אַתֶּ֞ם בְּחַרְתֶּ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה לַעֲבֹ֣ד אוֹת֑וֹ וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ עֵדִֽים׃
Joshua 24:23
וְעַתָּ֕ה הָסִ֛ירוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהֵ֥י הַנֵּכָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם וְהַטּוּ֙ אֶת־לְבַבְכֶ֔ם אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Joshua 24:24
וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ הָעָ֖ם אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ אֶת־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ נַעֲבֹ֔ד וּבְקוֹל֖וֹ נִשְׁמָֽע׃
Joshua 24:25
וַיִּכְרֹ֨ת יְהוֹשֻׁ֧עַ בְּרִ֛ית לָעָ֖ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיָּ֥שֶׂם ל֛וֹ חֹ֥ק וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט בִּשְׁכֶֽם׃
Joshua 24:26
וַיִּכְתֹּ֤ב יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה בְּסֵ֖פֶר תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶ֣בֶן גְּדוֹלָ֔ה וַיְקִימֶ֣הָ שָּׁ֔ם תַּ֚חַת הָֽאַלָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּמִקְדַּ֥שׁ יְהוָֽה׃ס
Joshua 24:27
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֗ם הִנֵּ֨ה הָאֶ֤בֶן הַזֹּאת֙ תִּֽהְיֶה־בָּ֣נוּ לְעֵדָ֔ה כִּֽי־הִ֣יא שָׁמְעָ֗ה אֵ֚ת כָּל־אִמְרֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר עִמָּ֑נוּ וְהָיְתָ֤ה בָכֶם֙ לְעֵדָ֔ה פֶּֽן־תְּכַחֲשׁ֖וּן בֵּאלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
Joshua 24:28
וַיְשַׁלַּ֤ח יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ לְנַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃פ
Joshua 24:29
וַיְהִ֗י אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיָּ֛מָת יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ בִּן־נ֖וּן עֶ֣בֶד יְהוָ֑ה בֶּן־מֵאָ֥ה וָעֶ֖שֶׂר שָׁנִֽים׃
Joshua 24:30
וַיִּקְבְּר֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ בִּגְב֣וּל נַחֲלָת֔וֹ בְּתִמְנַת־סֶ֖רַח אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּהַר־אֶפְרָ֑יִם מִצְּפ֖וֹן לְהַר־גָּֽעַשׁ׃
Joshua 24:31
וַיַּעֲבֹ֤ד יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ וְכֹ֣ל׀ יְמֵ֣י הַזְּקֵנִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֶאֱרִ֤יכוּ יָמִים֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר יָדְע֗וּ אֵ֚ת כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Joshua 24:32
וְאֶת־עַצְמ֣וֹת י֠וֹסֵף אֲשֶׁר־הֶעֱל֨וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל׀ מִמִּצְרַיִם֮ קָבְר֣וּ בִשְׁכֶם֒ בְּחֶלְקַ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר קָנָ֧ה יַעֲקֹ֛ב מֵאֵ֛ת בְּנֵֽי־חֲמ֥וֹר אֲבִֽי־שְׁכֶ֖ם בְּמֵאָ֣ה קְשִׂיטָ֑ה וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ לִבְנֵֽי־יוֹסֵ֖ף לְנַחֲלָֽה׃
Joshua 24:33
וְאֶלְעָזָ֥ר בֶּֽן־אַהֲרֹ֖ן מֵ֑ת וַיִּקְבְּר֣וּ אֹת֗וֹ בְּגִבְעַת֙ פִּֽינְחָ֣ס בְּנ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִתַּן־ל֖וֹ בְּהַ֥ר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃