1 And it came to pass a 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 said 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 westward.
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 therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
7 That ye come not 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 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 you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
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 snares 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.
Chapter 23 of the Book of Joshua in the KJV Holy Bible marks the end of Joshua's leadership over the Israelites. It begins with Joshua gathering all the elders, leaders, judges, and officials of Israel to give them a farewell speech before his death. In this chapter, Joshua reminds the Israelites of God's faithfulness and encourages them to continue following His commandments. He also warns them of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of remaining faithful to Him. The main themes of this chapter include faithfulness, obedience, and the importance of remaining devoted to God.
The chapter opens with Joshua addressing the leaders of Israel. He reminds them of all that God has done for them, from the time of Abraham to the present day. Joshua emphasizes that it is God who has fought for them and given them victory over their enemies. He also mentions the land that God has promised to give them as their inheritance. This land was fulfilled when the Israelites conquered and settled in the Promised Land. Joshua's farewell speech serves as a reminder of how God has been faithful to His people and how they should trust in Him for their future.
Joshua also urges the Israelites to be strong and courageous in following God's commandments. He reminds them of the importance of obedience and warns them of the consequences of disobedience. He tells them that if they turn away from God and follow the ways of the nations around them, they will be destroyed just as their enemies were destroyed. This serves as a warning to the Israelites to remain faithful to God and not be swayed by the customs and beliefs of other nations.
Throughout the book of Joshua, we see how God's faithfulness to His people is intertwined with their faithfulness to Him. Joshua reminds the Israelites of this truth and emphasizes the importance of remaining faithful to God. He tells them that they must "cling to the Lord your God" (Joshua 23:8) and not turn away from Him. This is a reminder that their relationship with God is not based on their own strength or abilities, but on their trust and dependence on Him.
Joshua also warns the Israelites of the consequences of turning away from God. He tells them that if they intermarry with the people of the surrounding nations and adopt their idols and customs, God will no longer fight for them. They will be punished and destroyed, just as their enemies were. This serves as a warning to the Israelites to remain devoted to God and not be influenced by the beliefs and practices of other nations.
Obedience is a recurring theme throughout the book of Joshua and it is emphasized once again in this chapter. Joshua reminds the Israelites that they must obey all the commandments that were given to them by Moses, and not turn away from them to the right or to the left. He tells them that they must love and serve God with all their heart and soul. This call to obedience is a reminder that God's commandments are not meant to restrict or burden His people, but rather to guide and protect them.
Joshua also warns the Israelites of the consequences of disobedience. He tells them that if they disobey God's commandments, they will be punished and destroyed. This is a reminder that disobedience to God's laws has consequences and that the Israelites must remain faithful and obedient to Him in order to receive His blessings and protection.
The main message of chapter 23 of the Book of Joshua is the importance of faithfulness, obedience, and devotion to God. Joshua's farewell speech serves as a reminder to the Israelites of God's faithfulness and their responsibility to remain faithful to Him. It also serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God and disobeying His commandments. This chapter teaches us that our relationship with God is based on trust, obedience, and devotion, and that we must remain faithful to Him in order to receive His blessings and protection.
Another important lesson from this chapter is the significance of remembering and reflecting on God's past faithfulness. Joshua reminds the Israelites of all that God has done for them, from the time of Abraham to the present day. This serves as a reminder that God has been faithful to His people in the past and He will continue to be faithful in the future. This is a reassuring message for us as well, as we face challenges and uncertainties in our lives. We must remember God's faithfulness in the past and trust that He will continue to guide and protect us in the future.
Chapter 23 also highlights the importance of remaining devoted to God and not being influenced by the beliefs and practices of other nations. Joshua warns the Israelites of the consequences of intermarrying with the people of the surrounding nations and adopting their idols and customs. This is a reminder that as God's people, we are called to be set apart and to follow His commandments, even if it means going against the customs and beliefs of the world.
Chapter 23 of the Book of Joshua in the KJV Holy Bible serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and the importance of remaining faithful, obedient, and devoted to Him. Joshua's farewell speech is a call to the Israelites, and to us, to trust in God and follow His commandments. It is a reminder that our relationship with God is based on our faithfulness and obedience to Him, and that He will continue to guide and protect us as long as we remain devoted to Him. This chapter teaches us the importance of reflecting on God's past faithfulness, remaining faithful in the present, and trusting in His faithfulness for the future.
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