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.
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].
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).
Joshua 23 Bible Commentary
Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown
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).