231 After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man,
231 A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,
231 A long time later, after God had given Israel rest from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was a venerable old man,
231 Now it came to pass, a long time after the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in age.
231 The years passed, and the Lord had given the people of Israel rest from all their enemies. Joshua, who was now very old,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 23:1
Commentary on Joshua 23:1-10
(Read Joshua 23:1-10)
Joshua was old and dying, let them observe what he said now. He put them in mind of the great things God had done for them in his days. He exhorted them to be very courageous. Keep with care, do with diligence, and regard with sincerity what is written. Also, very cautiously to endeavour that the heathen idolatry may be forgotten, so that it may never be revived. It is sad that among Christians the names of the heathen gods are so commonly used, and made so familiar as they are. Joshua exhorts them to be very constant. There might be many things amiss among them, but they had not forsaken the Lord their God; the way to make people better, is to make the best of them.