Josué 23

Bob Utley · Citado em PreceptAustin

Josué 23

Utley - “the LORD your God” This is a technical phrase for the Covenant relationship. It is used extensively in Deuteronomy and Joshua. LORD your God occurs 13 times in 9 verses in Joshua 23 (LORD occurs 17x in 11, not counting "He" or "Himself"), so clearly Joshua wants to emphasize Israel's relationship with Yahweh. He is THEIR God. Lord your God - 147x in 140v - Exod. 6:7; Exod. 8:28; Exod. 10:8; Exod. 10:16; Exod. 10:17; Exod. 16:12; Exod. 23:25; Lev. 11:44; Lev. 18:2; Lev. 18:4; Lev. 18:30; Lev. 19:2; Lev. 19:3; Lev. 19:4; Lev. 19:10; Lev. 19:25; Lev. 19:31; Lev. 19:34; Lev. 19:36; Lev. 20:7; Lev. 20:24; Lev. 23:22; Lev. 23:28; Lev. 23:40; Lev. 23:43; Lev. 24:22; Lev. 25:17; Lev. 25:38; Lev. 25:55; Lev. 26:1; Lev. 26:13; Num. 10:9; Num. 10:10; Num. 15:41; Deut. 1:10; Deut. 1:26; Deut. 1:30; Deut. 1:32; Deut. 3:18; Deut. 3:20; Deut. 3:21; Deut. 3:22; Deut. 4:2; Deut. 4:4; Deut. 4:23; Deut. 4:34; Deut. 5:32; Deut. 5:33; Deut. 6:1; Deut. 6:16; Deut. 6:17; Deut. 8:20; Deut. 9:16; Deut. 9:23; Deut. 10:17; Deut. 11:2; Deut. 11:13; Deut. 11:22; Deut. 11:25; Deut. 11:27; Deut. 11:28; Deut. 11:31; Deut. 12:4; Deut. 12:5; Deut. 12:7; Deut. 12:9; Deut. 12:10; Deut. 12:11; Deut. 12:12; Deut. 13:3; Deut. 13:4; Deut. 13:5; Deut. 14:1; Deut. 20:4; Deut. 20:18; Deut. 29:6; Deut. 29:10; Deut. 31:12; Deut. 31:13; Deut. 31:26; Jos. 1:11; Jos. 1:13; Jos. 1:15; Jos. 2:11; Jos. 3:3; Jos. 3:9; Jos. 4:5; Jos. 4:23; Jos. 4:24; Jos. 8:7; Jos. 10:19; Jos. 22:3; Jos. 22:4; Jos. 22:5; Jos. 23:3; Jos. 23:5; Jos. 23:8; Jos. 23:10; Jos. 23:11; Jos. 23:13; Jos. 23:14; Jos. 23:15; Jos. 23:16; Jdg. 6:10; 1 Sam. 12:12; 1 Sam. 12:14; 2 Ki. 17:39; 2 Ki. 23:21; 1 Chr. 22:18; 1 Chr. 22:19; 1 Chr. 28:8; 1 Chr. 29:20; 2 Chr. 20:20; 2 Chr. 28:10; 2 Chr. 30:8; 2 Chr. 30:9; 2 Chr. 35:3; Neh. 8:9; Neh. 9:5; Ps. 76:11; Jer. 13:16; Jer. 26:13; Jer. 42:4; Jer. 42:13; Jer. 42:20; Jer. 42:21; Ezek. 20:5; Ezek. 20:7; Ezek. 20:19; Ezek. 20:20; Joel 1:14; Joel 2:13; Joel 2:14; Joel 2:23; Joel 2:26; Joel 2:27; Joel 3:17; Zech. 6:15; Acts 3:22; Acts 7:37 For the LORD your God is He who has been fighting for you - Once again we see this juxtaposition God's part, man's part (latter is implied). Joshua emphasizes God's sovereignty, power and presence on the side of Israel. Of course they fought, but the "secret" of their victory over their powerful enemies was that the powerful God was on their side in order to fulfill His covenant promises. THOUGHT - Joshua's words are still the secret for victory over our powerful enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil. Romans 8:13+ for example tells us that " by the Spirit (GOD'S POWER) you are putting to death the deeds of the body (MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY)" and the result is "you will live (eternally and daily in fellowship with Yahweh)." (See the "Paradoxical Principle of 100% Dependent and 100% Responsible") Utley - “He who has been fighting for you” This same truth is repeated in Josh 23:5, 9, 10. God as warrior is a common theme of the Pentateuch (e.g., Dt. 1:30; 3:22; 20:4; Ex. 14:14) and Joshua (e.g., Joshua 4:13–15; 10:14, 42). Notice, however, the previous phrase which emphasized the necessary cooperation of Israel (“because of you”). (ED: GOD'S SOVEREIGN POWER/MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY) Believer's Study Bible - Joshua's point is that although he will soon be gone, those who remain will continue to have success if they rely on the God whose mighty works they have seen. What was needed was not so much gifted leaders as those who knew God and what He had done. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 23 3. Ye have seen, &c. Joshua here speaks with characteristic modesty and humility. The scope of his address is to engage the covenant people, and their seed after them, to persevere in upholding the true faith and worship of the God of Israel. In order to this, he begins by putting them in mind of the divine interpositions in their behalf. He appeals to what their own eyes had seen, but so as at once to abase himself and exalt the Most High. He does not say, ‘Ye have seen what I have done, or what you have done, but what God himself has done.’ They were mere instruments in his hand It was no doubt natural for the Israelites to look upon their veteran general, who had led them on from conquest to conquest, with the most profound respect, and to say, ‘Had we not had such a commander we had never succeeded so remarkably in obtaining possession of this goodly land.’ But Joshua will leave them no ground for such reflections. He will not divide the glory of their success with God. He shows them that their enemies had been defeated, not by his prowess or theirs, but solely because the Lord their God had fought for them. The battle was the Lord’s, and not his, and He was entitled to all the glory. This sentiment is strikingly reiterated by the Psalmist, Ps. 44:3, ‘For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favor unto them.’ The leader of Israel, in these words, speaks the language of every pious heart, in view of every species of worldly success and prosperity Joshua 23:4 "See (BEHOLD), I have apportioned to you these nations which remain as an inheritance for your tribes, with all the nations which I have cut off, from the Jordan even to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun. Behold: Jos 13:2,6,7 18:10 REMINDER OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF LAND See (BEHOLD), I have apportioned (YLT - caused to fall; NET - parceled out) to you these nations which remain as an inheritance for your tribes, with all the nations which I have cut off, from the Jordan even to the Great Sea (Mediterranean) toward the setting of the sun - Nations which remain is referring to all the nations/land that remains unconquered. In a sense Joshua is reminding them that their inheritance is actually larger than what they currently occupied. Utley - See” This term is often used by YHWH in Deuteronomy. It helps the people recognize what He had done (cf. Exod. 31:2; Deut. 1:8, 21; 2:24, 31; 11:26; 30:15; 32:39). Here it is used by Joshua for the elders to recognize his advanced age and the beginning of a new period in Israel’s history in the Promised Land. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 23 I have divided unto you by lot. Heb. הפלתי לכם hippalti lâkem, I have caused lo fall unto you. Those nations that remain. That remain yet unconquered; where ‘nations’ stands for the land, or country which they occupied; as on the contrary, ‘land’ often stands for ‘nation’ or ‘people.’ Remnants of the devoted Canaanites still lingered about the country, though their armies had long since been broken to pieces and they were disabled from making any effectual head against Israel. Joshua 23:5 "The LORD your God, He will thrust them out from before you and drive them from before you; and you will possess their land, just as the LORD your God promised you. KJV Joshua 23:5 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. NET Joshua 23:5 The LORD your God will drive them out from before you and remove them, so you can occupy their land as the LORD your God promised you. BGT Joshua 23:5 κύριος δὲ ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν οὗτος ἐξολεθρεύσει αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν ἕως ἂν ἀπόλωνται καὶ ἀποστελεῖ αὐτοῖς τὰ θηρία τὰ ἄγρια ἕως ἂν ἐξολεθρεύσῃ αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς βασιλεῖς αὐτῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν καὶ κατακληρονομήσατε τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν καθὰ ἐλάλησεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν ὑμῖν NLT Joshua 23:5 This land will be yours, for the LORD your God will himself drive out all the people living there now. You will take possession of their land, just as the LORD your God promised you. ESV Joshua 23:5 The LORD your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the LORD your God promised you. NIV Joshua 23:5 The LORD your God himself will drive them out of your way. He will push them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you. YLT Joshua 23:5 'As to Jehovah your God, He doth thrust them from your presence, and hath dispossessed them from before you, and ye have possessed their land, as Jehovah your God hath spoken to you, LXE Joshua 23:5 And the Lord our God, he shall destroy them before us, until they utterly perish; and he shall send against them the wild beasts, until he shall have utterly destroyed them and their kings from before you; and ye shall inherit their land, as the Lord our God said to you. CSB Joshua 23:5 The LORD your God will force them back on your account and drive them out before you so that you can take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you. NKJ Joshua 23:5 "And the LORD your God will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God promised you. NRS Joshua 23:5 The LORD your God will push them back before you, and drive them out of your sight; and you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God promised you. He will thrust them out Jos 23:12,13 13:6 Ex 23:30,31 33:2 34:11 De 11:23 just as the LORD your God promised you : Nu 33:52,53 GOD'S POWER TO POSSESS THE REMAINING LAND The LORD your God, He will thrust them out from before you and drive them from before you - So clearly although Joshua gave them "rest" (Josh 23:1), the enemies were by no means totally eradicated from the "good land". Jdg 3:2 says these enemies were left to test Israel and teach them how to conduct war. and you will possess their land, just as the LORD your God promised you - Promised you refers to the Abrahamic covenant (Ge 12:7,etc). Note again Israel's responsibility in light of God's sovereignty. Utley agrees that this refers to "YHWH’s agency through Israel’s instrumentality (divine will and human free will)." Anderson says "Joshua is basically challenging the leaders, telling them that the ball is in their court. God is just waiting to respond to their action." GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 23 5. And drive them from out—and ye shall possess. The same Heb word, ירש yârash is here used to signify, to expel from, an inheritance, and to succeed those thus expelled. Ye shall disinherit them from before you, and ye shall inherit the land in their stead. Joshua 23:6 "Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, KJV Joshua 23:6 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; NET Joshua 23:6 Be very strong! Carefully obey all that is written in the law scroll of Moses so you won't swerve from it to the right or the left, BGT Joshua 23:6 κατισχύσατε οὖν σφόδρα φυλάσσειν καὶ ποιεῖν πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου Μωυσῆ ἵνα μὴ ἐκκλίνητε εἰς δεξιὰν ἢ εὐώνυμα NLT Joshua 23:6 "So be very careful to follow everything Moses wrote in the Book of Instruction. Do not deviate from it, turning either to the right or to the left. ESV Joshua 23:6 Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, NIV Joshua 23:6 "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. YLT Joshua 23:6 and ye have been very strong to keep and to do the whole that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, so as not to turn aside from it right or left, LXE Joshua 23:6 Do ye therefore strive diligently to observe and do all things written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not to the right hand or to the left; CSB Joshua 23:6 "Be very strong and continue obeying all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you do not turn from it to the right or left NKJ Joshua 23:6 "Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, NRS Joshua 23:6 Therefore be very steadfast to observe and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right nor to the left, very: Jos 1:7-9 Jer 9:3 1Co 16:13 Eph 6:10-19 Heb 12:4 Rev 21:8 that: De 5:32 12:32 17:20 28:14 Pr 4:26,27 Related Passage: Proverbs 4:26-27 Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. 27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. (Pr 4:14-15)

Josué 23

Utley - Israel’s lack of military success (i.e., they did not dispossess, cf. Joshua 13:13; 16:10; 17:13; Jdg 1:29, 30, 31, 32, 33) was due to their lack of faith in YHWH’s promises and their unwillingness to seize the moment! The unbelief of the ten original spies returns! Utley - “no man has stood before you to this day” This is a metaphor for negated effective resistance (cf. Joshua 1:5; 10:8; Deut. 7:24; 11:25). GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 23 9. For the Lord hath driven out. Or, as the original will admit of being rendered, ‘and the Lord will drive out,’ &c., and so the whole verse may be rendered in the future instead of the past, in which case it will connect more easily and naturally with the verse ensuing. No man hath been able to stand before you. That is, when it actually came to an issue. Some of the ancient inhabitants did indeed yet remain unconquered, but in every engagement the Israelites came off victorious. In this sense no man had been able to stand before them. Wherever an enemy had been encountered he had been overcome. Joshua 23:9-13 Theodore Epp The Way to Victory We learn in Joshua 23:9,10 that nothing can stand before the person who will dare to trust God. Everything is in the favor of those who trust Him. With God on their side, total victory is assured. This is true with regard to us in our spiritual warfare. The enemies are great and more powerful than we are, but they are helpless when we go in the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ. Admonition was added to these assurances as Joshua spoke to the people. He warned them that they must be careful how they conducted themselves and that they, above all, must love the Lord. This positive and then negative approach would serve to alert the Israelites to their blessings and also to their dangers. We, too, must not turn back in defeat but go forward in Christian victory. There are evil things that will entangle us and ensnare us, so we must get rid of them. These may be but little things in our lives, but the little things can destroy us. We are warned in Hebrews 12:1+ to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Nothing is to be allowed to hinder us. The weights spoken of in this passage may not be sins, but they could lead to sin or at least they could hinder us. There is a danger of losing what we have gained. We can be sure of this: Our sin will find us out. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4). Joshua 23:10 "One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised you. One : Lev 26:8 De 32:30 Jdg 3:31 7:19-22 15:15 1Sa 14:6,12-16 2Sa 23:8 Lord: Jos 10:42 Ex 14:14 23:27-33 De 3:22 20:4 Ps 35:1 44:4,5 46:7 Ro 8:31 Related Passages: Numbers 14:9 “Only do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” Deuteronomy 28:7 “The LORD shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways. Judges 15:15-16 He (Samson) found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, so he reached out and took it and killed a thousand men with it. 16 Then Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey, Heaps upon heaps, With the jawbone of a donkey I have killed a thousand men.” MAN'S ACTION GOD'S POWER One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you - This promise of divine power was contingent on Israel's obedience. THOUGHT - This same principle applies to followers of Jesus today. Obedience it the key to unlocking the supernatural power of the Spirit on our behalf. He will enable us to put to death the enemies that "remain in the land" (Ro 8:13+), but only if we do not quench His power (1Th 5:19+) or grieve His heart (Eph 4:30+, cf Ge 6:6, Ezek 6:9+) by unconfessed, unrepentant sin! We will not prosper spiritually! (Pr 28:13+, 1Jn 1:9+) Anderson notes "Statistics are meaningless when the Lord is fighting for them. One of them can rout a thousand when such is the case." Utley - “one of your men put to flight a thousand” This is hyperbolic expression of YHWH’s victorious presence (cf. Lev. 26:7–8; Deut. 32:30). just as He promised you - Where did He promise? Leviticus 26:7-8 ‘But you will chase your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword; five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword. Deuteronomy 32:30 “How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up? D L Moody - WHEN in Glasgow, a friend was telling me about a man who was preaching one Sabbath morning on Shamgar. He said: “I can imagine that when he was ploughing in the field a man came running over the hill all out of breath, and shouted: ‘Shamgar! Shamgar! There are six hundred Philistines coming toward you.’ Shamgar quietly said: ‘You pass on; I can take care of them, they are four hundred short.’ So he took an ox goad and slew the whole of them. He routed them hip and thigh.” “One shall chase a thousand.” Nowadays it takes about a thousand to chase one, because we do not realize that we are weak in ourselves and that our strength is in God. Joshua 23:10 ONE … SHALL CHASE A THOUSAND The Disproportionate Chase—The odds seem tremendous! The thing looks impossible, and so it would be from a natural standpoint, but this is God at work, ‘for the Lord … fighteth for you’. Such odds, while at variance with our way of reckoning, are not unusual when it comes to divine standards. With God all things are possible. The Disproportionate Count—Ps. 90:4, ‘a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night’. We often comment that ‘time flies’ and we are expected to note the importance of each passing day and apply our hearts to wisdom. We should observe the speed of time not to become depressed but rather to become dependent on the timeless One and say, ‘my times are in thy hand’, Ps. 31:15. The Disproportionate Choice—Ps. 84:10, ‘a day in thy courts is better than a thousand’. It is a mystery to the worldly person how the Christian finds joy in God. Yet such is the mark of faith, Rom. 5:11. To be on the fringe of God’s sanctuary is infinitely better than in the forefront of the world’s stage. It is our joy to dwell ‘in the secret place of the most High’, Ps. 91:1. We go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, Heb. 13:13. The Disproportionate Chant—Rev. 5:11, ‘the voice (singular) of … ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands’. We marvel at the numberless multitude here and in chapter 7 verse 9, yet the voice is ONE. It is hard to sing with perfect timing when a crowd is large and spread over a large area, but in heaven, the praise is focused on one Person with perfect harmony of voice. In the days of David, the people could say, ‘Thou art worth ten thousand of us’, and again, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’. He who could be acclaimed as the Chiefest among ten thousand receives eternally the praise of those whom He has redeemed by His blood. A thousand to one is nothing in that day! (John Bennett) Hark, those bursts of acclamation! Hark, those loud triumphant chords! Jesus takes the highest station; O what joy the sight affords! THOMAS KELLY Chris Tiegreen - Living the Promise Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the LORD your God fights for you, just as he has promised. Joshua 23:10 IN WORD God gave Israel some extraordinary promises about possessing their inheritance and overcoming their enemies. It’s hard to imagine such favor playing out in the lives of fallen human beings, yet God still offered enormous opportunities for success. But these promises, from the earliest days of the Exodus to the last days of the conquest, were almost always surrounded with exhortations to love Him, serve Him, and remain zealously faithful to the terms of the covenant. Next to their potential glory was a very big “if,” sometimes stated but always at least implied. Israel would experience extravagant blessings if they were diligent about keeping His words. As we know, they didn’t —at least not consistently or for long. But the blessings showed up at times in the nation’s history, and they presumably still apply to all who receive them. We know we don’t live up to the law well enough to earn them, but we know Someone who did on our behalf. And we know that accepting Him as our proxy in life, death, and resurrection implies the need to grow into His likeness. In every respect, we qualify for God’s promises in Jesus, the “amen” to every promise given (2 Corinthians 1:20). The nature of God offered to Israel is offered to all who believe in Him and receive His nature. And that includes extraordinary opportunities for success and victory. IN DEED In your quest for Kingdom territory, you can put to flight a thousand of the enemy. Why? Not because you’re strong, clever, or resourceful, but because the Lord fights for you —if you are in the covenant that fulfills His Word. The big question, then, is whether you are believing it, living it, breathing it, applying it, growing in it, and acting on it. If you are, you might be surprised by what you can accomplish in the Lord’s strength, and the enemy is alarmed by it. The Lord is ready to fight on your behalf. (The One Year Heaven on Earth Devotional)

Josué 23

Utley - “when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies” This is an idiomatic statement. It is a recurrent theme (cf. Deut. 12:10; 25:19; 2 Sam. 7:1, 11; 2 Chr. 14:7). It probably means there was no current national military campaign in progress (cf. 21:44). It did not apply to the individual tribes possessing their own allotted territories. The phrase has connotations of no war, security from invasion and/or peace. Rest (in the sense of rest from war) in Joshua - Josh 1:13 Josh 1:15 Josh 11:23 Josh 14:15 Josh 21:44 Josh 22:4 Josh 23:1 Related Resources: Rest in the Bible Dr Walter Kaiser's excellent summary - The Promise Theme and the Theology of Rest - Bibliotheca Sacra: Volume 130 And Joshua was old, advanced in years (Hebrew = come into days) A long time had passed since he led the conquest ca. 1405–1398 b.c.; Joshua had grown very old, and was now 110 when he died (ca. 1385–1383 BC) Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary - Verses 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. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 23 A long time after, &c. This is supposed to have been in the last or one hundred and tenth year of Joshua’s life, about thirteen or fourteen years after the conquest of Canaan, and seven after the division of the land among the tribes. Old and stricken in years. Heb. זקן בא בימים zâkën bâ bayâmim, old (and) come, or gone, into days. Joshua 23:1-8 Theodore Epp Courageous in Godly Living To be courageous in the face of dangers confronting them was not only God's will but also His command. This is equally true with regard to us today. We are to be courageous in godly living as we seek to live according to the Word of God. All three members of the Trinity are working in our behalf so that all we have to do is by faith accept and appropriate what has been provided. We may face defeat at times, but we are not to dwell upon our defeat. We are to return to the Lord, confess our wrong-doing, forsake it and go on with Him. We are to forget those things that are behind. There is more land to be possessed. A negative admonition follows. Joshua said, "That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you." There were still many pagan people remaining in Canaan, but the Israelites were not to have fellowship with them. God's people were not to copy the heathen forms of worship but to be completely separated from them. There was to be no coexistence with the enemy. This is also true in the Christian life. There is to be a putting off of what is evil and a putting on of the armor of God (see note Ephesians 6:10-17). The Israelites were to cleave to the Lord their God and put off the ways and beliefs of the Canaanites. "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him" (see note Ephesians 3:12). JESUS' REST GREATER THAN MOSES or JOSHUA MOSES JOSHUA JESUS No Rest Nu 14:33, 34+ Rest from War Dt 12:10+, Josh 23:1+ Rest for soul Mt 11:28-30+ Wandering Forty Years Nu 32:13+ Victory over Physical Enemies Josh 11:23+, Josh 12:1, 2+ Victory over Spiritual Enemies Ro 6:17,18+, He 2:14, 15+, Ga 6:14+ Wilderness Death Nu 14:35+ Promised Land Josh 5:6NIV+ Promised Life Col 3:4+ Joshua 23:2 that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and their heads and their judges and their officers, and said to them, "I am old, advanced in years. all Israel: Jos 24:1 De 31:28 1Ch 28:1 Ac 20:17-35 I AM A VERY OLD MAN I am 75 and my body feels like I could make that same statement. Note that in this chapter in contrast to chapter 24, it is Joshua who does all the speaking, whereas chapter 24 begins with Joshua giving God's "testimony" followed by his interaction with the sons of Israel in a covenant renewal. that Joshua called for all Israel - Does this include the Transjordan tribes? It probably not as Joshua 22:1-6 was in a sense their "send off," noting especially Joshua 22:6 "So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents." So all Israel is likely the 10 western tribes (1/2 tribe of Manasseh counting as one of the ten). For their elders and their heads and their judges and their officers, and said to them - The NET has "including the elders, etc." This would suggest the address was given to all Israel, but some commentators (see Bush below) think that Joshua gave the charge only to the elders, etc, and they in turn would to communicate to the people. Alan Redpath - As the time of his earthly life was drawing to a close, Joshua sensed the danger of their compromise and he confronted the people. He called their leader first, and then the rank and file, teo give each a farewell message . You can picture the scene as the great old warrior addressed his people. (Joshua 23:11 Principles to Follow) Donald Campbell - They had come without hesitation to hear the last words of their great chief. And the old veteran wanted to speak on one theme--God's unfailing faithfulness to Israel and their corresponding responsibility to be faithful to Him. Three times he repeated his central message; three times he emphasized the faithfulness of God and the responsibility of Israel, fearful they would not hear and heed .(No Time for Neutrality) The only adequate response to God's faithfulness is our faithfulness! Utley -“Joshua called” Chapter 23 seems to have been a private meeting with the tribal representatives, while chapter 24 is a more public meeting calling for a public decision. I am old, advanced in years - Unlike Caleb, Joshua does not say he is "as strong today" as when he and Caleb were sent out with the 12 spies 45 plus years earlier. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 23 2. Called for all Israel, and for their elders, &c. Or, Heb. ‘called for all Israel, even for their elders,’ &c. clearly indicating that by ‘all Israel,’ is not meant the whole body of the nation assembled in their own persons, but their elders, heads, judges, &c., convened and acting representatively in the name of the people. They could easily communicate the substance of the charge in their several districts, so that all Israel could hear. This appears to have been the usual method of conducting the great and important affairs of the nation. See on Nu 16:1. Whether this assembly was held at Timnath-serah, where Joshua dwelt, or at Shiloh, where the ark was, it is not possible to determine. From the solemn object of the meeting we should infer that the latter was the place. Joshua 23:3 "And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He who has been fighting for you. And you have seen: De 4:9 Ps 44:1,2 Mal 1:5 for the: Jos 10:14,42 Ex 14:14 De 20:4 Ps 44:3 JOSHUA REMINDS LEADERS OF THE GREAT WORKS OF YAHWEH And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you - He is referring primarily to the 7 years of victory after victory over the powerful Canaanites. Because of you is not because they deserved it, and so is better understood as "on your behalf." All that the LORD had done was all the result of grace, all based on divine fulfillment of God's covenant promises to the patriarchs. It is another way of saying that none of God's promises to Israel had failed (Josh 21:45, Josh 23:14) Notice that all through both this speech and the final farewell speech in the next chapter, Joshua's focus is always on what the LORD had done, not on his leadership skill or the war skills of the sons of Israel.

Josué 23

Utley - Loving YHWH is expressed by covenant obedience! Love is an action, not just a feeling. Believers must make a decisive and personal choice to obey God! (ED: TRUE BUT ONLY POSSIBLE AS WE ARE ENABLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HAVE THE DESIRE AND POWER TO OBEY - see Php 2:13+). This is a recurrent theme in Deuteronomy (e.g., Dt 6:5; 10:12; 11:13). Matthew

Josué 23

Utley adds "This is a list of the ways of not being faithful to the covenant." if you ever go back and cling (dabaq) to the rest of these nations - Cling to God is best way to prevent one from clinging to the pagan ways. Cling is dabaq (Lxx = proskollao = adhere closely, be devoted, Mk 10:7+) which yields the noun form "glue" (in modern Hebrew) and figuratively conveys the ideas of loyalty and devotion. The rest of these nations are the Canaanites that are still infesting the Promised Land, those that had not been completely eradicated. The first use of dabaq in Ge 2:24 reflects basic meaning of one person being joined to another -- INTIMATELY!!! This use is illustrative in regard to Joshua's warning to Israel re "unfaithfulness" to her "Husband" (keeping in mind that Israel was called the "wife of Jehovah cf Jer 31:32+). Many times in prophets God calls Israel a "harlot" (eg, Ezekiel 16:15+) for having chased after other "lovers", gods (little "g") that are really no gods at all! See some NT parallels above. These which remain among you - Again reiterating the point that they are still on the scene! The pagans were present and were an ever present danger to Israel's spiritual well-being! And intermarry with them, so that (purpose clause - bad purpose!) you associate (cf Josh 23:7) with them and they with you - Should Israel marry the idol worshippers, they would become "one flesh" (Ge 2:24) with them and they would then begin to worship what their idolatrous spouse worships! Their idol worshipping wives would make them forget their loyalty to Yahweh and turn their hearts away unto idols which are not God! The premier tragic illustration of this basic principle is King Solomon (the "wisest" man of his day -- note that the "heart" of Solomon's problem was the problem of his heart, the very thing he himself had commanded watchfulness over in Proverbs 4:23+! He proved to be a hypocrite! Sin deceived even this wise man and, mark it down, it will deceive you and me beloved! Heb 3:13+).... Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate (NOTE SAME WORD AND SAME WARNING IN Joshua 23:7 and Joshua 23:12) with them, nor shall they associate (REPEATED) with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods.” Solomon held fast (SAME WORD AS "CLING" = dabaq) to these in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. 4 For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not follow the LORD fully, (see Caleb - Nu 14:24+, Josh 14:8, 9, 14+) as David his father had done. 7 Then (MARKS PROGRESSION - NOTE THE INEVITABLE DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF SIN IF IT IS NOT CONFESSED, REPENTED, KILLED! IT WILL KILL US!) Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. 8 Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. 9 Now the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the LORD had commanded. (1Ki 11:1-10) Believer's Study Bible has an interesting note - (Joshua 23:12-16) Note the combination of grace and fear as motivating factors (cf. Rom. 11:22): (1) grace -- the good land God has given (Joshua 23:13, 15, 16), and the good Word God has given (Joshua 23:14, 15); (2) fear -- God is faithful in judgment too (v. 15); failure to dedicate themselves to the Lord would result in trouble in their lives (cf. Jdg. 2:3; James 4:4).

Josué 23

Utley - “you know in all your hearts and in all your soul” The VERB (Qal PERFECT) reinforced the Israelites’ sense of YHWH’s special presence and provisions, which have completely fulfilled all of His promises. The parallel phrases “in all your hearts” and “in all your souls” are synonymous and refer to the entire person. Each Israelite knew for sure, completely, without doubt that YHWH was faithful to His word to them (cf. 21:45)! They must emulate this same faithfulness (i.e., vv. 6–13). Matthew

Josué 23

Utley - “the anger of the LORD will burn against you” This VERB (charah Qal PERFECT) is often used of YHWH’s burning anger for covenant violations (cf. Joshua 7:1; Ex 4:14; 22:24; 32:10; Nu 11:1, 10, 33; 12:9; 22:22; 32:10, 13; Dt. 6:15; 7:4; 11:17; 29:27; 31:17; Jdg 2:20; 3:8; 6:39; 2Sa 6:7). This is anthropomorphic language. Humans use human vocabulary to describe the actions and feelings of God. There is always only an analogous sense. And you will perish (abad - different than "serve"=abad) quickly from off the good land which He has given you - Given you (the land) occurs 3 times in this chapter (Josh 23:13, 15:16) emphasizing the land was the gracious gift of God. It was as if Israel spurned this gift by their willful, continued disobedience. This prophecy was fulfilled for the Northern 10 tribes in 722 BC when Assyria took them off the good land and into exile in Assyria (the 10 "lost tribes") and the Southern 2 Tribes (Judah and Benjamin) in three attacks from Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, in 605 BC, 597 BC and 586 BC. Related Resources: When and how was Israel conquered by the Assyrians? | GotQuestions.org When and how was Judah conquered by the Babylonians? | GotQuestions.org Transgress (cross, pass)(05674)(abar qal. pass through; niphal be forded; piel. cause to pass through or over; hiphil. make pass through. The main idea of this verb is that of movement; as a rule it is the movement of one thing in relation to some other object which is stationary, moving, or motivating. Some have said that the simplest translation of ʿābar is “to pass,” but this does not really cover the various nuances that ʿâbar may carry with it. Here in Joshua 23:16 abar is translated in the Septuagint with the verb parabaino which means to go beside (walk beside, pass by), to overstep (transgress), to pass over, to let pass, to let slip. The LXX applies the term to the violation of God’s commandments and ordinances, e.g., Ex. 32:8: “turning aside from the right way” (cf. also Dt. 9:12). In Isa. 66:24 God calls backsliders hoi parabebēkótes en emoí. (men Who have transgressed against Me) Other expressions are transgressing God’s word (Nu. 14:41) or covenant (Josh. 7:11) and turning aside from his commandments (Dt. 17:20)." (TDNT) Become angry (02734) charah means to burn or be kindled with anger, and in the Hithpael, charah is used 4x (Ps 37:1, 7,8, Pr 24:19) always meaning "to worry" and describing the agitation, irritation or vexation resulting from active worry. Charah is used in reference to the anger of both man and God Serve (worship) (05647) abad means to work (to cultivate, till - Ge 2:5, 15 - Lxx = ergazomai before the fall! Ge 3:23 after the fall, Lxx = ergazomai), to serve (be enslaved or hold in bondage - Ex 6:6 - Lxx = katadouloo = make a slave; Lev 25:38, 39 Lxx = douleuo)(Ge 14:4, 15:13, 14 - Lxx = douleuo), worship. It is interesting that abad is translated labor when Israel was in Egyptian bondage (Ex 1:13,14) but is translated worship after Israel was redeemed from slavery (Ex 3:12 translated in Lxx = latreuo). In Joshua 23:7NET (And Josh 23:16NET) abad is translated "worship" (Lxx = latreuo) = "you must not worship or bow down to them!" In sum, there is a very clear association between what/who one serves and what/who one worships. When the focus of the labor is the Lord, it is a religious service to worship Him. In other words our service is really an act of worship. Moreover, in these cases, the word does not have connotations of toilsome labor but instead of a joyful experience of liberation (Ex. 3:12; 4:23; 7:16; Josh. 24:15, 18). Unfortunately, this worship service was often given to false gods (Deut. 7:16; 2 Ki. 10:18, 19, 21-23). Abad in Joshua especially in Joshua 24! - Jos. 16:10; Jos. 22:5; Jos. 22:27; Jos. 23:7; Jos. 23:16; Jos. 24:2; Jos. 24:14; Jos. 24:15; Jos. 24:16; Jos. 24:18; Jos. 24:19; Jos. 24:20; Jos. 24:21; Jos. 24:22; Jos. 24:24; Jos. 24:31 Paul E. Toms - These closing instructions from this grand old man of God guarantee our success in Christian living. As we have seen in this chapter, we are called upon to exercise obedience, as seen in verse 6; separation, as seen in verse 7; and love, as described in verse 11. To carefully adhere to these biblical instructions is indeed the guarantee of a successful Christian experience. This is that which will enable us to live the life that is pleasing in the Lord's sight. These characteristics will give us the undergirding of blessing and power that comes only from Him. (This Land Is Your Land)