Josué 23
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Josué 23:1-13
23:1 "after many days" Although it seems from the biblical account that the conquest of Canaan happened very rapidly, in reality it took a long time. The Canaanites were not easily or totally defeated (cf. Judges 1). The delay in the last seven tribes' land allotment is one evidence of the protracted timeframe. ▣ "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. Jos. 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 peace 23:2 "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. ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV "elders. . .heads. . .judges. . .officers" "elders. . .leaders. . .judges. . .officials" "elders. . .commanders. . .magistrates" The exact function of each of these groups is uncertain (cf. Deut. 1:15-16; Jos. 8:33) but there was a distinct division of leadership on a tribal level. See fuller note at Jos. 24:1. 23:3 "the Lord your God" This is a technical phrase for the Covenant relationship. It is used extensively in Deuteronomy and Joshua. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D. 23:3-4 "to all these nations . . . which remain" It seems that Joshua defeated the military resistance of the Canaanites, but each tribe had to finish the conquest in its own inheritance (compare Jos. 11:23-24; 21:43-45 with Jos. 13:1-4; 15:63; 23:5 and Jdg. 2:21,23). ▣ "He who has been fighting for you" This same truth is repeated in Jos. 23:5, 9, and 10. God as warrior is a common theme of the Pentateuch (e.g., Deut. 1:30; 3:22; 20:4; Exod. 14:14) and Joshua (e.g., 4:13-15; 10:14,42). Notice, however, the previous phrase which emphasized the necessary cooperation of Israel ("because of you"). YHWH's covenant with Israel had responsibilities for both parties. 23:4 "See" This term (BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal IMPERATIVE) 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. 23:5 "He will thrust them out from before you" The VERB (BDB 213, KB 239, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Deut. 6:19; 9:4) is SINGULAR in form, but with a PLURAL suffix. This seems to imply YHWH's agency through Israel's instrumentality (divine will and human free will, i.e., Exod. 3:7-8 and 3:10). ▣ "just as the Lord your God promised you" This is a recurrent theme. 23:6-8 There is a series of things Israel should do to maintain her relationship with YHWH. "be very firm," Jos. 23:6, BDB 304, KB 302, Qal PERFECT with waw, cf. Jos. 1:6,7,9,18; 10:25; 23:6; Deut. 31:6,7,23 "to keep," Jos. 23:6, BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT, cf. Deut. 4:6; 29:9 "to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses," Jos. 23:6, BDB 793, KB 889, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT, cf. Jos. 1:7; Num. 15:39; Deut. 16:12; 30:8 "you may not turn aside from it," Jos. 23:6, BDB 693, KB 747, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT, e.g., using two synonymous VERBS, Jos. 1:7; Exod. 32:8; Deut. 2:27; 5:32; 9:12; 11:16; 17:17,20; 28:14; 1 Sam. 12:20 "you will not associate with these nations," Jos. 23:7, BDB 97, KB 112, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT "do not mention the name of their gods," cf. Exod. 23:13 "do not make anyone swear by them" "do not serve them," cf. Exod. 20:5; 23:33 "do not bow down to them," cf. Jdg. 2:19 "you are to cling to the Lord," Jos. 23:8, BDB 179, KB 209, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Jos. 22:5; Deut. 10:20; 11:22; 13:4; 30:20; 2 Kgs. 18:6. This is the same VERB used to describe Adam and Eve's relationship (cf. Gen. 2:24). 23:9 "For the Lord has driven out great and strong nations from before you" The VERB (BDB 439, KB 441, Hiphil IMPERFECT with waw) is recurrent (e.g., 3:10; 13:6; Num. 33:52,55, used in the sense of "dispossess"). YHWH's ownership of the land is symbolized in His victory over the Canaanites. Yes, Israel goes to battle, but it is the power and presence of YHWH that brings victory over vastly superior foes (cf. Deut. 4:38; 9:1; 11:23). Israel's lack of military success (i.e., they did not dispossess, cf. Jos. 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! ▣ "no man has stood before you to this day" This is imagery for negated effective resistance (cf. Jos. 1:5; 10:8; Deut. 7:24; 11:25). 23:10 "One of your men puts to flight a thousand" This is hyperbolic expression of YHWH's victorious presence (cf. Lev. 26:7-8; Deut. 32:30). SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph) 23:11 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! This is a recurrent theme in Deuteronomy (e.g., Deut. 6:5; 10:12; 11:13). SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT (last paragrpah) 23:12 This is a list of the ways of not being faithful to the covenant. "if you ever go back," BDB 996, KB 1427, both the INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and Qal IMPERFECT from the same root for emphasis "cling to the rest of these nations," the same VERB used positively in Jos. 23:8 (BDB 179, KB 209, Qal IMPERFECT, here Qal PERFECT with waw) "intermarry with them," BDB 368, KB 364, Hithpael PERFECT with waw, cf. Exod. 34:15-16; Deut. 7:3 "associate with them and they with you," BDB 97, KB 112, Qal PERFECT with waw, cf. Jos. 23:7 23:13 "know with certainty" This is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and a Qal IMPERFECT of the same root (BDB 393, KB 390) for emphasis. ▣ This is a list of the consequences of disobedience to the covenant. "The Lord your God will not continue to drive these nations out" They will be "a snare" (used to catch birds, BDB 809 I, cf. Exod. 23:33; 34:12; Deut. 7:16) "a trap" (a trap set on the ground, BDB 430) "a whip on your sides" (like an animal goad, BDB 1002) "thorns in your eyes" (BDB 841, cf. Num. 33:55; Jdg. 2:3) "they will perish from this good land," BDB 1, KB 2, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT, cf. Deut. 4:26; 7:4 SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY
Josué 23:14-16
23:14 "I am going the way of all the earth" This is an idiom or euphemism for death (cf. Gen. 3:19; 1 Kgs. 2:2). ▣ "you know in all your hearts and in all your souls" The VERB (BDB 393, KB 390, Qal PERFECT with waw) reinforced the Israelites' sense of YHWH's special presence and provisions. He has 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. Jos. 21:45)! They must emulate this same faithfulness (i.e., Jos. 23:6-13). SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW (using mostly Deuteronomy as a paradigm) SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH ▣ "not one of them has failed" God's promises are sure and conditional (cf. Jos. 23:15; 21:45; 1 Kgs. 8:56). 23:15 As God's promises of blessing are sure, so are God's warnings of the consequences of covenant disobedience (cf. Deut. 4:23-31). As God removed the Canaanites from the land (cf. Gen. 15:12-21), if Israel picks up their habits, He will remove them (i.e., Assyrian and Babylonian exiles). 23:16 "transgress" The VERB "transgress" (BDB 716, KB 778, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) means "to pass over." When used of sin, it means "to pass over a known boundary"—in this case, the Mosaic covenant. ▣ "the anger of the Lord will burn against you" This VERB (BDB 354, KB 351, Qal PERFECT with waw) is often used of YHWH's burning anger for covenant violations (cf. Jos. 7:1; Exod. 4:14; 22:24; 32:10; Num. 11:1,10,33; 12:9; 22:22; 32:10,13; Deut. 6:15; 7:4; 11:17; 29:27; 31:17; Jdg. 2:20; 3:8; 6:39; 2 Sam. 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. SPECIAL TOPIC: PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN LANGUAGE