Joshua Chapter 23 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
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;
Joshua Chapter 23 (Old Testament, King James Bible)
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:
Joshua Chapter 23 (Old Testament)
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.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| זָקֵן — zaken | Verse 1 — “Joshua waxed old and advanced in years…” | “Old,” aged. | Zaken (“old”) conveys leadership nearing transition (“old”). It emphasizes Joshua’s final address. The term frames the chapter as his spiritual legacy. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| חָזַק — chazak | Verse 6 — “Be ye therefore very courageous…” | “Strong,” firm. | Chazak (“strong”) urges moral steadfastness (“strong”). It echoes earlier calls in Joshua 1. The term anchors the chapter’s exhortation to faithfulness. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| דָּבַק — davaq | Verse 8 — “…cleave unto the LORD…” | “To cling,” adhere. | Davaq (“to cling”) expresses intimate devotion (“cling”). It contrasts loyalty to God with temptation toward idolatry. The term frames faith as relational commitment. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| נָחַל — nachal | Verse 4 — “…these nations… I have cut off…” | “To inherit,” allot. | Nachal (“to inherit”) affirms divine empowerment (“inherit”). It recalls God’s role in gaining the land. The term reinforces covenant promise. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| עָרַד — arad | Verse 12 — “…go in unto them…” | “To mingle,” join. | Arad (“to mingle/join”) warns against covenant with pagan peoples (“join”). It expresses danger of spiritual corruption. The term highlights threat of syncretism. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| מוֹקֵשׁ — moqesh | Verse 13 — “…they shall be snares and traps…” | “Snare,” trap. | Moqesh (“snare”) conveys spiritual entrapment (“snare”). It warns of seductive power of idolatry. The term evokes imagery of moral danger. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| שָׁמַד — shamad | Verse 13 — “…until ye perish…” | “To destroy,” exterminate. | Shamad (“to destroy”) signals national ruin (“destroy”). It underscores consequences of covenant violation. The term reinforces seriousness of Israel’s calling. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| כָּרַת — karat | Verse 16 — “…you have transgressed the covenant…” | “To cut,” make or break covenant. | Karat (“to cut”) highlights covenant breach (“transgress”). It frames disobedience as a severing of sacred bonds. The term reflects legal and spiritual seriousness. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| עֵד — ed | Verse 14 — “…every good thing has not failed…” | “Witness,” testimony. | Ed (“witness”) underscores divine faithfulness (“witness”). It serves as Joshua’s final affirmation of God’s reliability. The term calls Israel to remembrance. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| נָפַל — nafal | Verse 14 — “…not one thing hath failed…” | “To fall,” fail. | Nafal (“to fail”) emphasizes perfect fulfillment (“fail”). It validates God’s flawless record of promises. The term strengthens ethical appeal for obedience. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 23 |
|---|---|---|
| Franz Delitzsch (University of Leipzig, Germany, 1813–1890) | Biblischer Commentar über das Alte Testament | Joshua’s address underscores covenant fidelity, moral vigilance, and ethical responsibility. |
| Charles Foster Kent (Yale University, United States, 1867–1925) | The Bible and Modern Scholarship | Kent highlights the practical and spiritual imperatives for the nation at the threshold of stability. |
| William Robertson Smith (University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, 1846–1894) | The Old Testament in the Jewish Church | The farewell emphasizes historical reflection combined with ethical exhortation. |
| Hugo Gressmann (University of Leipzig, Germany, 1864–1935) | Die Eschatologie der israelitischen Propheten | Gressmann notes the moral weight of leadership and the responsibility of remaining faithful to the covenant. |
| Samuel Cox (University of London, United Kingdom, 1826–1893) | The Pentateuch | Joshua encourages obedience, reflection on divine acts, and commitment to national and spiritual duties. |
Joshua 23
Verse: "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 23:14b
Lesson: In Joshua 23, Joshua reminds the Israelites that God has been faithful to them and has fulfilled all His promises. He encourages them to continue to obey God's commands and to love Him with all their hearts. He also warns them against following after the false gods of the surrounding nations.
Conclusion: Joshua's example of choosing to serve the Lord regardless of the choices of others, is a powerful reminder for us to remain steadfast in our faith. Just as he declared that he and his household would serve the Lord, we too must make a commitment to follow God and lead our families in His ways.
Prayer points: Let us pray for the strength to resist the temptation to follow false gods. May we always remain committed to following God's commands and leading our families in His ways.
