Our Lord & Savior

The Book of Joshua: Part 2

Joshua's Farewell Address

(Joshua 23:1-16)

1 After a considerable time had passed, once the Lord had given Israel peace from all surrounding enemies, Joshua became old, advanced in years.

2 Joshua summoned all Israel, including their elders, leaders, judges, and officers, and said to them, "I am now old, advanced in years.

3 You have witnessed everything the Lord your God has done to these nations for your sake; it is the Lord your God who has fought for you.

4 See, I have apportioned to you these remaining nations as an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan to the great sea in the west.

5 The Lord your God will push them out of your way and drive them from before you, so you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God has promised you.

6 Therefore, be very courageous to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left;

7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them.

8 But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until this day.

9 For the Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day, no one has been able to withstand you.

10 One of you will put a thousand to flight, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised.

11 Therefore, take great care to love the Lord your God.

12 If you turn back and cling to the remnants of these nations remaining among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them:

13 Know for certain that the Lord your God will not continue to drive these nations out before you. They will be snares and traps for you, whips on your backs, and thorns in your eyes, until you vanish from this good land given to you by the Lord your God.

14 Behold, today I am going the way of the whole earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.

15 Just as all the good things the Lord your God promised you have come to you, so will he bring upon you all the evil things until he has destroyed you from this good land he has given you.

16 When you have broken the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and have gone to serve other gods and worshiped them, then the Lord's anger will be ignited against you, and you will swiftly perish from the prosperous land He has granted you.