24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: {g} but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.(g) This teaches us that if all the world would go from God, yet every one of us particularly is bound to cleave to him. read more
JOSHUA'S SUMMARY OF ISRAEL'S HISTORY (vs.1-13) For the second time, as Joshua neared the end of his life, he called Israel together, primarily the elders, heads, judges and officers (v.1), but including "all the people" (v.2). He then faithfully summarized Israel's history, from her fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob until the then present time. There is a striking similarity between this and the first part of Stephen's address in Acts 7:1-60. Abraham had dwelt with his father Terah on the... read more
COVENANT RENEWED , JOSHUA ’S END THE GATHERING AT SHILOH (Joshua 23:0 ) “A long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel,” refers to a period elapsing after the distribution of the land. We do not know how long it was, but Joshua is old and his departure is near (Joshua 23:1 ). This is a gathering of the leaders presumably at Shiloh, where the central place of worship was (Joshua 23:2 ). It is an occasion to exhort the people to faithfulness in their obligations to God, the... read more
After Rest Joshua 20-24 THE twentieth chapter deals with the Cities of Refuge. A very beautiful expression is that "City of Refuge." Very suggestive, too. But there is a great black shadow in the middle of it: for why should men want refuge? The term is noble in itself, but what is it in its suggestion? Surely it means that there is a pursuing storm. We have heard travellers say that by making haste they will just be in time to escape the impending tempest; so they quicken their steps, and... read more
"Handfuls of Purpose" For All Gleaners "Choose you this day whom ye will serve." Jos 24:15 There is a point at which all religion becomes voluntary. There is a sense in which natural religion is not voluntary, although there is a strained sense in which a contention may be set up for its voluntariness. The whole value of spiritual religion consists in its expressing the supreme desire of the heart. An appeal is thus made to reason, inasmuch as man is called upon to make a choice. To make a... read more
I include in one view all these verses, for the sake of shortness, and because, as they refer to the history of the Patriarchs, already gone through in the Commentary, it would be unnecessary to swell the page again with the relation. The Reader can, if he pleases, refer to the subjects, in their respective places. But I would have the Reader remark with me, in addition to what was there said of the conjurer Balaam, that here it seems somewhat more plain, that this wretched man would, for the... read more
What a noble resolution Joshua made for himself, and for his household? How worthy of imitation in all families! But could Joshua answer for his servants, or for his family? Certainly he could not compel their consciences: neither did he mean it. Unless led to it by the sweet influences of the Holy Ghost, he could not assure himself that he should serve the Lord; and he well knew that it must be from the same Almighty power his household could do it. But yet, as far as the outward means could... read more
The gods. Some still retained in their hearts an affection for these idols, though privately; (Calmet) so that Josue could not convict them, or bring them to condign punishment; as no doubt he, and Moses before him, would have done, if they had been apprized of any overt act of idolatry. Amos (v. 26,) says, You carried a tabernacle of your Moloch and the image of your idols, &c., which is confirmed by Ezechiel xxiii. 3, 8., and Acts vii. 42. For these acts many of the people were punished,... read more
Choice. Josue was persuaded that no restraint could bind the will; (Haydock) and that, if the Israelites did not freely adhere to the Lord, they would not serve him long, nor would their adoration have any merit. (Calmet) --- Hence he endeavours by all means to draw from them a free and candid acknowledgment of his divinity; and he leads the way, by declaring that all his house will adhere to the true and only God. They answer his fullest expectations, and profess in the most cordial manner,... read more
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Geneva Study Bible - Joshua 24:14
24:14 Now therefore {f} fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.(f) This is the true use of God’s benefits, to learn by it to fear and serve him with an upright conscience. read more