(16) God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods.—The feelings of the people are naturally shocked by the bare mention of apostasy. They will not forsake Jehovah on any account. But their answer only betrayed their want of intelligence. They missed the point of Joshua’s argument, as may be seen by his reply. read more
(19) And Joshua said . . . Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is . . . jealous . . .—Jehovah will not consent to be served as one God among many: the very thing which Israel was doing at the moment, which they meant to do, and did do, with rare intervals, down to the Babylonish captivity, when the evil spirit of (literal) idolatry was expelled for evermore. Israel always maintained the worship of Jehovah (except in very evil times) as the national Deity, but did not abstain from the recognition... read more
(21) Nay; but we will serve the Lord.—Being brought to the point, no other answer was possible. If they must give up Jehovah or the idols, the idols must go first.(22,23) Ye are witnesses . . . that ye have chosen you the Lord . . . Now therefore put away . . . the strange gods.—This was the practical conclusion to which Joshua desired that they should come. But we do not read that they did anything in obedience to these words. We read of no images being buried or burned, as in the days of... read more
(25) So Joshua made a covenant—i.e., a covenant that idolatry should not be tolerated in Israel, or suffered to exist. We read of similar covenants in the reign of Asa (2 Chronicles 15:12-13), in the reign of Joash, by Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 23:16), and of Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:31-32). read more
(26) And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God.—Primarily “these words” appear to refer to the transaction just recorded. But it must be observed that this is also the second signature among the sacred writers of the Old Testament. The first is that of Moses, in Deuteronomy 31:9 : “Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests,” &c. The next signature after Joshua’s is that of Samuel (1 Samuel 10:25): “Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it... read more
(28-31) So Joshua let the people depart . . .—This passage is recited in Judges 2:6-9. read more
The Eternal Choice Joshua 24:15 Joshua here calls Israel to decide between Jehovah's service and the service of other gods, such as their fathers served in Mesopotamia, or such as the neighbouring Amorites served. They were no longer to give a half-hearted service, but to choose whom they would serve wholly. The call did not imply neutrality, or that they were not bound to serve Jehovah; but it was meant to arouse the indifferent, and those who thought they could combine Jehovah's service with... read more
CHAPTER XXXII.JOSHUA’S LAST APPEAL.Joshua 24:1-33.IT was at Shechem that Joshua’s last meeting with the people took place. The Septuagint makes it Shiloh in one verse (Joshua 24:1), but Shechem in another (Joshua 24:25); but there is no sufficient reason for rejecting the common reading. Joshua might feel that a meeting which was not connected with the ordinary business of the sanctuary, but which was more for a personal purpose, a solemn leave-taking on his part from the people, might be held... read more
The Second Address CHAPTER 24:1-28 1. The gathering at Shechem (Joshua 24:1 ) 2. Historic retrospect and exhortations (Joshua 24:2-15 ) 3. The answer given by Israel (Joshua 24:16-18 ) 4. Joshua’s answer (Joshua 24:19-20 ) 5. The promise made (Joshua 24:21 ) 6. Joshua’s appeal and the repeated promise (Joshua 24:22-24 ) 7. The covenant made and Joshua’s final word (Joshua 24:25-28 ) In Joshua’s second and last address to the people at Shechem we have first a historic retrospect.... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 24:1-33
Joshua’s Second and Final FarewellThis discourse (Joshua 24:1-15), with Israel’s response (Joshua 24:16-24), and consequent renewal of the Covenant (Joshua 24:25-28), occupies the bulk of the chapter. The book is then brought to a conclusion in three short paragraphs, recording (a) the death and burial of Joshua (Joshua 24:29-31), (b) the burial of Joseph’s bones (Joshua 24:32), and (c) the death of Eleazar (Joshua 24:33).1-15. This last address of Joshua, which is admitted by critics to be of... read more