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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Joshua 24:15

choose you this day Like Elijah afterwards on Carmel (1 Kings 18:21), the Hebrew leader challenges the people with the utmost freedom to decide once for all that day whom they would serve. He gives them their choice between the old worship of Penates or household gods practised by their fathers, and the Baal-worship of the Amorites, if they would not serve Jehovah, Who had brought them out of Egypt.

as for me and my house Whatever may be the decision of the people, Joshua tells them what he and his family are resolved to do. "I and my house will serve Jehovah." Compare the words of the Lord respecting Abraham, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment," Genesis 18:19.

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See also Joshua 24:15 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Joshua 24:15. _CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE_] Joshua well knew that all service that was not _free_ and _voluntary_ could be only _deceit_ and _hypocrisy_, and that God loveth a _chee...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    CHOOSE - Service of God in sincerity and truth can only result from a free and willing allegiance of the heart. This accordingly is what Joshua invites, as Moses had done before him (Deuteronomy 30:15...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    THE SECOND ADDRESS CHAPTER 24:1-28 _ 1. The gathering at Shechem (Joshua 24:1)_ 2. Historic retrospect and exhortations (Joshua 24:2) 3. The answer given by Israel (Joshua 24:16) 4. Joshua's answ...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _VER._ 15. _AND IF IT SEEM EVIL UNTO YOU TO SERVE THE LORD,_ &C.— Satisfied that the Israelites, as a nation, are very far from falling into atheism, or being averse from serving God; Joshua cannot th...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _A Reminder of God's Blessings Joshua 24:1-25_ And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their of...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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 AMORITE...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JOSHUA'S SECOND AND FINAL FAREWELL This discourse (Joshua 24:1), with Israel's response (Joshua 24:16), and consequent renewal of the Covenant (Joshua 24:25), occupies the bulk of the chapter. The boo...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    COME IN, AND RECEIVE GOD’S PROMISES! JOSHUA _BRIAN ROWLANDS_ Maps to help you to study this book are on the Internet at www.easyenglish.info. CHAPTER 24 JOSHUA SAYS ‘GOODBYE’ TO THE PEOPLE – JO...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE AMORITES. — Here used generically for the inhabitants of Canaan. AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD. — For Joshua himself the service of Jehovah on earth was nearly over. He pledges hi...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ אִם֩ רַ֨ע בְּֽ עֵינֵיכֶ֜ם לַ עֲבֹ֣ד

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXXII. JOSHUA'S LAST APPEAL. Joshua 24:1. 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 a...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE LESSON OF ISRAEL'S HISTORY Joshua 24:1 The previous chapter contains Joshua's own last words of warning to Israel; here he is God's mouthpiece: “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel.” There is, fi...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here we have the record of the final address of Joshua. In it he first concisely and comprehensively traced the Hebrews' history from the call of Abraham and did so in the form of the speech of Jehova...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    On the basis of all God had done for them, Joshua urged the people to serve God and renounce all the gods their fathers had once served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt. That they had a choice is cle...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    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 Amorit...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    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 hav...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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 com...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    In the wars of Jehovah it was not always a question of hostile power. Indeed this is not the most serious evil which the people of God have to encounter in this world. The very same principle which wa...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _A DECISION TO MAKE_ ‘Choose you this day whom ye will serve.’ Joshua 24:15 Throughout life we are continually making our choice. But there are times when voice of God in text seems specially to ap...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _A DECISION MADE_ ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ Joshua 24:15 These were the brave and faithful words of a brave and faithful man—words that were brave as regards men, words that...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    15._And if it seem evil unto you, _etc It seems here as if Joshua were paying little regard to what becomes an honest and right-hearted leader. If the people had forsaken God and gone after idols, it...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 12 THROUGH 24. Chapter 12 is only a summary of their conquests. The Holy Ghost not only gives us the victory over our enemies, but makes us understand and kno...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND IF IT SEEM EVIL TO YOU TO SERVE THE LORD,.... Irksome and troublesome, a burden, a weariness, and not a pleasure and delight: CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE; say if you have found a bett...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 Amorit...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Seem evil_ Unjust, unreasonable, or inconvenient. _Choose ye _ Not that he leaves them to their liberty, whether they would serve God or idols; for Joshua had no such power himself, nor could give it...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Ioshua assembleth the tribes at Shechem. 2 A briefe historie of Gods benefits from Terah. 14 He reneweth a couenant betweene them and God. 26 A stone the witnesse of the couenant. 29 Ioshuas age...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE EXACTION OF THE PROMISE TO BE FAITHFUL...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, for true service requires the conviction of the heart, CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE, WHETHER THE GODS WHICH YOUR FATHERS SERVED THAT WERE ON T...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    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 includ...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-28 It is essential that the service of God's people be performed with a willing mind. For LOVE is the only genuine principle whence all acceptable service of God can spring. The Father seeks only...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    IF IT SEEM EVIL; unjust, unreasonable, or inconvenient. CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE: not that he leaves them to their liberty, whether they would serve God or idols; for Joshua had no such...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Joshua 24:15 evil H7489 (H8804) you H4310 serve H5647 (H8800) LORD H3068 choose H977 (H8798) day...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “ And if it seem evil to you to serve YHWH, choose you this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served who were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Joshua 24:15 These were the brave and faithful words of a brave and faithful man words that were brave as regards men, words that were brave as regards God. Joshua, the great leader of the army and th...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Last charge of Joshua and his death. Eleazar's death. CHARACTERS: God, Joshua, Eleazar. CONCLUSION: Joshua 24:15. It is the will of God that all should make religion their serious and deli...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Joshua 24:1. _Shechem._ Some think this was the Sychar where our Saviour talked with the woman. John 4:5. This place became far famed on account of the renewal of the covenant before Joshua's death. H...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Choose you this day whom ye will serve._ THE CHRISTIAN’S CHOICE “Seem evil unto you to serve the Lord!” How can the service of the Lord seem evil to any one who is not either wholly void of understa...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him._ THE LAST DAYS OF JOSHUA I. The reasonableness of serving God (verses 14, 15). To serve God, to obey Him, to love Him, to submit heart and life to His con...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem._ JOSHUA’S LAST FAREWELL I. God’s threefold mercies. 1. Israel’s enlargement (verses 2-4). 2. Israel’s exodus (verses 5-7). 3. Israel’s entran...

  • The children's great texts of the Bible by James Hastings

    THE LEGEND OF ST. CHRISTOPHER Choose you this day whom ye will serve. Joshua 24:15. Long, long ago there dwelt at the court of a good king a very huge giant. He was so strong that he could take up...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOSHUA—NOTE ON JOSHUA 24:1 Joshua again called for an assembly at Shechem for a ceremony of covenant renewal (compare Joshua 8:30;...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOSHUA—NOTE ON JOSHUA 24:15 CHOOSE THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE. Joshua has urged the people to serve the Lord alone, and to put away the false gods (v. Joshua 24:14). Now he

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Joshua 24:14. Now therefore fear the Lord] “The marvellous history so clearly and succinctly recounted was the natural preface for the exhortation which here begins.” [_Crosby_.] PUT...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE LAST RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT.— JOSHUA 24:1 TO SHECHEM. The LXX. and the Arabic version read _Shiloh _here, and as the words "they presented themselves (literally, _took up their stati...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Chapter twenty-four, Joshua is continuing this final charge to the children of Israel. Picture now this old man he was. He was faithful to the Lord. He has done a good job, but now he is bent over wit...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 18:21; Acts 11:23; Deuteronomy 13:7; Deuteronomy 29:18;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE CONSECRATION OF THE PEOPLE Joshua 24:13 INTRODUCTORY WORDS The time comes sooner, or later, when we must all lay down the yoke which we have been wearing for God. We cannot always serve, no mat...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    JOSHUA'S FAREWELL WORDS Joshua 24:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Before Joshua died he reviewed the history of Israel and in so doing he brought out the four great patriarchs who were so prominently aligned...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Seem evil — Unjust, unreasonable or inconvenient. Choose ye — Not that he leaves them to their liberty, whether they would serve God or idols; for Joshua had no such power himself, nor could give it t...

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