Joshua 23:12

_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:_ Else, if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations. By 'going back' is meant transgression of the divine law; and as marriage connections with the idolatrous Canaanites would present many and strong temptations to transgress it, these were strictly prohibited (Exodus 34:12; Deuteronomy 7:3). With his eye, as it were, upon those prohibitions, Joshua threatens them with the certain withdrawal of the divine aid in the further expulsion of the Canaanites-a threat founded on Exodus 23:33;...

12._Else if you do in any wise go back, _etc According to the usual method observed in the Law, he adds threatening, in order that if they are not sufficiently allured by the divine goodness, they may be aroused by fear to the performance of their duty. It is, indeed, disgraceful for men, when God graciously condescends to invite them, not at once to run forward and meet the invitation by prompt and alert obedience; but such is the lethargy of the flesh, that it always requires to be stimulated by threats. Joshua, therefore, adopts the usual method of the Law, while he reminds the Israelites of the terrors of the Lord, provided they do not of their own accord embrace his offered favor. Moreover, it is not once only that, he sets before them the denunciation that the nations of Canaan will be scourges to their sides and thorns in their eyes if they become familiar with them. _First, _inas...

11-16 Would we cleave to the Lord, we must always stand upon our guard, for many a soul is lost through carelessness. Love the Lord your God, and you will not leave him. Has God been thus true to you? Be not you false to him. He is faithful that has promised, Hebrews 10:23. The experience of every Christian witnesses the same truth. Conflicts may have been severe and long, trials great and many; but at the last he will acknowledge that goodness and mercy followed him all the days of his life. Joshua states the fatal consequences of going back; know for a certainty it will be your ruin. The first step would be, friendship with idolaters; the next would be, marrying with them; the end of that would be, serving their gods. Thus the way of sin is down-hill, and those who have fellowship with sinners, cannot avoid having fellowship with sin. He describes the destruction he warns them of. The...

Verse Joshua 23:12. _ELSE IF YE DO - GO BACK_] The soldier who draws back when going to meet the enemy, forfeits his life. These were the Lord's soldiers, and if they drew back they drew back unto _perdition_, their lives being forfeited by their infidelity....

EXPOSITION JOSHUA'S SOLEMN CHARGE.— JOSHUA 23:1 WAXED OLD AND STRICKEN IN AGE. Literally, _was old, advanced in days _(see Joshua 13:1). But this refers to a more advanced age still, when the patriarch felt his powers failing him, and desired, as far as his influence went, to preserve the Israelites in the path in which they had walked since their entrance into Canaan. Calvin has some good remarks on the "pious solicitude" shown by the aged warrior for those whom he had led in time of war and guided in time of peace. He seems to have sent for the chief men in Israel to his home at Timnath-Serah, where apparently he had led a retired and peaceful life, only coming forward to direct the affairs of t

ELSE IF YE DO IN ANY WISE GO BACK,.... From the Lord and his worship, from his word and ordinances: AND CLEAVE UNTO THE REMNANT OF THESE NATIONS, [EVEN] THOSE THAT REMAIN AMONG YOU; in cities not taken, or in several which the Philistines were in possession of, or lived among them as tributaries to them, if they should take to them, and be free and familiar with them, which may lead on to nearer connections in civil and religious matters: AND SHALL MAKE MARRIAGES WITH THEM; marry their daughters to the sons of Canaanites, or admit the daughters of Canaanites to be married to their sons: AND GO IN UNTO THEM, AND THEY TO YOU; which is expressive of the consummation of marriage, and of the performance of the conjugal duty,...

2. JOSHUA'S TWO ADDRESSES The First Address CHAPTER 23 _ 1. The people gathered (Joshua 23:1)_ 2. God's faithfulness remembered (Joshua 23:3) 3. Exhortations to obedience (Joshua 23:6) 4. Warning (Joshua 23:12) 5. Conclusion of first address (Joshua 23:14) It was about eight years after the Lord had given rest unto Israel, that the aged Joshua called for all Israel and their elders to assemble in his presence. He was very old and the time of his departure at hand. The purpose of his first address is

ELSE. The Hebrew accent (Legarmeh) puts the pause or emphasis on this word, as marking the solemn alternative....

_if ye do_ "If ye do in any wise turn back, and cleave to the remnant of these nations, these that remain with you, and make marriages with them, and ye come among them, and they among you, know for a certainty that the protection of the Almighty will fail you, and His arm will no more give you success against them....

_VER._ 12, 13. _ELSE IF YE DO IN ANY WISE GO BACK,_ &C.— "But if, on the contrary, ye are capable of starting aside from God, and of giving way _in any manner_ to idolatry; if ye _cleave unto these nations,_ and communicate with them in their errors; if ye _enter_ into any alliances, or mix yourselves with them by the tie of marriage; _know,_ most assuredly, that from thenceforward the Lord will cease to _drive out these nations,_ and to give you their inheritance; nay, _they shall be snares and traps_ in your way. They shall subsist for your punishment, to be to you an occasion of falling and of sin; and continually more and more to draw you into their abominations: they _shall be as scourges in your sides,_ as a whip, as a rod in the hand of Providence, grievously to wound and oppress you; and _as thorns in your eyes,_ to afflict you; while, losing the favour of God, you shall finally...