Joshua 23:7

_BE YE THEREFORE VERY COURAGEOUS TO KEEP AND TO DO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF MOSES, THAT YE TURN NOT ASIDE THEREFROM TO THE RIGHT HAND OR TO THE LEFT;_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

7._That you come not among these nations, _etc He distinctly admonishes them that it will be impossible rightly to discharge their duty if they be not carefully on their guard against all sources of corruption. This it was very necessary to enforce upon them. For they were surrounded on all sides by the snares of Satan, and we know how great their proneness to superstition was, or rather how headlong their eagerness for it. First, then, he warns them that intimate intercourse with the nations may involve them in fellowship in crime; for the term _mingling _used in this passage is equivalent to what is termed by St. Paul, _being yoked. _(2 Corinthians 6:14) In short, he first removes the incitements or allurements to idolatry, and then declares his detestation of idolatry itself. It is to be observed, however, that he does not expressly mention either bending of the knee, or

1-10 Joshua was old and dying, let them observe what he said now. He put them in mind of the great things God had done for them in his days. He exhorted them to be very courageous. Keep with care, do with diligence, and regard with sincerity what is written. Also, very cautiously to endeavour that the heathen idolatry may be forgotten, so that it may never be revived. It is sad that among Christians the names of the heathen gods are so commonly used, and made so familiar as they are. Joshua exhorts them to be very constant. There might be many things amiss among them, but they had not forsaken the Lord their God; the way to make people better, is to make the best of them....

Verse Joshua 23:7. _COME NOT AMONG THESE NATIONS_] Have no civil or social contracts with them, (see Joshua 23:12), as these will infallibly lead to _spiritual_ affinities, in consequence of which ye will make honourable _mention of the name of their gods, swear by them_ as the judges of your motives and actions, _serve them_ in their abominable rites, and _bow yourselves unto them_ as your creators and preservers; thus giving the whole worship of God to idols: and all this will follow from simply _coming among them_. He who _walks_ in the counsel of the ungodly will soon _stand_ in the way of _sinners_, and shortly _sit_ in the seat of the _scornful_. _Nemo repente fuit_ _turpissimus_. "No man rises to the highest stages of iniquity but by deg...

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

THAT YE COME NOT AMONG THESE NATIONS, THOSE THAT REMAIN AMONG YOU,.... That remained unsubdued, or that were suffered to dwell among them, being tributaries to them; with these they were not to converse freely and familiarly, nor to carry on trade and commerce with them, nor enter into any alliances or marriages with them, and not even attend any of their feasts, and especially their idolatrous ones: NEITHER MAKE MENTION OF THE NAME OF THEIR GODS; not in common conversation, and still less in any religious matters; never with any reverence of them, or in any respectable manner; but always with indignation and contempt, calling them dunghill gods, and the like, as they often are in Scripture: NOR CAUSE TO SWEAR [BY THEM]; neither swear by them themselves, nor cause others to swear by them, as Abarbinel; or a man his neighbour, as Kimchi; no, not a Gentile, as Ben Melech; so it is said i...

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

_That ye come not among these nations_ He especially warns them against all intercourse with the heathen nations, and, above all, against any participation in their idolatries. _make mention of the name of their gods_ "To make mention of the names of the gods (Exodus 23:13), to swear by them, to serve them with offerings, and to bow down to them, i.e. call upon them in prayer, represent the four expressions of divine worship." See Deuteronomy 6:13; Deuteronomy 10:20....

_VER._ 7-11. _THAT YE COME NOT AMONG THESE NATIONS,_ &C.— "Hold no familiarity; make no marriages with these idolatrous nations: never _make_ the least honourable _mention of the name of their_ false _gods_ in your conversation, nor _cause_ any one _to swear_ by those idols, nor _serve them_ yourselves, by offering victims to them, or by addressing prayers and vows to them in secret; nor shall _ye prostrate yourselves before them,_ or render them any public worship: in a word, let nothing be able to draw you from God, or turn you aside from the execution of those designs, for which that great God has rendered you invincible even unto this day. Acquit yourselves thus of your duty, and ye will certainly engage the Lord ever to grant you victory and success." REFLECTIONS.—Joshua, now grown old, and having but a short time to live, is solicitous to improve it to the best purposes; his last w...

_Promises of Blessings for Obedience Joshua 23:6-11_ 6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; 7 That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: 8 But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day. 9 For the Lord hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. 10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. 11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. _7._ Was the Pentateuch writte