Joshua 23:1–13

Joshua’s Farewell Address

23 Now it came to pass, a long time after the Lord ahad given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua bwas old, advanced in age. 2 And Joshua ccalled for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them:

“I am old, advanced in age. 3 You have seen all that the dLord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the eLord your God is He who has fought for you. 4 See, fI have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea westward. 5 And the Lord your God gwill expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, has the Lord your God promised you. 6 iTherefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, jlest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 and lest you kgo 1among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not lmake mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to mswear by them; you shall not nserve them nor bow down to them, 8 but you shall ohold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day. 9 pFor the Lord has 2driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. 10 qOne man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, ras He promised you. 11 sTherefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. 12 Or else, if indeed you do tgo back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and umake marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, 13 know for certain that vthe Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. wBut they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.